The middleweight champion of the UFC has had its undefeated challenger in his sights for some time.
While Dricus Du Plessis complimented the victory of Anthony Hernandez in less than a week, he was confronted with what many believe he will be his most difficult test.
For some time it has been fair to say that the rise of the champion was the middleweight division surprising to many people who received some of his performances.
The same cannot be said for his next opponent, Khamzat Chimaev, who was tipped for great things from the moment he announced himself in the UFC.
Although he had to overcome a number of setbacks along the way, which Chimaev clearly included in his training camp, it only seemed like a matter of time before he was the best in the world.
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Dricus Du Plessis thought he could be confronted against Khamzat Chimaev in a super fight between champions
Although Dricus Du Plessis is perhaps known as one of the most ruthless trash makers in the sport, he has given Khamzat Chimaev a lot of credit for UFC 319.
The champion spoke in a recent interview with the New York Post, where he revealed that he believed that they would eventually meet in the Octagon for a while.
Just like the fans, he was impressed by the beginning of Chimaev in the UFC, where he set out his claim and competition in both good weight and middle weight.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
'Borz' has shifted to 185 pounds in recent years, but in the beginning it seemed that he was on schedule to first challenge the goodweight belt.
Du Plessis recently said that, after he immediately identified Chimaev as an opponent with whom he would probably cross paths in the future, he was wondering whether the matchup would take place while both men kept UFC gold around their waist.
“Looking at his fighting, you could see that he was something special, that is certain, but he was not in my weight, so it didn't happen to me. As soon as the conversations came up from him and fighting, I just started to get the feeling that I will fight against this guy one day.
“I had this, I will be champion, I know, and maybe he will be champion in 170. Come up, fights for another title. I just got the feeling that we will meet one day in the Octagon. When he moved, I knew this would happen. I knew he would beat boys in the top of the middleweight division.”
Dricus Du Persis believes that this fight came at the perfect moment
While Khamzat Chimaev did not conquer the Welterweight Division, while Dricus du Plessis walked to the top at 185 pounds, the champion still believes that this matchup is a perfect timing.
'Still Knocks' is clearly motivated by the challenge that his next opponent brings to the table, with many fans being high on the UFC 319 event on their list of the largest fighting of the year.
Du Plessis told New York Post Sports that he thinks that his next defending defense represents what mixed martial arts is all about.
“Here we are. I am not surprised that this fight has happened and I am glad it is here. It is a huge fight, it is incredible. I mean, it is great that we get to see this and that nothing has happened in a certain sense where he stayed in the division for too long, was from his prime, something like that.
“Two boys who are really on the best of their skills, fighting each other and I think that is what the sport should be about.”