Dricus du Plessis questions Chimaev’s ability to handle defeat

The UFC satellite is eagerly awaiting 1 of the astir absorbing fights successful caller years. In Chicago, the middleweight rubric volition beryllium defended by Dricus du Plessis against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev. This combat has been making headlines for days arsenic galore deliberation the combatant of Chechen root volition yet instrumentality the belt, but the reigning champion has a wholly antithetic opinion.

Du Plessis spoke openly

The experienced South African pointed retired that intelligence spot volition play a cardinal relation successful this clash. He wonders however an undefeated combatant would respond if helium experienced nonaccomplishment for the archetypal clip successful his career.

“I deliberation aft Saturday nighttime it volition beryllium clip to introspect and inquire ‘what next?’ I don’t cognize wherever helium is mentally. I cognize helium keeps saying helium has a batch of wealth – I haven’t checked his slope statements, but helium says it. He is truthful convinced that helium volition go a satellite champion, and I americium present to archer him: no. There is nary mode you volition beryllium a champion portion I americium a champion. It volition beryllium absorbing to spot however helium takes it,” the champion said astatine UFC 319 Media Day.

The 40-year-old combatant recalled that helium himself went done a hard acquisition erstwhile helium was defeated for the archetypal time: “I felt my archetypal defeat. I cognize what it feels like. Terrible. But that’s erstwhile your quality comes out. So it volition beryllium absorbing to spot however helium rises from that.”

Khamzat enters this duel with a cleanable people and a batch of nationalist pressure. He describes himself arsenic the aboriginal ruler of the octagon, but connected the different manus helium is waiting for a combatant who has proven repeatedly that helium should not beryllium underestimated. If the South African champion defends his rubric erstwhile again, it volition beryllium a wide connection to everyone that helium should not beryllium written off. And if the young challenger does succeed, past the martial arts satellite volition person a caller king.