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Du Plessis wants his middleweight title back – then a move to light heavyweight

The former UFC champion is targeting belts in two divisions. Magomed Ankalaev is already floating a possible fight.

TWN newsroom1 min read
Title graphic: Du Plessis wants his title back – then a move to light heavyweight

Graphic: TERRA WORLD NEWS (own graphic based on the sources listed)

"I want to get my belt back and eventually go up to 205 and go test myself there," Dricus du Plessis said on "The Sias du Plessis Show", as reported by MMA Junkie and MMA News. He said he is big enough for light heavyweight and certain he can be champion there too. He currently cuts 45 pounds (just over 20 kilograms) for his fights.

The South African (24-3) lost the middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in August 2025 and returned to winning ways against Kamaru Usman in July 2026. After regaining the belt he would first want a title defence; the move up is "not necessarily in 2027".

Former light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev told the channel Bostanov MMA, according to MMA Sucka: "There's some talk about Dricus du Plessis. He wants to move up, and it's possible they'll arrange a fight between us." Nothing is official; du Plessis has not responded so far.

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