Dricus du Plessis Rewatches Khamzat Chimaev Loss Twice Weekly

Former UFC champ has been studying his mistakes since September defeat.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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South African fighter Dricus du Plessis has been closely analyzing his lopsided title loss to Khamzat Chimaev, rewatching the fight footage at least twice a week since September 2025. Du Plessis says it's been "hard getting through" the defeat, but he's determined to learn from his mistakes.

Why it matters

Du Plessis' loss to Chimaev was a major upset, as he had been the reigning UFC middleweight champion. The fight highlighted areas where Du Plessis needs to improve his skills and strategy to regain the title. His dedication to reviewing the footage shows his commitment to coming back stronger.

The details

In the August 2025 title fight at UFC 319 in Chicago, Du Plessis was thoroughly outmatched by the rising star Chimaev, losing via unanimous decision. Since then, Du Plessis has been intensely studying the fight film to pinpoint where he went wrong and how he can make adjustments for a potential rematch.

  • The title fight took place on August 16, 2025 in Chicago.
  • Du Plessis has been rewatching the fight footage at least twice per week since September 2025.

The players

Dricus du Plessis

A South African fighter who was the reigning UFC middleweight champion before losing his title to Khamzat Chimaev.

Khamzat Chimaev

A rising star in the UFC who defeated Dricus du Plessis to win the middleweight championship.

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What they’re saying

“Hard getting through it”

— Dricus du Plessis (yahoo.com)

What’s next

Du Plessis and Chimaev are expected to have a rematch for the UFC middleweight title in the coming months, though an exact date has not been set.

The takeaway

Du Plessis' dedication to studying his mistakes and preparing for a potential rematch against Chimaev shows his determination to regain the UFC middleweight title he lost in a surprising upset. His willingness to closely analyze his performance is a sign of a true champion looking to bounce back stronger.