This Saturday, Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland are set for war in a highly anticipated rematch. Their first fight was a back-and-forth battle that ended in a razor-close split decision. While Du Plessis remains undefeated in the UFC, he did suffer a past defeat to Roberto Soldic. However, despite their history, Soldic is backing the middleweight champion to defend his title once again.
Du Plessis hasn’t lost in nearly seven years, but the last man to defeat him, Roberto Soldic, has nothing but praise for his success. The two fought twice in 2018, with Du Plessis winning their first bout via second-round TKO to claim the welterweight title before Soldic avenged the loss with a third-round knockout. Since then, Du Plessis has gone on a dominant 10-fight win streak, including an 8-0 UFC record.
Soldic isn’t surprised by Du Plessis’ rise, praising his power, unpredictability, and conditioning. After their fight, he analyzed his mistakes and now notices many UFC fighters making the same errors against Du Plessis. In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Soldic shared his thoughts:
“I don’t know. He’s the same fighter as when he fought me. He’s 100 kilos so he’s a middleweight now. I’m 91 kilos but I can read him still. I read my opponents good. I read them very well. Strickland is also good but I think Dricus is going to defend his title again. I don’t know why but I think he’s now only going up.”
Roberto Soldic, the last person to beat Dricus du Plessis, reveals why he’s such a difficult opponent https://t.co/EcUkGAqXnO
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) February 7, 2025
Soldic praised ‘Stillknocks’ for his powerful punches and kicks, emphasizing that everything he throws carries serious force. Now, fans eagerly await to see how ‘Tarzan’ will perform against Du Plessis in their upcoming showdown.
Khamzat Chimaev To Face Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland Winner For Middleweight Title
Du Plessis is set to defend his belt against Strickland at UFC 312. While rumors of a Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev fight circulated earlier, it never happened. However, Dana White recently confirmed that Chimaev, who earned his shot after submitting Robert Whittaker at UFC 308, is next in line for the title. When asked about Chimaev’s status at a UFC 312 press conference, White stated:
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“I don’t know anything about him being here. As far as I know he’s not going to be at the event, no. And, obviously, he’s in line [for a title shot].”
Now, undefeated middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev must wait to see who his next opponent will be. His eventual title fight promises to be a must-watch showdown, but for now, he can only wait for the UFC 312 winner.
