Jan 20, 2024; Toronto, Canada, USA; Dricus Du Plessis (blue gloves) celebrates defeating Sean Strickland (red glove) during UFC 297 at ScotiaBank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

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Chael Sonnen Predicts UFC 319 Clash Could Put Dricus Du Plessis In The Pound For Pound Elite!

Chael Sonnen knows a thing or two about making bold predictions. The former middleweight contender turned analyst has never been shy about sharing his thoughts on fights. His latest take on UFC 319 has fight fans buzzing with excitement. Sonnen believes Dricus Du Plessis could crack the pound-for-pound top tier with a win over Khamzat Chimaev.

The South African champion has already made quite a name for himself in the octagon. Du Plessis shocked the MMA world when he knocked out Robert Whittaker and later submitted Israel Adesanya to cement the claim on the title. His undefeated UFC run speaks volumes about his skills and determination. Now he faces his biggest test yet against the undefeated Chechen-Swedish fighter who has steamrolled through every opponent placed in front of him. This matchup on August 16th in Chicago promises to be one of the most exciting title fights of the year.

Chael Sonnen Explains The Reasoning Behind His Assessment

Sonnen explained his reasoning during his Good Guy / Bad Guy podcast with Daniel Cormier. He pointed out that the middleweight division has become incredibly stacked with talent. Gone are the days when one dominant champion like Anderson Silva ruled the division for years. Today’s middleweight landscape features multiple world class fighters who could claim the title on any given night. This depth makes Du Plessis’ achievements even more impressive.

The former title challenger emphasized how beating Chimaev would elevate Du Plessis’ status significantly. Chimaev has looked unstoppable in his UFC career so far. He has finished most of his opponents with relative ease and shown incredible wrestling and striking skills. Taking out an undefeated prospect like Chimaev would add serious weight to Du Plessis’ resume. Sonnen believes this victory could put the South African in the same conversation as Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria for pound-for-pound supremacy.

“He’s going to be flirting with the top three, and that’s the only way we know how to compliment them in our industry, we give them a belt, we give them a main event, then we give them a little bit more, and that top three pound-for-pound placing is very within reach right now for Dricus.”

Chael Sonnen believes a win over Khamzat Chimaev at #UFC319 would put Dricus Du Plessis in the top three of the pound-for-pound rankings.🔥💪

"If Dricus can go out and look good and get the win over Chimaev, I think he all of a sudden is gonna be flirting with Islam’s space and… pic.twitter.com/1XhKCAx4k0
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) August 8, 2025

Currently, Du Plessis sits outside the pound-for-pound top three despite his impressive title reign. His wins over Sean Strickland twice, plus finishes over former champions Whittaker and Adesanya, have established his credentials. However, the pound-for-pound rankings remain competitive with established champions holding the top spots. A dominant performance against Chimaev could change everything for the South African fighter!

(Image Credit: Dan Hamilton – Imagn Images)

Chael Sonnen

Dricus Du Plessis

Khamzat Chimaev

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!