Drikus du Plessis issued a statement to Belal Muhammad prior to UFC 319
In the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), the anticipation is building for UFC 319, scheduled for August 17th in Chicago. The event will feature a highly-anticipated matchup between UFC middleweight contender Dricus du Plessis and Hamzaat Chimaev as the headlining bout.
Dricus du Plessis, a rising star in the UFC, has been making waves with his recent comments about his upcoming opponent, Bellal Muhammad. In an interview, du Plessis gave a rating of 9.5 out of 10 that Muhammad will remember him again this week. He also stated that only a small number of people know who Bellal Muhammad is, a comment that has sparked controversy.
Bellal Muhammad, a Palestinian-American MMA athlete, was born in Chicago in 1988. He grew up wrestling in high school and briefly attended the University of Illinois before pursuing a professional MMA career. Muhammad has made a name for himself in the UFC, becoming the 14th UFC Welterweight Champion after securing a unanimous decision victory over Gilbert Burns in May 2023. As of June 2025, he is ranked #1 in the UFC welterweight division and #12 in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings.
Muhammad's fighting style is known for his wrestling, grappling control, and strategic fight management. His prominence in the UFC welterweight division and his status as a notable MMA athlete of Palestinian descent have made him a figure of interest in the MMA community.
The ongoing controversy between du Plessis and Muhammad has added an extra layer of intrigue to UFC 319. Muhammad has reportedly commented that du Plessis should leave Chicago, a claim that du Plessis has not taken kindly to. His response to Muhammad's comment was published on Sportskeeda.
Meanwhile, other MMA stars are making headlines. Sean O'Malley introduced a future UFC star ahead of Dana White's Contender Series, while Alex Pereira's channeling of a movie villain ahead of his rematch with Magomed Ankalaev has caused concern among fans.
The build-up to UFC 319 promises to be an exciting one, with the headline matchup between du Plessis and Chimaev, the ongoing controversy between du Plessis and Muhammad, and the various other storylines unfolding in the MMA world.
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