Belal Muhammad, the Chicago native, has once again fired at Dricus Du Plessis as they head toward UFC 319, where Du Plessis defends his middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev. Muhammad openly hopes that Du Plessis loses the belt to Chimaev and then seeks a personal confrontation in the parking lot after the fight.
The beef between Muhammad and Du Plessis has been brewing for a while, and with Du Plessis in Chicago for UFC 319, tensions have flared anew. Muhammad didn’t hold back at a recent press conference, telling the crowd: “I’m hoping that tomorrow night after Dricus loses, he sees me in the parking lot and we throw hands.”
This title fight is a major focal point for the sport. For Du Plessis, it would be his third title defense, while Chimaev is chasing his first shot at UFC gold.
Du Plessis’ camp has also leaned into the hype. His coach recently stated that they aren’t trying to avoid Chimaev’s wrestling; they’re ready to challenge him on his own turf. In a UFC YouTube feature, the coach said: “We don’t want to try to get away from his wrestling, we want to f*ck him up in his game. You can’t think that you’re gonna beat my guy coming with one thing, and that’s wrestling. That guy is one-dimensional. Have you seen his standup? I wouldn’t even give him a pro license for his standup.”
With Du Plessis’ belt on the line, his team exudes confidence, insisting that Chimaev “doesn’t present any problem for us, we’re the problem.” Fans are bracing for a fireworks-filled showdown, testing whether Du Plessis can stifle Chimaev’s wrestling and dictate the pace on fight night.
What to watch for: the mental games between both camps could play a key role alongside technique. If Du Plessis can neutralize the wrestling and keep the fight standing, the title defense could head in his favor; if Chimaev can impose his pace and control, the leverage may swing toward the challenger.
Summary: A heated beef, bold claims, and high-stakes strategy converge as UFC 319 approaches, setting the stage for a dramatic middleweight title clash with potential for a parking lot confrontation backdrop as part of the spectacle.
Overall, the exchange adds a layer of drama to a bout that already promises fireworks, giving fans a clear sense of the rivalries and expectations heading into fight night.