Sep 10, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Khamzat Chimaev (red gloves) fights Kevin Holland (blue gloves) during UFC 279 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

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“If Khamzat Wins, It’s A Disaster, Actually” – UFC Analyst Reveals Why The MMA Community Should Root For Dricus Du Plessis

Din Thomas gives a controversial take about the upcoming UFC 319 main event between Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus Du Plessis!

Sep 10, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Khamzat Chimaev (red gloves) fights Kevin Holland (blue gloves) during UFC 279 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The middleweight division has always been one of the most competitive weight classes in MMA. Champions come and go, but the division rarely lacks for talented fighters willing to throw down for gold. Dricus Du Plessis has brought his own brand of chaos to the top of the division, mixing awkward striking with solid grappling in ways that confuse opponents and analysts alike. His rise to the title wasn’t exactly conventional, but he has proven he belongs by beating quality fighters like Israel Adesanya.

Now he faces his biggest test yet in Khamzat Chimaev, the undefeated Chechen wrestler who has steamrolled through opponents with frightening ease. His dominant wrestling style, combined with his ability to finish fights quickly, creates a scenario where fights could become one sided affairs. UFC veteran and analyst Din Thomas recently broke down this matchup in ways that go beyond simple fight analysis, touching on what a Chimaev victory could mean for the entire division.

Din Thomas Warns About the Bigger Picture If Khamzat Chimaev Won

Din Thomas didn’t mince words when discussing the potential ramifications of this title fight. He feels that Chimaev’s inactivity and numerous cancellations would halt the middleweight division.

“I’mma keep it one hundred with you. If Khamzat wins, it’s a disaster, actually. You can’t tell me part of you is thinking this fight might not happen…If he wins, do we trust him to show up and fight again?” said Thomas while talking to Mike Bohn.

🚨 Din Thomas says it’s a “disaster” if Khamzat Chimaev becomes UFC champ

“If Khamzat wins, it’s a disaster. You can’t tell me part of you isn’t thinking “this fight might not happen””

“If he wins, do we trust him to be able to show up and fight again?”

via @MikeBohn pic.twitter.com/Z5OzJwORs6
— ACD MMA (@acdmma_) July 29, 2025

Whether fans see Din Thomas’ approach to UFC 319 main event as analytical or just backing Du Plessis depends. On one hand, Chimaev has a history of backing out of man events. If he gets the title, the division may stall. But on the other hand, he is one of the most entertaining fighters inside and outside the Octagon. Which narrative one wants to believe depends on how they see it.

Also Read: Robert Whittaker Breaks Silence After Second Straight Loss And Outlines His Ideal Return Path

Din Thomas Shares Gameplan For Dricus Du Plessis Against Khamzat Chimaev

Thomas believes that Chimaev’s wrestling heavy approach has proven nearly unstoppable. offered some tactical advice for Du Plessis that goes against conventional wisdom. Instead of trying to keep the fight standing and avoid Chimaev’s grappling, Thomas suggests the champion should actually engage on the ground to prove he can hang with the challenger’s best skills. This approach might seem counterintuitive, but it makes sense when you consider how other fighters have tried and failed to simply avoid Chimaev’s wrestling.

“I really do believe this comes down to DDP [du Plessis] challenging Khamzat on the floor. You have to be able to grapple with Khamzat if you want to have any chance of winning. That’s the reality of it. All of these guys, they try to get away from him… He is going to get you. You might as well get it out of the way.”

The strategy Thomas proposes involves Du Plessis potentially even shooting for takedowns himself. This is not necessarily to score points but to show Chimaev that grappling exchanges won’t be one way traffic. This psychological element could be crucial because it forces Chimaev to respect Du Plessis’ ground game rather than treating it as a guaranteed advantage. If he can make Chimaev work harder for his wrestling based dominance, it could open up opportunities for the champion to use his unorthodox striking and superior cardio in the later rounds where he typically excels.

(Image Credit: Joe Camporeale – Imagn Images)

Din Thomas

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!