UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis has laid down a challenge to his UFC 319 opponent Khamzat Chimaev: Let’s see who wants out of there first. 

South Africa’s Du Plessis will seek to become the first fighter to hand an ‘L’ to the dominant challenger Chimaev at this weekend’s UFC event in Chicago, a result which has so far evaded all fourteen of his opponents so far throughout his mixed martial arts career.

Du Plessis, though, also brings considerable form into the cage. The 31-year-old champion is a perfect 9-0 in the UFC (23-2 overall) and has so far defeated former champions Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland (x2) and Robert Whittaker throughout his run in the organisation.

And as such, ‘Stillknocks’ says that it will be Chimaev and not him who will have to adapt to what their opponent reveals this weekend in the Windy City.

“I’m going out there to fight the way … and see what happens,” Du Plessis said to the media, including The Mac Life, on Wednesday. “He didn’t change his gameplan with Robert Whittaker because it was a five-rounder. That kind of already gives me the sense that he’s not gonna think about the five rounds when he should be. Five rounds is a long time, and I am not scared to get into that dark place. We’ve seen that.

“If we go full speed, you know, I can fight tired all day. I’ve done that many times. So, let’s go for it. Let’s go from the first bell to the last. Let’s go full speed and see who quits.”

Furthermore, Du Plessis added that many of Chimaev’s opponents appear defeated even before the first bell — adding that he won’t be employing a defensive strategy.

“A lot of guys have made this mistake fighting him,” he explained. “Going in and saying, ‘I need to watch out for that. He’s gonna shoot and I need to be ready. I have to watch out.’ And then they don’t do anything until he does shoot and gets them down anyway,” Du Plessis said. “You have to go out there and fight. Didn’t you train?

“I understand he’s really good a wrestling and is really good on the ground, but I mean, that is the game, I guess, right? If you’re fighting Israel Adesanya, are you going to start on your bum and butt scoot? No. You’re gonna have to fight him.

“I’m not going out there to fight his fight,” Du Plessis said. “I’m going out there to do what Dricus does, and that is be a world champion.”

Watch Du Plessis’ full comments in the video above.