Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White has confirmed a planned matchup between middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis and contender Khamzat Chimaev. The fight is expected to take place in 2025, though White stated it will not occur during International Fight Week.
White provided updates on potential future fights during a post-fight press conference following UFC Fight Night: Machado Garry vs Prates. He indicated that the bout agreement is finalized for du Plessis versus Chimaev.
The potential middleweight clash has drawn attention from other fighters in the division, including Reinier de Ridder. De Ridder, a former ONE champion, has trained with both du Plessis and Chimaev in the past.
De Ridder recently spoke about his experiences training with the two fighters. He offered a perspective on how the highly anticipated matchup might unfold in the cage.
Based on his training sessions, de Ridder stated he favors Dricus du Plessis in the potential five-round fight. He described Chimaev as likely starting aggressively, attempting takedowns early in the contest.
However, de Ridder suggested that du Plessis possesses defensive wrestling ability and movement that could make securing takedowns difficult for Chimaev. He specifically noted du Plessis' footwork and circling.
De Ridder also commented on Chimaev's finishing ability, expressing doubt that Chimaev would be able to secure a quick submission against du Plessis. If Chimaev cannot get an early finish, de Ridder predicted the fight could become more difficult for him.
He pointed to du Plessis' fighting style, which some observers describe as unorthodox, and his ability to maintain pressure despite appearing tired. De Ridder believes this unpredictable approach combined with du Plessis' heavy strikes could pose problems for Chimaev as the rounds progress.
De Ridder is working towards his own title aspirations in the middleweight division. He is set to face Bo Nickal in an upcoming bout. A victory could potentially position him for a future fight against the winner of the planned du Plessis-Chimaev contest.
"I'm going with Dricus," de Ridder said.
