Here’s a bold statement for you: Dricus Du Plessis doesn’t just doubt Khamzat Chimaev’s chances against Alex Pereira—he flat-out says, 'No way.' And this is the part most people miss: despite suffering a one-sided defeat to Chimaev himself, Du Plessis is convinced the Chechen-born wrestler wouldn’t stand a chance against the reigning champion in a larger weight class. But here’s where it gets controversial: is Du Plessis’s skepticism rooted in reality, or is he letting personal bias cloud his judgment? Let’s dive in.
After Alex Pereira delivered a stunning first-round TKO victory over Magomed Ankalaev in their UFC 320 rematch, Chimaev wasted no time throwing his hat into the ring with a social media callout. While the idea of Chimaev vs. Pereira seems like a long shot at best, Du Plessis argues that Pereira’s sheer size and dominance would be too much for Chimaev to handle. 'Pereira is one of the greatest to ever do it in combat sports,' Du Plessis told Fight Forecast. 'Even at light heavyweight, he looked massive against Ankalaev. There’s no realistic chance Chimaev wins that fight.'
But here’s the kicker: Pereira isn’t just sitting around waiting for Chimaev. After dismantling Ankalaev, he’s already eyeing a blockbuster matchup against Jon Jones at the UFC’s White House card in 2026. Meanwhile, Chimaev has his own contender to worry about in Nassourdine Imavov, who impressed with a win over Caio Borralho at UFC Paris last September. So, is Du Plessis right to dismiss Chimaev’s chances, or is he underestimating the unpredictability of MMA? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments—do you agree with Du Plessis, or do you think Chimaev could pull off the upset?
