UFC CEO Dana White lit up the MMA world last week at the UFC 314 post-fight press conference. When asked about the possibility of a blockbuster showdown between Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus Du Plessis during the marquee International Fight Week, White teased, “It would be fun,” hinting at UFC 317—just two months away in Las Vegas. With that card already expected to deliver some prominent bouts, the buzz around a potential middleweight title fight between reigning champ and the undefeated ‘Borz’ is off the charts. And just when the hype couldn’t get any louder, Chimaev’s camp added fuel to the fire.

Though the UFC has yet to confirm anything official, ‘Borz’s team dropped a tantalizing update: “Khamzat’s championship fight may be announced in the near future. There are still some nuances, but everything is heading in that direction. Such a fight is possible in June.” Naturally, fans were fired up—and so were the rest of the contenders in the middleweight division. It’s been over two and a half years since the Chechen wolf last competed on U.S. soil, and now he’s potentially facing a surging, unbeaten force in Dricus Du Plessis. But from a style perspective, many believe that the undefeated Chimaev could be the kryptonite to ‘DDP’ dominance.

The buzz even reached to fellow 185lbs contender Bo Nickal, who shared his thoughts in a conversation with MMA Junkie. The Penn State Alum wrestling star didn’t hold back his enthusiasm: “Man, that’s an incredible matchup. I think those are two guys that have tremendous belief in themselves. They’re guys that, you know, have go out and fight extremely hard. So, I think you have to give the grappling edge to Khamzat. I think you give the conditioning edge to Dricus, and then the striking, I think, maybe leans a little bit towards Dricus, but it’s pretty much a toss-up.”

When pressed for a prediction, the American didn’t pick sides—but made one thing clear: “So, I think it’s going to be an amazing fight. I think both guys, again, back to what I said originally, their biggest asset is their belief in themselves. That’s going to be an entertaining fight. Whenever both guys believe in themselves and think they should win… I don’t know, 50/50.”

Khamzat Chimaev wasn’t even in the title conversation until late last year, largely due to his prolonged inactivity. But all that changed at UFC 308, where he submitted former champion Robert Whittaker with a vicious face crank. The emphatic win rocketed the Chechen contender up ten spots in the rankings, earning him the No. 3 spot in the middleweight division.

Meanwhile, reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis has taken a very different route—staying active and steadily building an impressive, though often polarizing, resume. His unconventional fighting style may raise eyebrows, but it’s proven effective against elite opposition. ‘Stillknocks’ has notched wins over big names like Sean Strickland (twice), Israel Adesanya, and Robert Whittaker.

What makes his rise even more remarkable is that Du Plessis has frequently entered these high-stakes bouts as the underdog—except in his rematch with Strickland at UFC 312. Yet time and again, his awkward but effective style has delivered, catching both fans and critics off guard. It’s this clash of belief, unpredictability, and unorthodox success that led Nickal to label the bout a true toss-up—a view echoed by UFC commentator and podcast host Joe Rogan. Let’s break it down further!

What’s Joe Rogan’s prediction for Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dricus Du Plessis?

Khamzat Chimaev’s world-class wrestling and Dricus Du Plessis’ unpredictable, awkward-yet-effective fighting style make their potential clash one of the most intriguing matchups in the middleweight division. With both men presenting completely different threats, even seasoned MMA analysts are split when it comes to predicting the outcome. Despite debuting in the UFC just months after Chechen Wolf, Du Plessis has surged ahead in terms of accolades. He currently sits atop the division as champion, having successfully defended his title twice. And that too against former champions like Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland.

Chimaev, on the other hand, remains undefeated and has carved out a reputation as one of the most dangerous men in the sport. Though his rise has been stalled at times by injuries and long layoffs, he’s now back in the title picture. In fact, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed during UFC 312—shortly after Dricus Du Plessis defeated Sean Strickland—that “obviously, he’s in line” for a shot at the belt. As hype builds around this potential showdown, longtime UFC commentator Joe Rogan reignited the conversation during a recent episode of his JRE Fight Companion.

Watching UFC 312 live, Rogan asked a simple but telling question: “Can Dricus stop that takedown?” He elaborated, “It’s hard to say because we don’t really know what would happen with Khamzat. He shoots from like 15 feet away and gets a hold of your legs before you even realize it.”

Rogan also believed the move to middleweight has been a blessing for Khamzat Chimaev. “You’ve got to think his endurance is going to be better at 185 than it was at 170. That weight cut was brutal. Honestly, 185 is where he should’ve been all along.” When former 170lbs champ Matt Serra asked whether Du Plessis had ever faced someone of ‘Borz’s caliber, Rogan didn’t hesitate: “No. We haven’t seen Dricus fight anyone of that level.”

Yet Rogan didn’t dismiss the South African champion either. “He’s a tough puzzle—a very hard guy to figure out. His style may look chaotic, but it works.” So, what do you think? Is a Chimaev vs. Du Plessis clash a coin toss, or will Khamzat put an end to Dricus’ reign at the top? Sound off in the comments below.