Islam Makhachev Throws Major Shade at Dricus du Plessis’ Wrestling Skills
In the world of UFC, compliments from fellow fighters can be rare, but insults? They’re a dime a dozen. Lightweight king Islam Makhachev just added his two cents, and it’s a scathing review of former middleweight champ Dricus du Plessis’s ground game—or lack thereof—following his title loss to Khamzat Chimaev.
After watching Khamzat Chimaev absolutely manhandle Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319, Makhachev couldn’t help but weigh in. And let’s be honest, he wasn’t exactly subtle. In a recent interview, Makhachev basically suggested that du Plessis’s wrestling knowledge is so minimal, he probably doesn’t even watch the sport on TV. Ouch.
“I don’t think he even watch the wrestling match in the TV, you know?” Makhachev quipped, not even trying to hide his amusement. It’s the kind of brutal honesty we’ve come to expect from the Dagestani camp, and it perfectly captures what many were thinking after watching the fight.
What Did Makhachev Say About Du Plessis?
Let’s set the scene. Makhachev was chatting with his old buddy Daniel Cormier about his own upcoming welterweight title fight. The conversation turned to the idea of bringing in specialists, like grappling coach Craig Jones for Jack Della Maddalena, to close the skill gap for a big fight.
Makhachev, in his classic, no-nonsense style, completely dismissed the idea that a single training camp with a new coach can magically fix years of fundamental gaps. He used the du Plessis vs. Chimaev fight as his Exhibit A. Du Plessis brought in a team, he had sparring partners, but when the cage door closed, none of it seemed to matter.
“What about Khamzat fighting with DDP? [He] bring many coaches, many, many partners, but it didn’t help. It’s not working like this,” Makhachev explained.
He argues that wrestling isn’t something you can just cram for like a high school exam. It’s a skill built over years of grueling practice. For someone like Makhachev, who has been wrestling since he could walk, the idea of a quick fix is almost laughable. His jab at du Plessis wasn’t just a random insult; it was a reflection of a deeply ingrained philosophy from the Dagestani school of fighting: there are no shortcuts.
How Bad Was the Wrestling in the Chimaev Fight?
To understand Makhachev’s point, you just have to look at the fight itself. From the opening bell, Chimaev was on a mission. He treated du Plessis like a human backpack, taking him down a staggering 12 times. The fight was less of a mixed martial arts contest and more of a one-sided grappling clinic.
Chimaev pinned du Plessis in a crucifix position, a nightmare for any fighter, and just chipped away. Du Plessis looked completely out of his depth, unable to escape or mount any sort of defense. It was a dominant, smothering performance that left no doubt about who the better wrestler was. The judges’ scorecards said it all: a lopsided 50-44 across the board. It was a mauling, plain and simple.
Even du Plessis, to his credit, admitted he was beaten fair and square. “He was the better man tonight,” he said after the fight. But that “better man” was specifically a better wrestler, and it exposed a massive hole in the former champion’s game.
Will We See Makhachev vs. Chimaev?
With both Makhachev and Chimaev holding belts (or at least being in the title picture), the inevitable question arises: will these two Dagestani-trained monsters ever face each other? It’s the kind of superfight that makes fans drool.
Unfortunately, don’t hold your breath. Makhachev has already poured cold water on the idea. He’s currently focused on moving up to welterweight to challenge for a second title. A jump to middleweight (185 pounds) seems to be a bridge too far.
“At 185 pounds, I’m gonna be fat, you know? It’s not gonna be my weight,” Makhachev stated bluntly. He feels the weight class is just too big for his frame, and he’d lose the advantages that make him so dominant.
So, while we can dream of a grappling showdown between these two titans, it looks like it’ll remain just that—a dream. For now, Makhachev is content to stay in his lane, conquer another division, and, of course, throw a little sarcastic shade from the sidelines.
