Reigning UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis will defend his 185-pound title against undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev atop the UFC 319 pay-per-view (PPV) card on Aug. 16 in Chicago.
Reinier de Ridder is expecting to fight the winner.
He might get an argument from one of these two combatants but nevertheless, “The Dutch Knight” will return to training camp — fresh off his UFC Abu Dhabi victory over Robert Whittaker — with two different styles to prepare for.
Chimaev may prove to be the easier
of the two.
“He would be like an easier guy to prepare for,” Du Plessis told ESPN MMA. “Not that he is an easier fight, but he is more of a typical style. I can bring a couple of Dagestanis and a couple of Chechens in who wrestle pretty similar to Khamzat. He boxes pretty cleanly, like boxing style. So yeah, that is not that spectacular, not that special in a sense that it’s not as weird as Dricus is, you know. It’ll be harder to prepare for [Du Plessis] but if he wins he might be the bigger name — but in my mind I’m fighting both those guys in the next six to nine months anyway.’’
That may depend on whether or not “disaster” strikes.
‘’It’s been a crazy year,” Du Plessis told ESPN MMA after his Abu Dhabi performance. “I’ve said all week: four fights, three finishes, almost finished Rob. Life is good. I’m a Top 5 guy now. So yeah, I would say Dricus, I would say Khamzat. I’m thinking of Dricus (winning at UFC 319). He has the Dutch genes, like me. I think Dricus, but we’ll see. [Israel] Adesanya would also be nice. That is a dream matchup. That would be a nice first title defense.’’
De Ridder is currently ranked No. 5 at 185 pounds.
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