Can Dricus Du Plessis Make UFC History at UFC 319?

Dricus du Plessis is on the verge of something special. As he prepares to defend his title against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 (see our event preview for breakdowns), many are wondering: Can “Stillknocks” make UFC history? The 31-year-old South African has hinted at ambitions far beyond just one weight class, and MMA pundits are buzzing about record-breaking possibilities if he wins on August 16.

Chasing Greatness Across Divisions

Du Plessis is already the first UFC champion from Africa’s southern hemisphere, but he may have even grander goals. Former UFC fighter and analyst Brendan Schaub recently opined that if Dricus defeats Chimaev, he could embark on a quest to become a three-division UFC champion, something unprecedented in the sport. Schaub’s bold claim, made on his podcast, suggests du Plessis might move up to light heavyweight (205 lbs) – and even heavyweight (265 lbs) – to capture additional titles. “Whoever wins out of Khamzat and DDP can go for three belts,” Schaub said, noting that du Plessis is naturally big enough to compete at 205 and that “heavyweight’s not as far a stretch for him. DDP’s a big boy.”. In other words, Schaub believes du Plessis is built for greatness across multiple divisions.

This speculation isn’t coming out of nowhere. Before joining UFC, du Plessis proved his multi-division prowess by holding titles in two weight classes in KSW (welterweight and middleweight). Although he has since sworn off the brutal welterweight cut (170 lbs) – he once said he’d “never try to cut to 170 again” – the idea of moving up in weight is very much on the table. In fact, du Plessis himself flirted with light heavyweight, musing about a potential fight at 205 when Alex Pereira was champion there. At 6’1” and a thickly built 185er, Dricus likely walks around well above the middleweight limit, so bulking to 205 seems feasible. Heavyweight would be a bigger jump (literally and figuratively), but Schaub argued it’s “not as far a stretch” given Dricus’ frame.

If du Plessis were to even attempt a run at titles in three divisions, it would indeed be UFC history in the making. Only a handful of fighters have even been two-division champs (simultaneously or sequentially), and none have held three different UFC belts. The likes of Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, and Amanda Nunes achieved “champ-champ” status in two classes – but a “triple champ” is unheard of. Du Plessis seems an unlikely candidate on the surface, but his supporters point out that the current landscapes at light heavy and heavy are in flux. According to Schaub, both those divisions are in a “down period” talent-wise, potentially making them ripe for a dominant athlete to make a run. If Dricus can get past Chimaev, he would have cleared one of the toughest hurdles at middleweight. After that, the sky’s the limit.

First, the Task at Hand: UFC 319

Before any multi-division dreams can materialize, du Plessis must handle business in Chicago. In Schaub’s view, some fans may be overlooking the possibility that Dricus could win sooner rather than later on August 16. There’s a narrative that Chimaev needs an early finish and du Plessis wins if it goes late, but Schaub cautions it’s not so simple. After observing footage of Khamzat’s intense training, Schaub was assured by insiders that Chimaev’s cardio is “not an issue at all”. He noted that DDP is “huge, durable, and unorthodox,” so conventional wisdom says Khamzat in Rounds 1-2, Dricus in 4-5 – but Schaub extended Chimaev’s danger window longer after seeing his conditioning improvements. “I’d even extend that to the first three rounds,” Schaub said, suggesting Khamzat might be able to push hard until the championship rounds. The implication: if Chimaev can still be dangerous in round 4 or 5 and possibly finish du Plessis late, then we truly have a generational talent on our hands. Conversely, if du Plessis prevails, it further underscores his own championship mettle.

Du Plessis himself isn’t publicly looking past Chimaev – but he does carry quiet confidence. He’s beaten elite names and proven doubters wrong repeatedly. If he can notch another title defense against the wrecking ball that is Khamzat, his star power and legacy grow immensely. It could also open the door for the record-breaking title quest Schaub alluded to. Imagine du Plessis hoisting the middleweight belt in Chicago, then setting his sights on a light heavyweight title fight in 2026. From there, who knows – a move to heavyweight by 2027? It’s a far-fetched scenario, yet tantalizing to consider.

Brendan Schaub’s Take: “Built for Three Belts”

To fully capture Schaub’s enthusiasm for du Plessis’ future, here’s the key quote from his JAXXON podcast appearance:

“I think whoever wins out of Khamzat and DDP, whoever wins that can go for three belts. DDP’s bigger than Khamzat, so light heavyweight – he’s probably a light heavyweight naturally. So it makes sense for DDP to go to light heavyweight. Heavyweight’s not as far a stretch for him. DDP’s a big boy.”

In Schaub’s eyes, du Plessis is essentially a 205-pounder already, and could eventually challenge the giants at heavyweight as well. It’s high praise that borders on “wild claim,” as some headlines called it. Yet, considering Dricus’ track record and size, it’s not outside the realm of possibility if things fall into place.

Of course, history-making multi-division runs are rare for good reason. It requires clearing out one division and then successfully jumping to another full of fresh, top-tier opponents – all while avoiding the pitfalls of age, injury, and the fight game’s unpredictability. Du Plessis is in the prime of his career now. Should he turn away Chimaev, he’d have a compelling case to test himself at 205 lbs sooner rather than later. Notably, the current UFC light heavyweight champ is [Magomed Ankalaev], and the division lacks a dominant figure since Jon Jones’ departure. There could be an opening for a fighter like Dricus to enter the mix, especially given his prior experience as a champ in other promotions.

However, one step at a time. As Schaub himself conceded, nothing is guaranteed at UFC 319. “A win at UFC 319 is no guarantee,” he said, warning against assuming an early Khamzat win or late Dricus win too rigidly. Both outcomes are very much possible. If du Plessis loses to Chimaev, talk of triple-champ glory will fade quickly – at least until he rebounds. But if he wins and does so impressively, expect the drumbeat for a champ vs champ fight to grow. Dricus du Plessis could find himself not only in the UFC record books for title defenses, but on a trajectory toward UFC immortality as a multi-division champion.

Bottom Line: Du Plessis has already shocked the MMA world by rising to UFC champion. Now he stands on the brink of potentially making history. Brendan Schaub and others believe he has the potential to add the light heavyweight (and even heavyweight) titles to his resume, which would be a record-breaking accomplishment. The first step is defeating Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 – a monumental challenge in its own right. Should “Stillknocks” prevail in Chicago, don’t be surprised if he sets his sights on becoming the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion. From Pretoria to Chicago to perhaps Las Vegas and beyond, Dricus du Plessis might just be writing a historic UFC story in real time.

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