The martial arts sphere bears witness to a critical moment, notably one involving Dricus Du Plessis. Accorded the honor of being the reigning middleweight titleholder, Du Plessis was zealously preparing for his third defense endeavor. Anticipation grew as he was expected to compete against Khamzat Chimaev in the renowned UFC 317 event. However, the unforeseen has occurred; ‘Stillknocks,’ as Du Plessis is often known, is now dealing with a significant setback due to an unfortunate injury.
In the wake of this predicament, it appears that the UFC is expected to arrange an interim title match for the middleweight title in the near future. This development has caught the attention of UFC veteran Daniel Cormier who expressed his disagreement with it publicly. He was particularly concerned about the prospect of Chimaev now potentially taking part in an interim title bout, most likely against Caio Borralho.
Cormier’s disappointment stems from the fact that Du Plessis had been active not long ago, hence an interim match seems unnecessary. Cormier reminisced, ‘Imagine if this situation had transpired a decade ago. Dricus was injured right after his bout with Sean Strickland just a few months prior. No one would have made a fuss then. Barely a murmur would have been heard about an interim title. But given today’s ease in interim titles availability, there is a rising demand for it.’
Furthermore, Cormier hold a firm believe that granting an interim title bout could potentially be unfair towards Du Plessis. He went as far as criticizing the UFC, construing this as the most discriminatory interim title occurrence in UFC history. Amid these debates, opinions about the potential outcome if the original match was to take place continue to rise.
Among the many voices, Renier De Ridder, a prominent name in UFC, offered his insights. His proximity to both Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus Du Plessis — given that he has trained with both of them — affords him a unique perspective on the anticipated bout.
With an understanding of their techniques and strategies, De Ridder expressed his prediction for the contest. He stated, ‘Having personally witnessed their trainings, I would say that in a five-round match, it would be natural for Khamzat to be imposing right from the start, aiming for takedowns quickly. However, overcoming Dricus isn’t an easy feat. He exhibits brilliant mobility, even if it appears a bit quirky at times. His footwork is commendable, he posses the knack to escape and his excellent circling technique.’
De Ridder’s proclamation may have been seen as an accurate gauge of the rivalry. However, because of the recent turn of events and the subsequent changes, the forthcoming developments remain to be unveiled.
The post Dricus Du Plessis Injured: Setback for UFC 317 appeared first on Real News Now.
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