Agreeing with that sentiment is Morne Visser, Du Plessis’ head coach, who just a day removed from losing the title at UFC 319, has slammed Chimaev’s performance.

Chimaev, who has been billed as a future megastar since his UFC debut, finally captured gold at UFC 319, and the money followed. His payout from the event is believed to be between $1.8 and $2 million, the highest paycheck of his career so far.

Du Plessis has been one of the most dominant fighters over the past couple of years. Since his first fight in the UFC in 2020, the South African contestant has not lost a match, winning the Middleweight belt at UFC 290 in 2023. He has since defended the title thrice, two wins coming by decision.

UFC 319 takes place on Saturday night with Dricus Du Plessis defending the middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev. Here are the official weigh-in results.

In the main event, South Africa's Dricus Du Plessis will seek a third defense of his middleweight title opposite the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev. It's one of the biggest fights the UFC could make right now, and one that is rife with pound-for-pound implications.