Dricus du Plessis: ‘Ridiculous’ for Khamzat Chimaev to blame UFC 328 loss on bad weight cut

Key Points:

• Dricus du Plessis dismissed claims that Khamzat Chimaev's weight cut issues affected his performance in his UFC 328 loss to Sean Strickland, calling the excuse "ridiculous" and emphasizing personal discipline in weight management.
• Chimaev lost a split decision to Strickland after a strong start but visibly slowed down, with some attributing this to a difficult weight cut; however, du Plessis argued that cutting 12 pounds in 24 hours is manageable and not a valid reason for defeat.
• Du Plessis believed the fight was a clear win for Strickland, who became a two-time middleweight champion and handed Chimaev his first professional loss, despite some fans calling the decision controversial.
• While Chimaev’s team has pushed for an immediate rematch, du Plessis opined that Strickland should not have to fight Chimaev again so soon, noting Chimaev’s inconsistent statements about moving up to light heavyweight or seeking a rematch.
• Du Plessis sees Chimaev at a crossroads: either the loss will motivate him to evolve beyond relying on wrestling or it could be a setback, with the fighter’s next move—whether changing weight classes or pursuing a rematch—still uncertain.