According to Dricus du Plessis, who has fought both Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland, “The American Nightmare” possesses greater physical strength than “Borz.” This assessment comes ahead of UFC 328, where Chimaev will defend his middleweight title against Strickland.
Du Plessis, who previously lost his middleweight title to Chimaev at UFC 319 and then to Strickland at UFC 297 and UFC 312, shared his insights on the upcoming matchup. He highlighted the importance of the opening round, stating, “I know he’s going to get Sean Strickland down, but keeping him there is the big question.”
“Strickland’s a strong guy, a lot stronger than Khamzat on a physical level,” Du Plessis remarked. “I think he’s going to surprise some people.” He also pointed to Strickland’s endurance as a potential advantage later in the fight.
Du Plessis suggested that if Chimaev is forced to engage in a “Strickland fight,” his chances diminish. He described Chimaev’s attacks as hard but predictable, allowing opponents to anticipate his shots. The former champion concluded that the first five minutes of the fight will likely dictate the outcome.
Chimaev, known for his freestyle wrestling and dominant top control, holds an undefeated record of 15-0. He successfully completed 12 of 17 takedowns against du Plessis in their last encounter.
Strickland, with a record of 30-7, averages 6.04 significant strikes per minute and boasts a 42% accuracy and 60% striking defense. He has a strong takedown defense rate of 76% and demonstrated effective striking in his split-decision victory over Paulo Costa at UFC 302.
English Translation and Paraphrased Version:
Sean Strickland is Physically Stronger Than Khamzat Chimaev, According to Dricus du Plessis
Dricus du Plessis, a fighter who has faced both Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland, believes Strickland possesses superior physical strength compared to Chimaev. Du Plessis offered this perspective on the upcoming UFC 328 middleweight title bout between Chimaev and Strickland.
Du Plessis, who has shared the octagon with both fighters, emphasized the critical nature of the first round in their anticipated fight. He stated, “I anticipate he’ll manage to take Sean Strickland down, but the real challenge will be maintaining that position.”
“Strickland is a powerful individual, possessing more physical strength than Khamzat,” du Plessis commented. “I believe he might catch some people off guard.” He further suggested that Strickland’s stamina could become a significant factor as the fight progresses.
Du Plessis indicated that if Chimaev is drawn into a fight that suits Strickland’s style, his chances of victory could be reduced. He characterized Chimaev’s striking as powerful but somewhat predictable, allowing opponents to foresee his attacks. The former champion concluded that the initial five minutes of the bout would be highly indicative of the final result.
Chimaev, renowned for his freestyle wrestling prowess and his ability to control opponents on the ground, maintains an undefeated professional record of 15 wins. In his fight against du Plessis, he secured 12 out of 17 attempted takedowns.
Strickland, holding a professional record of 30 wins and 7 losses, averages 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 42% accuracy rate and a 60% striking defense. He also exhibits strong takedown defense, successfully fending off 76% of attempts. Strickland showcased his striking ability in his split-decision win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302.
