Overview
- Rogan said on The Joe Rogan Experience with guest Mark Kerr that he does not think Du Plessis can beat Chimaev in a rematch, calling the skill gap too large to bridge.
- At UFC 319, Chimaev won the middleweight title by unanimous decision with all three judges scoring it 50-44, fueled by control-heavy grappling.
- Reported stats from the bout include 21:40 of control time, 12 takedowns, multiple crucifix positions, and a 529 total-strike output for Chimaev.
- Du Plessis, who arrived as champion after wins over Sean Strickland, Israel Adesanya, and Robert Whittaker, has vowed to return stronger, with his coach targeting improvements in his ground game.
- Potential challengers are lining up for Chimaev, with Nassourdine Imavov staking a claim after beating Caio Borralho and Reinier de Ridder aiming to bolster his case against Brendan Allen on Oct. 18 in Vancouver.