logo
‘Impossible' – Dricus Du Plessis reveals ‘unique' advantage Khamzat Chimaev won't be able to overcome at UFC 319

‘Impossible' – Dricus Du Plessis reveals ‘unique' advantage Khamzat Chimaev won't be able to overcome at UFC 319

The Irish Sun3 days ago
The South African will is undefeated inside the octagon
KHAM AND GET IT
KHAM AND GET IT 'Impossible' – Dricus Du Plessis reveals 'unique' advantage Khamzat Chimaev won't be able to overcome at UFC 319
DRICUS DU PLESSIS reckons Khamzat Chimaev will have found it 'IMPOSSIBLE' to prepare for their mammoth middleweight melee.
South African slugger Du Plessis will make his third defence of the 185lbs title against the fan favourite on August 16 in the main event of UFC 319 in Chicago.
Advertisement
5
Dricus Du Plessis will make the third defence of his middleweight title at UFC 319
Credit: AP
5
DDP will defend his middleweight crown against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319
Credit: UFC
5
The undefeated Chimaev is the favourite going into his first UFC title fight
Credit: GETTY
Chimaev, 31, will look to fulfil what many have long believed has been his destiny and win middleweight gold.
But Du Plessis believes 'Borz' will be hard pressed to do so as he won't have been able to find anyone who can mimic his unorthodox style in the build-up to their eagerly-anticipated showdown.
He told Fox 32 Chicago: "With my style, that is a very controversial style in the UFC, unlike anything that most people have ever seen.
"Bit's only a benefit because it's proven to be effective.
Advertisement
"But then again, how do you prepare for that? How do you find somebody to mimic that?
"And at the end of the day, that's almost my niche.
"It's impossible to prepare for me because I have this unique style that, where do you find somebody to mimic it?"
Despite having only defeated one legitimate middleweight, Chimaev is the FAVOURITE going into the Chi-Town clash.
Advertisement
SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET £50 BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN
5
Dricus Du Plessis reckons his unorthodox style will give him an advantage against Khamzat Chomaev
Credit: EPA
5
DDP has bamboozled everyone he's fought in the UFC cage with his unconventional approach
Credit: GETTY
Du Plessis has grown used to being counted out, saying: "I'm the underdog.
Advertisement
"I've been the underdog for most of my career, yet I am the champion.
EXCLUSIVE: Dricus Du Plessis REFUSES to retract 'real' African fighter comment ahead of Israel Adesanya grudge match at UFC 305
"So, odds don't make fights and for me, I 100 per cent believe this is the best opponent that I have faced to date.
"But so was the previous one.
"Every time you step in there, you're going to face the next most dangerous guy – especially as the champion.
Advertisement
"So for me, yes, this is the best opponent I've ever come up against, but once again, I'll show my improvements and why I am the champion."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Conor McGregor says 'happy birthday sexy' to Dee Devlin as couple shut down shop
Conor McGregor says 'happy birthday sexy' to Dee Devlin as couple shut down shop

Irish Daily Mirror

timea day ago

  • Irish Daily Mirror

Conor McGregor says 'happy birthday sexy' to Dee Devlin as couple shut down shop

Conor McGregor and Dee Devlin showed a united front as the couple stepped out together amid the UFC star's ongoing scandals. The former two-weight UFC champion's fiancée turns 38 on Saturday and was all smiles as she went shopping with McGregor despite the latest controversies involving him. The pair visited a BVLGARI jewellery shop, which McGregor claims was shut for them, with the MMA star also splashing money on a Chanel handbag for his long-time partner. Sharing pictures on Instagram, McGregor wrote: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEXY." He later shared an image of him and Devlin together, commenting: "I PROMISE!" It comes as the Irish Mirror learned that gardai will not re-open the investigation into McGregor over the alleged rape of Nikita Hand - and consider the case closed. The shopping trip also comes just weeks after the multi-millionaire was spotted sharing intimate moments with an unidentified woman on a Florida beach and after rapper Azealia Banks alleged he sent her unwanted explicit images. At the time, sources suggested that, despite the couple's united front, deeper troubles may be brewing beneath the surface. One insider told the Mail: "We are being told to believe that this is a happy, loving relationship behind all the headlines. I think a lot of things clearly point to the fact that she is not. "From early on in the relationship, she has had a great deal to cope with. I would be very concerned with how much she can take." According to The Sun, another source said: "Dee is incredibly loyal and Conor knows that. She is often there with him behind the scenes, but just not in the limelight. "He has also made it very clear he is bankrolling her now, which plays a huge part in the dynamic of their relationship - and makes it almost impossible for her to leave. Conor McGregor with Dee Devlin (Image: (Photo by CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty Images)) "She quietly accepts his behaviour and because she's been there from the beginning, she's always willing to move on. She'll stick with him, even if he pushes her loyalty in return." McGregor and Devlin first met in a Dublin nightclub back in 2008, with Devlin pulling pints behind the bar. Their romance blossomed over online chats, well before McGregor punched his way to global fame. Devlin, hailing from Walkinstown, not far from McGregor's Crumlin, crossed paths with him as he ditched his plumbing apprenticeship to pursue UFC stardom. At the time, she was juggling waitressing with a bit of modelling on the side, all before McGregor's star shot up. Upon entering the Octagon for the first time, McGregor didn't mince words about his drive. He declared: "I'm doing this to secure my family's future and Dee's future. One day, I want myself and Dee to be able to chill on a beach and not have any worry in the world." McGregor and Devlin, who have been engaged since August 2020, are parents to four children. Conor Jr., who arrived in 2017, was their first child followed by their daughter Croia in 2019. Rian made was boren two years on, and come November 2023, Mack made it a family of six.

Christian Leroy Duncan eyeing middleweight top-15 with UFC Vegas 109 win over ‘great test' Eryk Anders
Christian Leroy Duncan eyeing middleweight top-15 with UFC Vegas 109 win over ‘great test' Eryk Anders

The Irish Sun

timea day ago

  • The Irish Sun

Christian Leroy Duncan eyeing middleweight top-15 with UFC Vegas 109 win over ‘great test' Eryk Anders

The Brit got back in the win column at UFC London in March CHRISTIAN LEROY DUNCAN feels primed and ready to mix it with the big dogs in the UFC's middleweight division. And the former Cage Warriors 185lbs champion reckons a statement win over Eryk Anders this week will punch his ticket to top-15 contention. 8 Christian Leroy returns to the octagon this weekend in Las Vegas Credit: GETTY 8 CLD, who is now just over two years into being in the UFC, will be in action at UFC Vegas 109 Credit: GETTY 8 The Brit will throw down with veteran Eryk Anders Credit: GETTY 8 A win over Anders will put CLD on the cusp of the top-15 Credit: GETTY CLD clashes with the veteran early on Sunday morning on a stacked UFC Vegas 109 card at the promotion's Apex Facility in Las Vegas. Anders is by far the biggest name Duncan will have locked horns with during his stint in mixed martial arts' premier promotion. And he firmly believes a win over the American will be his ride to bigger and better things. In an exclusive interview with SunSport, he said of potentially fighting a top-15 opponent next: "Naturally, it comes to mind. Logically, it makes sense." READ MORE UFC NEWS POWER ADE Israel Adesanya provides update on UFC return and opens door to two mega fights Duncan was revved up and ready to go as soon as matchmakers presented him with a Sin City showdown with Anders. He said: "As soon as they gave me the name, I had that rush [and excitement] of [finally being able to fight somebody of his calibre at this point. "I definitely put a serious push on my training and my mindset throughout this camp, leaving no stone unturned. "I do that naturally, but it's even more of a locking in and focus on fighting an opponent of this calibre." SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET £50 BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN 8 Former Cage Warriors middleweight champ CLD has lost twice inside the octagon Credit: GETTY 8 But he's shown the makings of a top contender in each of his outings Credit: GETTY Duncan faces Anders on the back of a March return to win column against Andrey Pulyaev at UFC London. It was, however, a frustrating night at the office as the Russian was on his bike for the majority of the fight. Israel Adesanya provides major update on UFC return and opens door to two mega fights amid fans' calls for retirement "I was definitely expecting more of a meet in the middle, kind of exchanging fight,' Duncan said of his most recent outing. "But like you said, he backed off quite a bit. "So it's hard to get anything going. It was hard to kind of build momentum in that fight. "But we got the win and it builds us now to this opponent, Erik Anders. "He is well known in the UFC, a veteran and a very experienced, tough, and durable guy. "He just fought Chris Weidman, the previous middleweight champion, so he's no pushover. "So it's a great test of my skill at this level. And I feel if we do well here, it could definitely push us forward well." Despite being excited by what a win over Anders will potentially do for his career, Duncan is refusing to put the cart before the horse. "'I'm focusing on what's happening now," he said. "So I acknowledge that it's [fighting a ranked opponent next] a possibility and it would happen. "But it's not as important [right now]. When it comes, that's when I can put my full focus on something like that. But for now, my focus is on Anders." Duncan's cautionary approach and insistence on focusing on the here and now is a testament to the mindset that head coach and Brit MMA pioneer Mark Weir has helped instil in him over the years. It's a great test of my skill at this level." Christian Leroy Duncan on his showdown with Eryk Anders 8 UK MMA pioneer Mark Weir has been giving Christian Leroy Duncan his pearls of wisdom inside and outside of the cage for several years Credit: ALAMY He said: "When I first started, it was probably within three months of me first ever starting in MMA, and we would discuss a kind of plan of where I wanna get to. "He would ask me where I wanna get to and he'd lay out like a little plan which would be like, 'You need to do this in your amateurs. "'And then when you get to the pros at this level.' And it's crazy how things are starting to play out that we've visualised and spoken about from early on. "So he's definitely been a part of that, developing that mindset." Claiming the scalp of Anders will be no easy feat, despite the former American football player being on the back nine of his career. 8 Christian Leroy Duncan expects Eryk Anders to give him his sternest test yet Credit: GETTY And Duncan is treating the 38-year-old like he's still at the peak of his powers. "He's very much a pressure fighter who likes to go forward," Duncan said of Anders. "[He] likes to be on the front foot and likes to dominate. "So it's gonna be more of me implementing my style onto him and seeing how he reacts and copes with that. "I believe my style will overwhelm him in the right areas at the right time. "And I think he'll be surprised with my speed and my movement once we're in there."

Conor McGregor told one habit is making him look 'weird' as UFC legend takes aim
Conor McGregor told one habit is making him look 'weird' as UFC legend takes aim

Irish Daily Mirror

time2 days ago

  • Irish Daily Mirror

Conor McGregor told one habit is making him look 'weird' as UFC legend takes aim

UFC legend Chael Sonnen has slammed Conor McGregor for his "weird" tendency to shadow box in public. A former two-division UFC champion, the 'Notorious' one hasn't stepped into the octagon since sustaining a horrific leg injury during his defeat to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. The 37-year-old was set for a comeback bout against Michael Chandler last June, but those plans were shelved due to injury. Nevertheless, Sonnen, 48, believes footage of McGregor on social media demonstrates that he's nowhere near ready to return to competition. The former UFC title contender criticised McGregor's penchant for shadow boxing away from the gym and has urged the Irish fighter to stop it altogether. He explained on his YouTube channel: "I don't know if I've caught a clip of Conor McGregor where I don't see him shadow boxing. It's as slow as molasses moving uphill. "He does have the form, Conor has very good form, but it's so slow. I feel as though, at times, my camera's lagging. To watch the body mechanics of McGregor is, I must tell you, unusual. "He moves in a way and he does have certain angles, he does have certain things he will do where you can see the martial artist in him and I find it interesting. But I'm watching this guy a lot closer to 40 than he is to 30. "He's a lot closer to 50 than he is 20. And it's weird as 'F' to watch him in this slow motion. It's not a workout, by the way, he's not bringing you in on the gym. He'll be on a boat. He'll be in his living room. He'll be all by himself." Chael Sonnen challenged for a UFC title on three occasions during his career (Image: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) Wrapping up his rant, Sonnen added: "So, for goodness sakes Conor, for a guy like me, for a mark, for a guy that's going to stop what he's doing and watch a video that you put out, please do not make me look at any more shadow boxing." Meanwhile, McGregor has voiced his ambition to enter the political arena. The UFC star has slammed the nomination process whilst outlining his aspirations to stand for President of Ireland. Regarding his commercial ventures, he holds a stake in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, owns the Black Forge Inn pub in Dublin and launched his Forged Irish Stout in 2021. Nevertheless, Sonnen wasn't concentrating on McGregor's pursuits beyond MMA. Rather, the ESPN pundit called for McGregor to cease shadow boxing, although he acknowledged it was a familiar habit amongst numerous fighters in the sport. He explained (via Dublin Live): "MMA guys can't stop shadow boxing. They can't stop shadow boxing. UFC star Conor McGregor has been told to stop doing a common trope in front of cameras (Image:for Prime Video UK) "You'll be talking to an MMA guy and he'll start rolling those shoulders out. Start dipping and slipping and bobbing and weaving. It's weird, it's f'ing weird. "If you ever find yourself shadow boxing at a time when a UFC camera is not on you, stop. Instantly. If you ever find yourself shadow boxing in a non-gym format, stop. "If you're in your garage, if you're getting a workout, if it's just you, you shadow box your little heart out. But if you ever find yourself just shadow boxing, it is the MMA equivalent of an old guy putting on a singlet and trying to wrestle some kid down to the ground."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store