Du Plessis believes he’s just too big and overpowered for Makhachev to stand a chance, even if the lightweight is the pound for pound best in the world.
Islam Makhachev is still talking about a potential move to middleweight to challenge for the title, and now middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis is responding to that callout.
After landing in Dagestan following his successful 155 pound defense at UFC 311 over Renato Moicano, Makhachev explained why he thought he could compete at 185.
“My height allows this, I think my physical abilities allow it too,” he said. “I just need to work with my specialists, gain muscle mass, add a little weight. I think I can try. As I already said at the press conference after the fight, if they offered it to me tomorrow and say they will give me time to gain weight, I would not turn it down. I would 100% agree to fight at middleweight.”
Islam Makhachev talks a move to 185:
“My height allows it, I think my physical data allows it too…
I’m not saying that I can 100% finish Du Plessis. But watching his fights, watching his style, I think I have the keys to victory.”
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— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 26, 2025
“I’m not saying that I have a better chance, that I can 100% finish Du Plessis, but watching his fights, watching his style, I think I have the keys to victory.”
Dricus Du Plessis is now in Sydney, Australia as we approach the final week before UFC 312 on February 8th. He’s 100% focused on defending his belt against Sean Strickland … but he did address Islam’s comments in an interview with Main Event.
“It’s hard to really take it seriously right now with this big fight coming up, so I didn’t make anything of it,” Du Plessis said. “You know, if we get to a situation where we are not right at now, he is an incredible fighter. He was so incredibly good against Moicano. He once again proved why he is the pound for pound best in the world.”
“He obviously trains with the 185ers in his gym,” he continued. “He doesn’t train against me. Believe me, it’s not the same thing. Even on a technical level, in stand up? His wrestling and grappling is phenomenal. But I’m just overpowered. That’s what I think. It makes a massive difference. He’s a big lightweight, but I’m a big middleweight. There’s a big difference between a big lightweight and a big middleweight.”
“But if there’s ever the situation where there’s no fight for me and no fight for him that makes sense, I’ll be more than happy to do that. Easy payday!”
For now Dricus Du Plessis has his hands full with Sean Strickland and then Khamzat Chimaev, and probably Israel Adesanya again down the line.
We have our doubts Makhachev would ever get the UFC to go along with his scheme to jump up to middleweight, but stranger things have happened. If his friend and teammate Belal Muhammad manages to solidify his position as welterweight champion, there’s few other options for Islam if he wants a second title.