Dricus du Plessis Issues First Statement After UFC 319 Title Loss

Dricus du Plessis has issued a heartfelt statement following his unanimous decision loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319, which ended his reign as UFC middleweight champion. The South African fighter was dominated by Chimaev's relentless wrestling and ground control, with the undefeated Russian-Emirati fighter holding a record 21 minutes and 40 seconds of ground control in the title bout. Despite the one-sided defeat, Du Plessis expressed respect for Chimaev, acknowledged his shortcomings without excuses, and embraced the loss as a necessary part of his pursuit of greatness. He vowed to return stronger, describing the loss as a catalyst that has ignited an intense desire to reclaim his place at the top of the division. Du Plessis also thanked his family, friends, fans, sponsors, and even those who doubted him, affirming his belief in a greater plan and his commitment to a future comeback. While a rematch is not currently planned, Du Plessis is focused on learning from this experience and preparing for his next chapter in the UFC middleweight division.