Khamzat Chimaev is preparing for one of the biggest fights of his career against Dricus Du Plessis for the UFC Middleweight Championship. After many months of speculation, UFC President Dana White has confirmed that Chimaev is next for a title shot. The fight is expected to take place in mid-to late 2025, and fans are eagerly looking forward to it.
Khamzat Chimaev’s Rise in the UFC
Khamzat Chimaev made his UFC debut in 2020. After that, the fighter quickly became feared and dominant. He is 14-0 and has beaten high-ranked fighters like Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman. Chimaev is known for being a powerful wrestler and striker. Most of his fights have finished in the first round, showing he overwhelms his opponents.
Although Chimaev dominates his opponents, he has fought just two times since 2023, which has led to some questioning his activity.
Chimaev has guaranteed that 2025 will be the biggest year yet, with the goal being the middleweight title.
Dricus Du Plessis: The Champion’s Response
Dricus Du Plessis, the current UFC Middleweight Champion, has had a great run with a record of 23-2. Recently, Dricus defended his title against Sean Strickland, proving he could survive close, hard-fought contests against elite contenders.
Du Plessis has called Chimaev a “fake boogeyman” and is not intimidated by the hype surrounding him despite Chimaev’s indestructible reputation. The champ said that he is pretty confident in handling Chimaev’s early onslaught and taking advantage of any shortcomings later on.
Du Plessis has also suggested that he might step up to light heavyweight later on, making this fight with Chimaev very important for him as middleweight champion.
Fan Reactions and Concerns
The MMA fans are excited about the bout. They are eager to see how Chimaev handles his toughest challenge yet. However, some concerns have also been raised.
In 2025, many undefeated UFC fighters suffered their maiden career losses, leading to questions about Chimaev suffering the same fate. There is some doubt because Chimaev has only fought twice in two years. Some wonder if a lack of cage time could play a crucial role against an active champion like Du Plessis.
Chimaev’s Commitment and Future Plans
Chimaev, however, made it clear that he is entirely focused on winning the title. He mentioned that he would like to fight twice in 2025, meaning a win over Du Plessis would set up another title defence later in the year.
Chimaev has also voiced his ambitions to leave middleweight and move up to light heavyweight. Winning against Du Plessis will elevate his status to an extraordinary height, and he may challenge for the second UFC title, thereby winning the Sports Greatest Rising Star award.
Conclusion
Khamzat Chimaev vs Dricus Du Plessis fight will be among the most exciting 2025 UFC title fights. Both are confident and motivated, so this will surely be an intense tussle.
If Chimaev would win the fight, it would make him the first UFC champion and thereafter a two-division contender. For Du Plessis, proving his worth against an undefeated title challenger will help prove his worth in a stacked division. As the UFC officially announces the date, the MMA community eagerly anticipates one of the year’s most significant fights.
