Latest news with #DricusduPlessis
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nassourdine Imavov isn't waiting for a title shot, he's forcing the UFC's hand at UFC Paris
The post Nassourdine Imavov isn't waiting for a title shot, he's forcing the UFC's hand at UFC Paris appeared first on ClutchPoints. Nassourdine Imavov, the surging French middleweight and current No. 1 contender, has made his intentions crystal clear as the UFC returns to Paris on September 6. In a statement that signals both his ambition and readiness, Imavov declared: This mindset encapsulates Imavov's approach since breaking into the elite of the division. Not content to wait idly for opportunity, Imavov is set to serve as the official backup for the blockbuster UFC 319 main event between champion Dricus du Plessis and the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev on August 16 in Chicago. Should either fighter be forced to withdraw, Imavov will be ready to step in on a moment's notice for a shot at UFC gold. If not, he's already plotting his next move, headlining in front of a raucous Parisian crowd at the Accor Arena. The Road to No. 1: Imavov's Meteoric Rise Imavov's place atop the middleweight rankings is no accident. Over the past year, he has compiled a four-fight win streak, capped by a stunning second-round TKO of former champion Israel Adesanya in February, a performance that earned him his first UFC 'Performance of the Night' bonus. Prior to that, Imavov dispatched Brendan Allen, Jared Cannonier, and Roman Dolidze, notching two finishes over top-five opposition in the process. His resume now reads like a checklist of the division's most dangerous names, and his confidence is justified. 'I cleaned the weight class in one year, four fights, two wins against top ten competition, two finishes against top five competition,' Imavov asserted after his win over Adesanya. Advertisement Yet, the middleweight title picture remains crowded. With du Plessis and Chimaev set for a high-stakes showdown at UFC 319, Imavov must wait just a little longer for his crack at the belt, or seize it if fate intervenes in Chicago. UFC Paris: The Perfect Stage for 'The Sniper' The UFC's return to Paris on September 6 marks its fourth consecutive year in the French capital, a testament to the sport's explosive growth in France. Imavov, who emigrated from Dagestan to France as a child and developed his fighting skills in Paris, is now the country's top MMA export. The Accor Arena will be electric if he headlines, with French fans eager to see their homegrown contender in action. Imavov's plan is simple: if he doesn't fight for the title at UFC 319, he'll call out a top contender for UFC Paris. 'If no one pulls out, we'll call someone out for Paris. That's the deal with the UFC!' he said, underscoring his refusal to let his momentum stall. Advertisement With du Plessis and Chimaev battling for the title, the question becomes: who is the ideal opponent for Imavov to secure an undeniable claim to the next title shot? Sean Strickland, the former champion, sits at No. 2 in the rankings and remains a high-profile name, but he's coming off a loss to du Plessis and may not be immediately available. Robert Whittaker, another former champion, is also coming off a defeat to Chimaev and is scheduled to face Reinier de Ridder. Israel Adesanya, whom Imavov just finished, is unlikely to get a quick rematch. One name stands out: Caio Borralho. The Brazilian is riding a 14-fight win streak, is undefeated in the UFC, and recently called for a fight with Imavov, believing their styles would make for a compelling main event. Borralho has also just bested Jared Cannonier, another divisional stalwart, and is hungry for a signature win to cement his own title credentials. Another possibility, though less likely, is a rematch with Sean Strickland, who previously defeated Imavov by decision. However, given Strickland's recent loss and the UFC's penchant for fresh matchups, Borralho remains the most logical and marketable option. Advertisement For Imavov, the stakes could not be higher. Headlining UFC Paris would be a career-defining moment, but the real prize is ensuring he is next in line for the middleweight crown. A win over a streaking contender like Borralho in front of his home fans would make his case undeniable. Related: UFC 316: Can a fully healed O'Malley dethrone Dvalishvili or is the 'Suga Show' over? Related: Joe Pyfer fires back at critics: 'I Didn't Get Fraud Checked!', aims at Bo Nickal in fiery rant
IOL News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Financial, venue issues KO's plans for Dricus du Plessis' title defence on SA soil
Dricus du Plessis Khamzat Chimaev will challenge Dricus du Plessis (above) for the middleweight title in the main event of UFC 319 on August 16 in Chicago. Photo: AFP In a bittersweet turn of events for local fight fans, Dricus du Plessis, the reigning UFC world middleweight champion, has failed in his quest to defend his title on home soil. During a candid podcast discussion, Du Plessis, who has emerged as a formidable force in the UFC, detailed the challenges currently stymying his wish. Financial constraints and suitability issues surrounding potential venues that are compliant with UFC standards posed massive problems. With a potent mix of skill and charisma inside the octagon, Du Plessis has rapidly gained traction in the UFC, capturing the hearts of fans worldwide.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Dana White gives key Tom Aspinall vs Jon Jones update and announces THREE huge title fights
Dana White took to Instagram live with three major title fights announced on Tuesday night. The UFC president began by stating that Ilia Topuria, the featherweight champion, will take on Charles Oliveira for the lightweight belt. Topuria has become one of the sport's biggest stars and is already bidding to become a double champion, having won the title at 145-pounds. That will headline International Fight Week on June 28 in Las Vegas, with Alexandre Pantoja vs Kai Kara-France for the flyweight title taking the co-main event slot. Topuria vs Oliveira can only take place for the lightweight title because Islam Makhachev has vacated the belt. He'll be moving up to welterweight to face Jack Della Maddalena for a chance to become double champ himself. Maddalena is fresh off his five-round win over Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 last Saturday so the date and location of his battle with the Russian is yet to be announced. On August 18, Dricus du Plessis will put his middleweight belt on the line against undefeated sensation Khamzat Chimaev. Availability has been the main issue for Chimaev, who has struggled with his health and the after-effects of Covid, while also having problems cutting weight. There should be no such issues for him at middleweight, where he faces the South African champion, who is also undefeated since joining the UFC. On the live stream, plenty of fans were commenting, asking the UFC president whether they can expect an announcement for Tom Aspinall vs Jon Jones. White said: 'I told you guys already, we'll get Aspinall vs Jones done. The heavyweight fight will happen. Just relax, I'll announce that soon.' His confidence should put Aspinall and fans at ease, with Jones never committing publicly to the fight. On Tuesday, he hit back at fans accusing him of ducking the match-up, while riding on a motorbike during a live stream of his own. He said: 'I've got people in the chat calling me a duck. Meanwhile, I'm living my absolute best life. 'I don't know if it's considered ducking when you're living good. I don't think it works like that.' It seems that contest would have to take place towards the end of the year and Aspinall is growing tired of waiting - so is unlikely to hang on much longer before moving on to a different opponent.
Express Tribune
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Du Plessis vs Chimaev officially announced for UFC 319 by Dana White
Listen to article UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis is set to defend his belt against undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev in the headline bout of UFC 319 on 16 August at the United Center in Chicago, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed Tuesday. The event marks the promotion's first return to Chicago since UFC 238 in 2019, and it promises to deliver a high-stakes clash between two of the division's top fighters. Du Plessis, who has not lost since joining the UFC in 2020, captured the middleweight title by edging Sean Strickland via split decision at UFC 297. He went on to submit Israel Adesanya in the fourth round at UFC 305 and followed it up with a unanimous decision win over Strickland in their February 2025 rematch at UFC 312. Meanwhile, Chimaev enters the fight with an unblemished record and growing hype, having delivered eight wins in the UFC, six of them by stoppage. The Chechen-born star made his strongest case for a title shot by submitting former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in the first round at UFC 308—a performance awarded 2024 Submission of the Year. Though Chimaev's rise has been marked by sporadic activity due to injuries and visa issues, his dominance when active has kept him firmly in the title conversation. The upcoming bout against du Plessis offers him his long-awaited chance to claim UFC gold. UFC 319's full fight card is expected to be announced in the coming weeks, but the main event already has fans and analysts anticipating a potentially career-defining showdown.
The Citizen
12-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
OPINION: Big stadium, more people, cheaper tickets — bring UFC to SA
It's time Dricus du Plessis got the chance to fight in his home country. Dricus du Plessis is middleweight UFC champion, but is yet to fight in his home country of South Africa. Picture:As a South African, how much would you pay to go watch the Ultimate Fighting Championship – specifically in South Africa? This has been a question indirectly posed to lovers of mixed martial arts in the last few days by South Africa's UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis. Ever since DDP won the title back in the beginning of last year, there have been claims that the UFC have tried to host an event in South Africa, but the lack of an indoor arena big enough seems to be the biggest problem. But late last week on a podcast, Du Plessis shed some light on what now appears to be a problem just as big as the lack of a venue. He stated that the cheapest single ticket for a UFC event in Las Vegas – in an arena with a capacity of approximately 23,000 seats – costs around R6,000, with VIP ringside seats going for an astronomical R900,000 a pop. 'Come on, let Dricus fight in his home country' These numbers are quite simply well above the budget of most South Africans. He went on to say that here in South Africa the biggest indoor venue has a capacity of about 14,000, which will raise the price of the cheapest ticket to a ridiculous R10,000. Now, South Africa's Minister of Sport, Gayton McKenzie, agreed this is a problem. 'This is the absolute truth, we are trying to get sponsors to subsidise tickets, we must find a way,' McKenzie said on social media. This again raises the question of why can we not just host a South African UFC event in one of our many world class stadiums? There's Cape Town Stadium, FNB Stadium and Loftus Versfeld, all of which have a capacity of well over 50,000. But what about the weather? This has been one of the biggest reasons the UFC refuse to hold open air events. Our weather conditions in this country are mostly predicable so time of year would be the only problem. Bigger venues would mean more tickets sold. And more tickets sold would mean cheaper tickets. Come on UFC, book a stadium so we can see our champion in his own backyard.
