Dricus du Plessis responds to Khamzat Chimaev's 'murder' threat
UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis didn’t flinch after Khamzat Chimaev made headlines with his chilling warning: “I’m prepping for murder.”
The rising tension between the two top-tier fighters is boiling over as a highly anticipated middleweight title clash looms. Though the bout was initially rumoured for UFC 317, injury speculation delayed the showdown, which is now expected to take place later this summer.
Chimaev had initially told sports journalist Adam Zubayraev that he was 'prepping for murder.'
Me: "Khamzat, Du Plessis's coach said their camp is focused on preparing for a ground war..."
Khamzat: "Let them prep for war. I'm prepping for murder." pic.twitter.com/7b0nK1CtUfAfter Chimaev’s comments went viral, du Plessis offered a quick—and hilarious—rebuttal on Instagram.
“Wow, that’s the first time I’ve heard that one! Shakespeare in the house."
Chimaev, who’s racked up wins over Robert Whittaker, Kamaru Usman, and Gilbert Burns, is expected to use a dominant grappling game against du Plessis.
But the South African champion isn’t backing down, doubling down on wrestling preparation and confident he can defend his belt.
Du Plessis most recently defended his title in a gritty rematch against Sean Strickland at UFC 312, extending his win streak and silencing critics in the process.
While Chimaev has been on a relentless climb, the South African’s response shows he’s unfazed by psychological warfare.
Adding to the drama, du Plessis also swatted away injury rumours this week, assuring fans that he’s healthy and that a fight announcement is coming soon.
A proposed interim bout between Chimaev and Caio Borralho was reportedly floated but quickly dismissed, reinforcing that the division is waiting for one fight: du Plessis vs. Chimaev.
While no official date is locked in, one thing’s clear—the build-up is heating up fast, and both fighters are already throwing verbal jabs before the Octagon doors even close.