UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis is on a collision path with the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev in 2025.
Dana White announced some major UFC fights recently, including some big news regarding the lightweight, welterweight, and middleweight title pictures.
The next defense for the 185-pound kingpin has been scheduled, with Du Plessis set to face Chimaev in the main event of UFC 319 in Chicago on August 16.
Unsurprisingly, given both men’s penchant for trash talk, the back-and-forth has already started.
However, one former UFC fighter thinks the South African took advantage of a lie in a recent jibe at his upcoming challenger.
Chael Sonnen reacts to Dricus du Plessis mocking Khamzat Chimaev’s history of canceled fights
Soon after confirmation of Du Plessis vs Chimaev, Nassourdine Imavov was announced as the backup fighter. The Frenchman will step in should injury, illness, or another factor prevent either man from reaching the cage on August 16.
The champion reacted to the news on social media. Du Plessis mocked Chimaev’s past health issues by joking that Imavov’s backup status means he’ll certainly get to fight at UFC 319.
Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen brought that up during a recent YouTube video, explaining why Du Plessis’ joke contributed to an ongoing “false rumor.”
“Dricus took the post that says Imavov will be backup fighter and Dricus took that as an announcement that in Chicago later this year, he will be defending his title against Imavov because he believes that Chimaev — who has a history of pulling out of fights — is going to stay true to form and pull out of the fight.
“That’s a little bit of a false rumor — that whole idea that Chimaev has had to pull out of a bunch of fights,” Sonnen continued. “When the pandemic hit, Chimaev never thought he was going to fight again…he was on a ventilator.
“In extreme cases such as that, I don’t know that five years later, we stick around and use that to pierce the veil of this guy’s immaculate credibility.”
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Khamzat Chimaev has had six canceled fights in the UFC
Although Chimaev has risen to stardom in the UFC and extended his perfect MMA record to 14-0 in the promotion, he has struggled to string together a consistent run of fights.
The Chechen fighter started his career on the sport’s biggest stage in quick fashion, winning three fights in three months, but his subsequent five fights have come over the span of five years.
A COVID-19 diagnosis threatened to cut Chimaev’s career short, and further health issues have resulted in extended layoffs.
Among the six canceled fights for ‘Borz’ in the UFC were three scheduled contests with Leon Edwards, a pay-per-view main event with Nate Diaz, and a grudge match with Paulo Costa.
Chimaev will hope that his issues reaching the Octagon are a thing of the past, especially as he gears up for the start of a potential title reign at 185 pounds.