Dricus du Plessis scoffs at potential Sean Strickland vs. Khamzat Chimaev UFC rematch, "Borz" being in title picture

Dricus du Plessis has taken aim at reigning UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland and former UFC middleweight kingpin Khamzat Chimaev. 

Du Plessis, who himself happens to have held the UFC middleweight title akin to Strickland and Chimaev, seemingly scoffed at the possibility of a Strickland-Chimaev title rematch materializing next. 

Dricus du Plessis captured middleweight gold in an unbeaten run under the UFC promotional banner before losing to Khamzat Chimaev

Dricus du Plessis had just a pair of losses on his professional MMA record prior to joining the UFC organization. The South African combatant put together an 11-fight MMA win streak after getting knocked out in his rematch against Roberto Soldic in KSW in 2018. 

Of those 11 victories, nine came in the UFC. That included his UFC middleweight title-notching split decision win over Sean Strickland in January 2024.

Du Plessis bagged a couple of title defenses -- submitting Israel Adesanya in August of 2024, then beating Strickland by unanimous decision in their rematch in February 2025.

However, "DDP" lost the belt in his next, and most recent, fight -- getting out-wrestled and beaten via unanimous decision by Khamzat Chimaev in August of 2025. 

Dricus du Plessis eyes win over Kamaru Usman at UFC Oklahoma City, disapproves of potential Sean Strickland vs. Khamzat Chimaev title rematch

Khamzat Chimaev lost the UFC middleweight belt in his very first attempt to defend it, suffering a razor-thin split decision loss to Sean Strickland in May of this year.

"Borz" and his team chalked up the loss to a near-fatal weight cut he'd endured. The Chechnya-born grappling savant called for an immediate UFC middleweight title rematch against Strickland, the latter of whom has been recovering from a shoulder injury and is looking to return this December. 

Meanwhile, Dricus du Plessis is booked to fight former UFC welterweight champ Kamaru Usman. Their middleweight showdown would serve as the headlining match of UFC Oklahoma City on July 18.

Usman, incidentally, beat Strickland via unanimous decision in a welterweight matchup way back in 2017. "The Nigerian Nightmare" also suffered a majority decision defeat in a short-notice middleweight clash against Chimaev in 2023. 

During a recent conversation with Denis Shkuratov on Submission Radio, Dricus du Plessis signaled that a win over Usman at UFC Oklahoma City would not only be a triumphant comeback but also propel him into the title conversation at middleweight. 

In regard to Strickland possibly facing Chimaev in an immediate title rematch next, du Plessis appeared to scoff at it and stated: 

"Yeah, I mean, between Sean (Strickland) and Khamzat (Chimaev), there's no title defenses. I mean, I defended my title twice -- against Strickland once and against Adesanya. They, like, the Khamzat (versus Strickland) rematch is ridiculous. It doesn't make any sense."

He added, "I mean, if they do it, it's, I mean, it's ridiculous. It will be crazy. But, I mean, let them do what they need to do. I'll just fight my way back to... Let my performance speak." 

Moreover, du Plessis indicated that he "can't really say anything" because he was himself defeated in his most recent octagon appearance, the points defeat at the hands of Chimaev last August. "Stillknocks" added, however, that he'll return to the win column this week and prove he's the best in the world. 

When asked whether he'd prefer fighting Strickland or Chimaev to reclaim the middleweight belt, du Plessis implied that he's simply focused on being the best, irrespective of whom he fights. He alluded that he'd like to avenge the Chimaev defeat but isn't chasing that matchup. 

The 32-year-old underscored that he'd eventually best Chimaev and exact revenge for his defeat, even if their rematch happens after they've both moved up to the light heavyweight division.

Intriguingly, both du Plessis and Chimaev have often hinted that they'd like to capture UFC gold at light heavyweight someday. Du Plessis, while speaking with Shkuratov, reaffirmed his intentions to move up to light heavyweight, albeit not before he's recaptured his middleweight title. 

Well, "DDP" further reiterated that his Chechen rival doesn't deserve an immediate title shot at middleweight. Du Plessis said, "He (Khamzat Chimaev) doesn't deserve another title shot." 

Watch Dricus du Plessis sound off on Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev below (*comments at the 10:40-minute mark of the video):