Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 317 title fight in jeopardy as Dricus Du Plessis faces injury concerns
Dricus Du Plessis may not be fit to defend his middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 317. Du Plessis was rumoured to put his strap on the line for the third time against Chimaev during International Fight Week this June. Du Plessis is the king of the UFC’s middleweight divisiongetty The South African’s next title defence will come against Khamzat Chimaev, but it may be delayedGetty However, reports have suggested this week that the South African 185-pound king is dealing with an injury, though it has not been officially confirmed. “I’m hearing Dricus Du Plessis is injured,” renowned MMA journalist Kevin Iole said on Friday. “And though there has been no confirmation, if that’s accurate, a bout between Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev couldn’t headline [International Fight Week].” Du Plessis won the title by defeating Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in January 2024 via split decision before submitting Israel Adesanya in his first title defence. ‘Stillknocks’ then granted Strickland a rematch and achieved a more convincing victory in their second fight last February, breaking the American’s nose en route to a unanimous decision win. Chimaev, meanwhile, has become one of the deadliest fighters in the UFC since his 2020 debut. ‘Borz’ remains undefeated in 14 professional MMA bouts, having won all eight of his UFC fights. He shattered Robert Whittaker’s jaw in his last fight at UFC 308 last October, and has since surged to the No.3-ranked spot at middleweight as a worthy next in line for a title shot. But it looks like the 30-year-old from Chechnya will have to wait a few more months for his first shot at UFC gold. Although he won’t have much concern over losing his title shot, given UFC CEO Dana White has all but confirmed that he will fight Du Plessis for the title. Du Plessis’ next title defence against Chimaev may be delayed until the end of the year Chimaev is one of the best in the world at wrestlingGetty “Obviously he’s in line,” White told the media of Du Plessis’ rematch with Strickland. Popular UFC commentator and podcaster Joe Rogan has previously questioned if Du Plessis can stop Chimaev’s wrestling, saying his ground game is at the ‘highest level’ in the sport. “Can Dricus stop that takedown?” he explained. “It’s hard to say because we don’t know what would happen with Khamzat. “Khamzat just shoots from like 15 feet away and gets a hold of your legs so quick. “You’ve got to think that his endurance is probably going to be better at 185 [lbs] than it was at 170 because of the cut for Khamzat. Du Plessis’ injury may force Islam Makhachev to defend his belt instead, unless Jon Jones fights Tom Aspinall “185 is really where he should have been all the way along.” Du Plessis’ injury concerns could have huge ramifications on the scene at lightweight. “The Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority has invested millions with the UFC to make International Fight Week a mega-event, and it’s become one of the marquee cards of the year,” Iole added. “It needs a superb headliner, such as the heavyweight title bout between champion Jon Jones and interim champion Tom Aspinall.” “But if Jones isn’t prepared to fight in June, that fight likely moves to New York in November…So Makhachev will be needed for Las Vegas in June.” Makhachev is the UFC lightweight champion and may now be called upon to make his fifth defence of the belt this summer. This may open a door for someone like Ilia Topuria, who vacated his featherweight title to challenge Makhachev in February, to take the fight, though it’s more likely to be Justin Gaethje or Charles Oliveira. That is, of course, unless UFC heavyweight champion Jones decided to accept a fight with Briton Aspinall and unify White’s biggest division.
Dricus Du Plessis may not be fit to defend his middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 317.
Du Plessis was rumoured to put his strap on the line for the third time against Chimaev during International Fight Week this June.
However, reports have suggested this week that the South African 185-pound king is dealing with an injury, though it has not been officially confirmed.
“I’m hearing Dricus Du Plessis is injured,” renowned MMA journalist Kevin Iole said on Friday.
“And though there has been no confirmation, if that’s accurate, a bout between Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev couldn’t headline [International Fight Week].”
Du Plessis won the title by defeating Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in January 2024 via split decision before submitting Israel Adesanya in his first title defence.
‘Stillknocks’ then granted Strickland a rematch and achieved a more convincing victory in their second fight last February, breaking the American’s nose en route to a unanimous decision win.
Chimaev, meanwhile, has become one of the deadliest fighters in the UFC since his 2020 debut.
‘Borz’ remains undefeated in 14 professional MMA bouts, having won all eight of his UFC fights.
He shattered Robert Whittaker’s jaw in his last fight at UFC 308 last October, and has since surged to the No.3-ranked spot at middleweight as a worthy next in line for a title shot.
But it looks like the 30-year-old from Chechnya will have to wait a few more months for his first shot at UFC gold.
Although he won’t have much concern over losing his title shot, given UFC CEO Dana White has all but confirmed that he will fight Du Plessis for the title.
“Obviously he’s in line,” White told the media of Du Plessis’ rematch with Strickland.
Popular UFC commentator and podcaster Joe Rogan has previously questioned if Du Plessis can stop Chimaev’s wrestling, saying his ground game is at the ‘highest level’ in the sport.
“Can Dricus stop that takedown?” he explained.
“It’s hard to say because we don’t know what would happen with Khamzat.
“Khamzat just shoots from like 15 feet away and gets a hold of your legs so quick.
“You’ve got to think that his endurance is probably going to be better at 185 [lbs] than it was at 170 because of the cut for Khamzat.
“185 is really where he should have been all the way along.”
Du Plessis’ injury concerns could have huge ramifications on the scene at lightweight.
“The Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority has invested millions with the UFC to make International Fight Week a mega-event, and it’s become one of the marquee cards of the year,” Iole added.
“It needs a superb headliner, such as the heavyweight title bout between champion Jon Jones and interim champion Tom Aspinall.”
“But if Jones isn’t prepared to fight in June, that fight likely moves to New York in November…So Makhachev will be needed for Las Vegas in June.”
Makhachev is the UFC lightweight champion and may now be called upon to make his fifth defence of the belt this summer.
This may open a door for someone like Ilia Topuria, who vacated his featherweight title to challenge Makhachev in February, to take the fight, though it’s more likely to be Justin Gaethje or Charles Oliveira.
That is, of course, unless UFC heavyweight champion Jones decided to accept a fight with Briton Aspinall and unify White’s biggest division.
