Dricus du Plessis, the reigning UFC middleweight champion and a fighter who has faced both Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland, believes Strickland possesses greater physical strength than Chimaev.
Du Plessis, who will defend his title against Chimaev at UFC 328, shared his insights during a recent interview. He noted that while Chimaev is adept at securing takedowns, maintaining control against Strickland presents a significant challenge.
According to du Plessis, “Strickland is a strong guy, a lot stronger than Khamzat on a physical level. I think he’s going to surprise some people.” He also emphasized Strickland’s endurance, suggesting that if the fight becomes a battle of attrition, Chimaev might struggle.
Du Plessis further commented on Chimaev’s striking, describing it as powerful but predictable. “Khamzat throws hard and kicks hard, but not scary hard, and he’s a bit predictable, you can see the shots coming,” he stated.
The pivotal first round, in du Plessis’s opinion, will be crucial in determining the fight’s trajectory. “I think the first round will tell us exactly how it’s going to play out.”
Chimaev is known for his freestyle wrestling, often utilizing top control for ground-and-pound or submission attempts. He has a history of decisive finishes, including a 17-second knockout against Gerald Meerschaert.
Strickland, on the other hand, is a prolific striker, averaging a high volume of significant strikes with good accuracy. His defensive capabilities, including takedown defense, are also notable.
