Dricus du Plessis fully expects to get past Khamzat Chimaev, and he plans to return to a familiar topic of conversation in the aftermath.<\/p>\n
Du Plessis and Chimaev will headline UFC 319<\/a> on August 16, as the United Center in Chicago stages Octagon action. The South African\u2019s middleweight gold will be on the line in a matchup many have pointed to as the champion\u2019s biggest hurdle to date.<\/p>\n Like his upcoming challenger, Du Plessis<\/a> has remained undefeated in the UFC thus far. And his rise to stardom on MMA\u2019s biggest stage has boosted talk of his dream coming to fruition \u2014 the promotion\u2019s debut event in Africa.<\/p>\n Having not competed in his home continent since 2017, \u2018Stillknocks\u2019 does not plan to abandon his hopes of defending gold on home soil while he sits on a UFC throne.<\/p>\n Dricus du Plessis plans to advance UFC Africa plans once he gets past Khamzat Chimaev<\/p>\n A couple of champions right now are angling for the UFC to stage an event in their home country. Dana White dealt a blow to Ilia Topuria\u2019s dream<\/a> of a card in Spain after his lightweight crown at UFC 317, so Du Plessis will hope to have more luck pushing for the Octagon to touch down in South Africa.<\/p>\n The promotion has yet to stage an event in the continent and was recently beaten by the PFL, who became the first global promotion to stage an event in Africa with a card in Cape Town on July 18.<\/p>\n For the time being, Du Plessis is focused on handling business against Chimaev<\/a> in his first fight on United States soil since 2023. But if he emerges victorious, \u2018Stillknocks\u2019 fully intends to once again press the issue with White and co.<\/p>\n \u201cThe right people were speaking to each other,\u201d Du Plessis told Scott Fontana for the New York Post. \u201cI was involved in these conversations, (but) as soon as this fight was made, my attention shifted to this fight.<\/p>\n \u201cI know the conversations are there between the UFC and South Africa, and the sports ministers, and the cities, and the arenas \u2014 everything is in conversation.<\/p>\n \u201cBut as an update on where we are, I don\u2019t have anything,\u201d Du Plessis added. \u201cThat is definitely something that I will get after as soon as I am done after this fight. \u2026 The UFC is now massive (in South Africa). The country is so behind the UFC and myself, behind me fighting.<\/p>\n \u201c(I am) making sure the right people speak to the right people, almost introducing the right people to each other, making sure the people that need to make it happen speak to the right people who can make it happen. That is my role.\u201d<\/p>\n UFC executive called Africa debut \u2018definitely a 2025 thing\u2019 after Dricus du Plessis win<\/p>\n