On UFC 319 Dricus du Plessis suffered his first defeat in the Octagon.
While the former UFC champion middleweight was previously reflected in his career loss, the way in which his third title defense took place was the more alarming aspect.
Daniel Cormier admitted that he was disappointed in Du Plessis when he questioned the preparations for the South African before August 16.
The wrestling of Khamzat Chimaev was completely dominant last weekend and that will be a concern for the other contenders in the division.
With speculation about what the next one could be for Du Plessis, a UFC legend made it clear to completely write off one option.
Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC
Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson says that Dricus du Plessis should think about moving weight classes after UFC 319
If Dricus Du Plessis had lost his middleweight title in a narrow battle, there could be an argument that he earned a rematch.
This was not the case at all at UFC 319, in which Dana White believed that the Scorecards should have been one -sided in favor of Khamzat Chimaev if there was anything.
Du Plessis can even have difficulty earning a rematch with Chimaev later along the line, even if he is able to leave and go back to the win column.
During the UFC 319 composition of the Jaxxon Podcast, Jackson Quinton 'Rampage' went so far that he suggests that the former middleweight champion should think about moving divisions.
Jackson said that a rematch should not even be a thought for 'still knows' at the moment, and while he proposed a step, Du Plessis spoke about wanting to fight against light heavyweight in the past.
“He has just been destroyed. DDP should not even say the word 're' or 'match' in the same F – sentence in an interview, with all due respect. DDP should probably go to another weight class. He should probably fall in weight, he is stuck.”
The next opponent of Dricus du Plessis will probably be determined by the outcome of two upcoming fights
It seems very unlikely that Dricus du Plessis will currently move weight classes, which then opens the question with whom he could be confronted in his return to the Octagon.
Paulo Costa can be an external choice, but it would be logical for him to see one of the four men who have currently been booked in matchups who will decide who will be the first challenger of Khamzat Chimaev.
Du Plessis could be confronted in his comeback fight opposite one of Nassourdine Imavov, Caio Borralho, Reinier de Ridder or Anthony Hernandez.
Perhaps, after the two winners of these upcoming fights have been created, one of them will be confronted to Chimaev, while the other will welcome the former champion back.