The former UFC middleweight champion will first take time away from the sport to work on a few things.
Dricus du Plessis, the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion from South Africa, may have lost his title to Khamzat Chimaev of Russia, but his coach Morne Visser insists that DDP has plenty left to offer.
The 31-year-old plans to reassess his strategy and address the weaknesses that contributed to his recent defeat. Wrestling emerged as a significant hurdle during his latest fight.
The middleweight division features numerous fighters poised to challenge Chimaev for the title.
Below is an overview of four potential fighters who could be Du Plessis’ next opponent as he aims for a return to title contention.
Reinier de Ridder
De Ridder, hailing from the Netherlands, is a former training partner of Du Plessis. This matchup is deemed logical for the South African’s return to the octagon.
Currently positioned as the UFC’s No. 5 middleweight, De Ridder is a former ONE champion at both middleweight and light heavyweight, holding a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. He remains unbeaten in five UFC contests.
With a professional record boasting 21 wins against only two losses, he possesses an elite ground game but is also capable of striking effectively.
Anthony Hernandez
Ranked No. 6, Hernandez has been in the UFC for a while but has recently gained momentum in the middleweight title race due to some impressive wins over the past year.
Hernandez, who has a professional record of 15 wins and 2 losses, faces De Ridder in October. The outcome of this match could determine who faces Du Plessis for the top contender position.
Nassourdine Imavov
The Frenchman, originally from Russia, previously held the No. 1 contender status in the UFC middleweight division and appears to be a frontrunner to challenge Chimaev.
Like Du Plessis, Imavov has a preference for striking but also shares vulnerabilities in his wrestling skills.
Holding a fight record of 16 wins and four losses and currently riding a four-fight win streak, Imavov is likely to create an exciting match against DDP.
Caio Borralho
Borralho, a Brazilian fighter, holds black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai, along with a brown belt in Judo.
With a professional record of 17 wins and just one loss, the 32-year-old is on a seven-fight win streak in the UFC—a testament to his dangerous capabilities.
Training at the well-known Fighting Nerds gym in Brazil, eight of his fights have gone the distance, which may not appeal to Du Plessis’ style.
Additionally, he served as the backup opponent for Du Plessis in his last bout against Chimaev.
