It took him five years but Khamzat Chimaev has finally secured his maiden title bout in the UFC.

But according to the reigning middleweight champion, Dricus du Plessis, the undefeated Chechen fighter has bitten off a bit more than he can chew this time around.

Chimaev, 31, exploded on the scene during the UFC’s stint on ‘Fight Island’ during the summer of 2020, winning two fights (in two weight classes) in the span of just ten days.

Since then, his output has slowed somewhat owing to a series of illnesses and injuries, but has in his last two fights scored impressive wins against the former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and the former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker.

But according to Du Plessis, the UFC’s 185-pound pacesetter since early last year, Chimaev’s run will come to an end when he steps into the cage with the South African in the UFC 319 main event in August.

“I don’t care how good you think you are, how tough, how fit or how strong,” Du Plessis indicated in a message aimed at Chimaev on social media. “When you step into that octagon with me it will be a first-time experience and not a pleasant one.”

He added: “That’s a promise. As we say in [South Africa], built different!!”

Oddsmakers have, so far at least, picked Chimaev as the more likely victor in their UFC 319 battle – but Du Plessis is no stranger to the underdog role; something he has experienced on several occasions throughout his nine-fight run in the UFC.

However, following impressive wins over world level fighters like Sean Strickland, Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker, he has risen to the #5 in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings ahead of what is the most anticipated bout of his career later this summer.