Apr 9, 2022; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Khamzat Chimaev (blue gloves) after a fight against Gilbert Burns (red gloves) during UFC 273 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

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Khamzat Chimaev Commends Dricus Du Plessis For Accepting UFC 319 Fight That Others Feared

The UFC middleweight division is packed with killers, but finding someone willing to face Khamzat Chimaev is another story entirely. The undefeated Chechen fighter has built a reputation that strikes fear into the hearts of even the most battle tested veterans. Since his explosive debut during the pandemic era, Chimaev has steamrolled through opponents. His nickname ‘Borz’ meaning wolf perfectly captures his predatory approach inside the octagon. Many top contenders have found creative ways to avoid stepping into the cage with this particular nightmare.

The middleweight landscape shifted dramatically when fighters started declining matchups with Chimaev left and right. Some cited injuries, others pointed to scheduling conflicts, but the real reason was pretty obvious to anyone paying attention. Nobody wanted to risk their ranking or health against someone who seemed virtually unstoppable. But one fighter literally begged the UFC to fight Chimaev.

Dricus Du Plessis Steps Up When Others Step Back

Dricus Du Plessis defended his title against Sean Strickland for the second time back in February. Now, it was upon the UFC to find him a new contender. Names like Nassourdine Imavov were in the highlights, and this would have been a good matchup as well. But Du Plessis wanted the one that no one else wanted opposite them in the octagon. He asked, and practically begged the UFC for Khamzat Chimaev.

And when the UFC made this happen at UFC 319, the South African champion immediately accepted. That immediate acceptance caught Chimaev’s attention and earned his genuine respect. In a sport where politics often overshadow competition, Du Plessis showed the heart of a true champion by accepting the toughest possible challenge. Talking to Brett Okamoto for ESPN, the challenger showed respect to Du Plessis for taking the fight.

“Respect [to Du Plessis]… Not everyone was saying that [ to fight Chimaev]. A lot of guys was running away from me.”

Khamzat Chimaev respects Dricus Du Plessis for wanting to fight instead of ducking him 😤 #UFC319 pic.twitter.com/mcM10NNpJK
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) August 6, 2025

Chimaev understands how easy it would have been for the champion to pick a safer opponent or delay the fight for various reasons. And that has been happening in the UFC for quite some time now. Instead, Du Plessis embraced the opportunity to prove himself against someone many analysts and fans consider unbeatable.

This mutual respect between the two fighters adds an interesting dynamic to their upcoming showdown. They may be preparing to try and destroy each other, but both men recognize and appreciate genuine warrior spirit when they see it. And when fighters with this level of skill and preparation collide, fans usually witness something special that gets talked about for years afterward!

(Image Credit: David Yeazell – Imagn Images)

Dricus Du Plessis

Khamzat Chimaev

UFC 319

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!