Dricus du Plessis' coach pushes for title trilogy as injury

Dricus du Plessis's immediate fighting future is caught between a coach's ambition and a potential injury. His head coach, Morne Visser, is publicly campaigning for a third title fight against reigning champion Sean Strickland. However, former champion Khamzat Chimaev has claimed the UFC told him du Plessis is currently injured, throwing a wrench into any short-term plans.

Coach Visser makes the case for a title trilogy

Morne Visser believes his fighter has earned another shot at the belt. Du Plessis returned to the win column in July with a dominant performance over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. That victory, Visser argues, should position him ahead of other contenders. He specifically questioned the need for Strickland to face Nassourdine Imavov next, pointing out Strickland already beat Imavov in a short-notice light heavyweight bout back in January 2023. "I think our next fight will be Sean," Visser told Fight Forecast. He broke down the potential matchup, noting Strickland's evasive Philly shell defense and underrated wrestling. "We've figured out how to fight that Philly shell now," Visser said, expressing confidence in their adjusted game plan for a third standup war.

A reported injury complicates the matchmaking

Just as the call for a title shot gains volume, a new obstacle has emerged. Khamzat Chimaev, who took the title from du Plessis at UFC 319 last year, stated he contacted UFC executive Hunter Campbell about an October return. "They told me that Caio and du Plessis are injured," Chimaev said. He did not provide details on the nature or severity of du Plessis's issue. The UFC has not publicly confirmed any injury. This news creates uncertainty, as du Plessis had been on a shortlist of desired opponents for Chimaev, who is eager to fight after losing his belt to Strickland in May.

The shifting landscape of the middleweight division

The title picture at 185 pounds is in flux. Sean Strickland, who shocked Chimaev to win the title, is expected to make his first defense against Nassourdine Imavov. Chimaev has acknowledged Imavov deserves the shot but stated he will be ready to step in if that fight falls apart. For du Plessis, the path is now less clear. His coach's push for a trilogy is logical given his two prior wins over Strickland and his recent big win. But the injury report, if accurate, could force a delay, potentially allowing other contenders to move ahead in line.

Looking back at the loss that cost him the belt

Du Plessis's current position stems from his title loss to Khamzat Chimaev. At UFC 319, Chimaev's long-awaited return resulted in a violent collision, but du Plessis refused to break under pressure. Despite his toughness, Chimaev's dominant unanimous decision victory ended du Plessis's reign. That set the stage for Chimaev's own upset loss to Strickland at UFC 328 in May, which reopened the division. Du Plessis's subsequent win over Usman proved he remains a top-tier force, but the timeline for his next step is now under question.

• Coach Morne Visser is actively lobbying for a third title fight against Sean Strickland.
• Khamzat Chimaev claims the UFC informed him du Plessis is injured, details unknown.
• Du Plessis rebuilt momentum with a decisive win over Kamaru Usman in July.
• The UFC middleweight title scene is contested between Strickland, Imavov, and waiting contenders like Chimaev and du Plessis.