“I walked into Godzilla”: Dricus du Plessis on Chimaev encounter ahead of UFC 319
“I walked into Godzilla”: Dricus du Plessis on Chimaev encounter ahead of UFC 319
With fight night looming in Chicago, the champion reflects on a respectful lobby run-in, the size of the challenge, and why odds don’t make fights.
With UFC 319 just days away, middleweight champion Dricus “Stillknocks” du Plessis has finally come face-to-face with his undefeated challenger,
Khamzat Chimaev — and he had quite the way of describing it.
The South African titleholder, who will defend his belt on Sunday, 17 August 2025 at the United Centre, Chicago,
ran into Chimaev in a hotel lobby earlier this week. The brief interaction, captured on video and widely shared online, was unexpectedly calm and respectful.
Both men exchanged polite words, with fans noting the sportsmanship — and pointing out just how massive Chimaev looked next to Du Plessis.
“Obviously, as you say, he is 8 feet tall. Basically, I walked into Godzilla. That’s what I had to take away from that.”
The champion quickly clarified that he was having a laugh before giving his genuine impression:
“He was super respectful, and like I always say, if my opponent is respectful, I’ll be respectful. I was just happy to see he’s healthy.”
Respect Aside — the Fight Is On
The meeting eased any lingering doubts about whether Chimaev would make it to fight night — a question some fans had been asking.
“It never bothered me, but I know it was a question for everyone. People want to see the two best fighters in the world go at it, and that’s why this fight is so big. I want to fight the best in the world, and now people are going to see it.”
Du Plessis (23–2) has been on an 11-fight winning streak. Since claiming the middleweight belt from Sean Strickland in early 2024, he has defended it twice —
submitting Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, then outpointing Strickland in a rematch in February 2025.
Known for his unorthodox approach, Du Plessis believes his unique style is impossible to fully prepare for.
“It’s impossible to prepare for me because I have this unique style… where do you find somebody to mimic it? I’ve been the underdog for most of my career, yet I am the champion. Odds don’t make fights.”
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The Unstoppable Challenger
Chimaev enters UFC 319 with a perfect 14–0 professional record, having dispatched big names like Gilbert Burns, Kevin Holland, Kamaru Usman, and Robert Whittaker in his last four bouts.
His relentless pace and grappling threat make him one of the most feared men in the sport — and perhaps Du Plessis’ toughest test to date.
“Yes, this is the best opponent I’ve ever come up against. But once again, I’ll show my improvements and why I am the champion.”
UFC 319 Main Card — Sunday, 17 August 2025
- Main Event · Middleweight Championship: Dricus du Plessis (c) v Khamzat Chimaev
- Featherweight: Lerone Murphy v Aaron Pico (UFC debut)
- Welterweight: Geoff Neal v Carlos Prates
- Middleweight: Jared Cannonier v Michael Page
- Flyweight: Tim Elliott v Kai Asakura
With mutual respect established and the fight confirmed, UFC 319 promises a clash of styles, undefeated pride, and championship stakes. Whether Du Plessis’ “Godzilla” line proves prophetic or playful will be settled in the Octagon.
