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Dricus Du Plessis: Sean Strickland 'a lot stronger' than Khamzat Chimaev
TL;DR
Dricus Du Plessis believes Sean Strickland is physically stronger than Khamzat Chimaev, despite losing his middleweight title to Chimaev. Strickland's upcoming title fight against Chimaev at UFC 328 is anticipated to showcase their contrasting strengths.
Key points
- Dricus Du Plessis compares Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev's strength.
- Du Plessis has fought both fighters, winning against Strickland and losing to Chimaev.
- UFC 328 features Strickland vs. Chimaev for the middleweight title.
Dricus Du PlessisSean StricklandKhamzat ChimaevUFC 328
Dricus Du Plessis gave a surprising take when comparing Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev's strength.
Du Plessis defeated Strickland twice in title fights, but lost his middleweight belt to Chimaev at UFC 319. Now Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) makes his first title defense against Strickland (30-7 MMA, 17-7 UFC) in Saturday's UFC 328 (Paramount+) main event at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Having gone the distance with both fighters, Du Plessis (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) gave the physical strength advantage to Strickland – even though he was taken down 12 times by Chimaev and controlled for over 21 minutes.
"The first round is going to tell us so much about this fight," Du Plessis said on Fight Forecast. "I know Khamzat is going to get him down. I've taken Strickland down so many times, I know Khamzat is going to get him down, but to keep him there? That's going to be the big question. Because Strickland's ability to get up, the technique he uses, the strength he has. He's a strong guy, a lot stronger than Khamzat on a physical level. I think he's going to surprise some people. If Strickland gets up two or three times in the first round, it's not going to get easier with the sweat and the fatigue, trying to keep a guy down that gets up. It uses a lot more energy than the guy getting up.
"Strickland has the cardio, we've seen that. Once Khamzat has to fight Strickland's fight, I just don't think he has a chance. Khamzat throws – he hits hard, he kicks hard, but not scary hard, and he's kind of predictable. And with a guy like Strickland, some of the best defense in the whole of MMA. You're not going to catch him with something if you don't set it up. I don't think Khamzat has the skills to set that knockout up, but it's fighting. He can catch you. If Khamzat takes him down in that first round, holds him down, and Strickland cannot get up, it's Khamzat's fight. But, I do believe Strickland has every tool to not let that happen and maybe snatch that title away. I think the first round is going to tell us how that fight is going to play out."
Q&A
What did Dricus Du Plessis say about Sean Strickland's strength compared to Khamzat Chimaev?
Du Plessis stated that Strickland is 'a lot stronger' than Chimaev on a physical level, despite being taken down multiple times by Chimaev.
When is the UFC 328 main event between Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev?
The UFC 328 main event featuring Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev is scheduled for Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
How did Dricus Du Plessis perform against Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev?
Du Plessis defeated Strickland twice in title fights but lost his middleweight belt to Chimaev at UFC 319.
