It has been a while since Dricus Du Plessis fought against a wrestler.
The UFC champion middleweight is confronted with one of the most feared grapplers in the recent memory, the unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev on UFC 319 this weekend.
A few sleeps away from what Dana White called the 'Fight of the Year', the unorthodox du Plessis was asked on Mediadag how much he has changed as a hunter from his 2023 fight with an eternal competitionman Derek Brunson on UFC 285.
Du Plessis struggled against Brunson in his last fight with a breathing handicap, had to overcome a tough first round before he finally had the more tired wrestler in the last seconds of Round 2 TKO.
“It can't get worse than he throws in the towel,” said Du Plessis about his former fight with Brunson.
Brunson says that in his answer he has captured a lost from the UFC champion.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
Derek Brunson says he fought via Covid-19
Brunson spoke on Thursday the comments of Du Plessis and said he was fighting the South African, even though he had a case of COVID-19.
” * Ducking * For I catch stray animals,” Brunson wrote on X.
“I had Covid and still fought.
“I fired my corner because I did that, Shiii Lol.
“The first round was probably a 10-8,” said Brunson about the score for his fight with Du Plessis.
“Good scrap and good luck Dric!” Brunson added.
* Ducking * For I catch wanderings 🔫 🔫 🔫. I had Covid and still fought. I fired my corner because I had done that Shiii Lol. The first round was probably a 10-8 🤔. Good scrap and good luck Dricus! https://t.co/yaonzydtyi
– Derek Brunson (@derekbrunson) August 14, 2025
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Brunson cleared that he did not fired his corner in a follow -up post.
“I didn't firmly fired my corner, I was JK. They just looked out for me. Dricus caught me lacking.
“If you beat me, you have to be giant or an elite hunter. No shame when losing the ruling champion and a top 10 pfp hunter. I look forward to the fight!
I didn't firm my corner, I was JK. They just walked out for me. Dricus caught me the lack of umn. If you beat me, you have to be goat -like or an elite hunter. No shame when losing the ruling champion and a top 10 pfp hunter. I look forward to the fight!
– Derek Brunson (@derekbrunson) 15 August 2025
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How good is the Takedown defense of Dricus Du Plessis?
A big question in everyone's thoughts is how Du Plessis will hold Chimaev's wrestling attacks.
Du Plessis is not known for its Takedown defense, because his Takedown defense percentage at 50% over nine UFC fights.
Du Plessis was brought down by Derek Brunson, Robert Whittaker and Darren Till, with Brunson who is successful in the opening round against 'Still Knocks'.
One of the most important keys to the victory for Chimaev is to get the removal against Du Plessis early. A longer fight seems to favor Du Plessis because he had previously been in the championship rounds, in contrast to the challenger.