UFC Middleweight Champion Du Plessis Faces Undefeated Chimaev at UFC 319 Chicago

Dricus Du Plessis, the current UFC middleweight champion, is preparing for a brutal 45-pound weight cut to make the 185-pound limit for his upcoming UFC 319 title defense against undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev. Despite being seen as the underdog, Du Plessis is confident he can break Chimaev's unbeaten streak and become the dominant 'boogeyman' of the division. Analysts and former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub have speculated that Du Plessis, who walks around at around 225 to 230 pounds, has the size to move up not only to light heavyweight but potentially heavyweight, making a rare bid for three UFC titles across different weight classes. This bold prediction comes amid a broader UFC trend of fighters like Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria pursuing championships in multiple divisions. Du Plessis himself has expressed interest in moving up to light heavyweight in the long term, eyeing fights against top contenders in that division. His upcoming bout against Chimaev at UFC 319 is seen as pivotal, with the winner potentially embarking on a historic multi-division title run.