'I'll Be Back Stronger': Dricus Du Plessis Reacts After Losing UFC Championship to Khamzat Chimaev
- Middleweight fighter Dricus Du Plessis lost his UFC title to the UAE’s Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319, ending his unbeaten run
- Despite the defeat, Du Plessis vowed to come back stronger and better than ever, showing resilience and determination
- Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie praised Du Plessis as a legend and encouraged him to keep his head up after the tough loss
South African UFC Middleweight fighter Dricus Du Plessis has reacted to his bruising defeat at the hands of the UAE’s Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in Chicago.
The 31-year-old was the defending champion going into the fight, marking his second title defence this year after defeating Sean Strickland in February to retain the belt.
Du Plessis was dominated over five rounds and lost by unanimous decision, relinquishing his championship title and ending his unbeaten run.
Source: Getty Images
“Stillknocks,” who put on a brave face despite the one-sided fight, vowed to bounce back.
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"I will be back stronger and better than ever," he said.
Watch the video below:
How did Dricus describe the defeat?
"He was just like a blanket. It wasn't a matter of strength; it wasn't that physical, it was just as if he knew what your next move was going to be. He got it without using too much power, and I had to decide if I'm going to be on my back or have him on my back.
"At the end, I went for it, had the back, I could almost taste that victory, but - you know, big ups to Khamzat. He deserves this one 100%."
Watch the clip below shared by the Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie.,,,,:
"Everybody in South Africa, you know how much this flag means to me. I’m sorry. I will come back stronger. We, as South Africans, rise, fight through adversity, and show the world what they still don’t know. We will come back stronger—I promise you we will not lose this fight. See you all soon," he said after the match, his voice showing exhaustion.
Source: Getty Images
How did the Sports Minister react to the defeat?
Despite losing his title, Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie led from the front with words of encouragement for the Pretoria-born fighter.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), McKenzie wrote:
"Dricus Du Plessis, you made us proud as one of the great champions, and we know you will be back. You faced a tough wrestler today, but you will come back stronger. It was hard to watch, but you never gave up, almost had him, and you’ll always be a legend. Chin up, #noDNAjustRSA 🇿🇦"
See the tweet below:
Chimaev, who remained unbeaten, called his mother on the phone after the fight in pure elation as he was crowned the world champion.
Watch the video below:
How much did Dricus win after loss
Briefly News previously reported that South African MMA star Dricus du Plessis failed to retain the UFC middleweight championship title after losing to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 on Sunday, August 17, 2025.
The 31-year-old was the defending champion ahead of the fight, and it's the second time he's defending the title this year after defeating Sean Strickland in February to retain the title.
Despite losing the bout, the Pretoria-born fighter reportedly earned more money compared to the Russian-born MMA star.
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Source: Briefly News
