Dricus Du Plessis Next Fight: Rumors & UFC Return

Few UFC contenders have seen their stock swing as dramatically as Dricus du Plessis over the past year. After climbing to the top of the middleweight division with wins over Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland, a decisive loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 has left his path uncertain.

Current UFC Rank: #2 middleweight (as of mid-2026) ·
Last Fight: UFC 319, Aug. 16, 2025 (loss to Khamzat Chimaev) ·
UFC Record: 9-1 (20-4 overall) ·
Next Fight Rumor: Headliner for UFC Oklahoma City, July 18, 2026

Key Facts: Dricus du Plessis

Eight data points define the South African contender’s physical and competitive profile.

The implication: These numbers anchor du Plessis’s physical tools, but the gap between his ranking and recent inactivity defines his current contract leverage.

Who Will Fight Dricus Du Plessis Next?

Sean Strickland as the Next Opponent?

• Sean Strickland has publicly called out du Plessis, arguing he doesn’t deserve a title shot after the Chimaev loss and a long layoff (YouTube interview discussion).
• Strickland lost to du Plessis by split decision in January 2024 and unanimous decision in February 2025 (ESPN MMA Profile). A trilogy fight would settle the score.
• Du Plessis, in a recent interview, hinted that “Imavov is going to fight Chimaev next” and that his own opponent depends on matchmaking and rankings (YouTube interview).

Rumored UFC Oklahoma City Headliner

• Multiple sources point to July 18, 2026, as the date for UFC Oklahoma City, with du Plessis as the rumored headliner (FightMatrix quarterly ranking shows #2 as of April 2026, consistent with a rumored booking).
• No official fighter has been named for the opposite corner. The UFC has not confirmed the event.
• If Strickland fights du Plessis, the winner could become the No. 1 contender, given the current champion (likely Chimaev) would need an opponent.

“Strickland called du Plessis ‘out of his mind’ for believing he deserves a title shot after the Chimaev loss.”

— Analysis of Strickland’s comments (YouTube)

What Is Dricus Du Plessis’s Current UFC Ranking?

UFC Middleweight Rankings

• As of the official UFC rankings, du Plessis is ranked #2 in the middleweight division (UFC.com).
• Behind him: Nassourdine Imavov (#3), Brendan Allen (#4), Caio Borralho (#5), Anthony Hernandez (#6) (UFC Rankings).
• FightMatrix, a community-ranked aggregator, places him at #3 middleweight and #11 pound-for-pound (FightMatrix). The discrepancy reflects weighting of recent losses.

Pound-for-Pound Standing

• Du Plessis does not appear in the UFC official pound-for-pound top 15 as of mid-2026, a fall from his peak after the Adesanya win.
• The loss to Chimaev at UFC 319 dropped him from the top 5 P4P discussion (ESPN profile history).

What this means: Du Plessis is still the highest-ranked active contender not holding title aspirations from a recent win. But his inactivity and the strength of Chimaev’s championship have made his immediate path to gold uncertain.

“Du Plessis blamed an unnamed person for delaying the announcement of his next fight, suggesting management or the UFC is holding up the booking.”

— Du Plessis interview analysis (YouTube)

What Is Dricus Du Plessis’s Full MMA Record?

Dricus Du Plessis Losses

• Professional MMA record: 20 wins, 4 losses (FightMatrix).
• His UFC losses are to Khamzat Chimaev (Aug. 16, 2025, at UFC 319) and previously to Roberto Soldic in 2018 (outside the UFC) (ESPN).
• In the UFC, du Plessis went on a 9-fight win streak from his debut in 2020 until the Chimaev loss (FightMatrix).

Dricus Du Plessis Age and Weight

• Age: 31 (born Jan. 14, 1994).
• Weight class: Middleweight (185 lbs/84 kg).
• Height: 6 ft 0 in (183 cm), reach 74 in.

The pattern: His record is strong, but the single loss inside the division has reset the contender ladder.

Timeline: Du Plessis’s Recent Career

• July 8, 2023 – Defeated Robert Whittaker by KO/TKO at UFC 290 (ESPN).
• Jan. 20, 2024 – Defeated Sean Strickland by split decision at UFC 297 to become middleweight champion (ESPN).
• Aug. 17, 2024 – Defeated Israel Adesanya by submission at UFC 305 (ESPN).
• Feb. 8, 2025 – Defeated Sean Strickland 2 by unanimous decision at UFC 312 (ESPN).
• Aug. 16, 2025 – Lost to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 (ESPN).
• Rumored: July 18, 2026 – Potential return at UFC Oklahoma City.

The catch: Even if du Plessis wins, the UFC may still prioritise a fresh challenger over a rematch with Chimaev. For a more in-depth look at his career, check out Jaden Philogene stats and injury information at Jaden Philogene stats and injury.

Confirmation and Uncertainty

The implication: The UFC holds the cards, and du Plessis’s leverage depends on how long he is willing to wait.

What the Experts Are Saying

“Brendan Allen is the next man up,” one analyst noted, but the same interview transcript suggests du Plessis remains the number one target in the contender discussion (YouTube interview analysis).

Strickland’s camp has publicly argued that du Plessis should not leapfrog active contenders like Imavov or Allen, calling the former champion’s title talk “delusional” (Strickland comments via YouTube).

Summary

Dricus du Plessis sits at a crossroads: a #2 ranking with a recent loss, a lengthy layoff, and a vocal rival in Sean Strickland who wants the trilogy. If the UFC books that fight for July 18 in Oklahoma City, the winner likely earns a title shot against Khamzat Chimaev. For du Plessis, the choice is clear: take the Strickland fight now, or risk being leapfrogged by Imavov or Allen while his rank erodes from inactivity. For the South African contender, inactivity is the real opponent — and he’s losing that fight.

Fans eager to learn more about his journey can check out Dricus du Plessis UFC record for a detailed career overview.

Frequently Asked Questions