Du Plessis dismisses Chimaev rematch talk as 'ridiculous' ahead of Usman fight

Dricus du Plessis has branded a potential Khamzat Chimaev rematch with UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland “ridiculous”, arguing the bout makes no sense given the tangled contender picture at 185 pounds — and his own unfinished business at the top of the division.

Strickland reclaimed the middleweight title with a hard-fought decision over Chimaev at UFC 328, only for Chimaev to immediately demand a second fight. But the picture is far from straightforward. Du Plessis holds two wins over Strickland, Chimaev beat du Plessis by dominant decision less than a year ago to take the belt, and No. 1 contender Nassourdine Imavov has been waiting patiently since September.

“Between Sean and Khamzat, there’s no title defenses,” du Plessis told Submission Radio. “I defended my title twice — against Strickland once and against [Israel] Adesanya. The Khamzat rematch is ridiculous, it doesn’t make any sense. If they do it, I mean, it’s ridiculous. It would be crazy. Let them do what they need to do. I’ll just fight my way back. After my performance, let my performance speak.”

Du Plessis acknowledged his own position is weakened after the Chimaev loss snapped a 9-0 UFC run that had included victories over Strickland, Adesanya, and Robert Whittaker. “I can’t really say anything because I got beaten in my last fight,” he admitted. “I’ll do my talking then and I’ll prove once again why I’m the best in the world.”

His immediate focus is Saturday’s UFC Oklahoma City main event against former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. When asked whether he would prefer to chase Strickland’s belt or avenge the loss to Chimaev, du Plessis was candid about his motivations.

“Obviously, Khamzat would be the preference,” he said. “But it’s about being the champion. I’m not chasing people, I’m chasing being the best. Khamzat, I’ll get him. If he becomes champion I would prefer to fight him and get that win back, but he doesn’t deserve another title shot.”

Du Plessis also confirmed plans to move up to light heavyweight in the future, following fellow middleweights Whittaker and Paulo Costa in making the jump — a path blazed most visibly by Alex Pereira, who won the middleweight title before establishing himself as a dominant force at 205 pounds. For now, however, getting past Usman is the only priority.