In a surprising assessment that has fight fans buzzing, Dricus Du Plessis has weighed in on the upcoming UFC 328 main event between Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev—and his take might just change how you see this middleweight title clash.

Du Plessis, who has shared the Octagon with both fighters, knows their strengths firsthand. He defeated Strickland twice in title fights but lost his championship belt to Chimaev at UFC 319. Now, with Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) making his first title defense against Strickland (30-7 MMA, 17-7 UFC) this Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Du Plessis offered a bold prediction: Strickland is actually the stronger man.

"The first round is going to tell us so much about this fight," Du Plessis said on Fight Forecast. "I know Khamzat is going to get him down. I've taken Strickland down so many times, I know Khamzat is going to get him down, but to keep him there? That's going to be the big question."

Despite being taken down 12 times by Chimaev and controlled for over 21 minutes in their fight, Du Plessis insists that Strickland's physical strength is a game-changer. "Strickland's ability to get up, the technique he uses, the strength he has. He's a strong guy, a lot stronger than Khamzat on a physical level. I think he's going to surprise some people."

Du Plessis broke down the tactical battle ahead: "If Strickland gets up two or three times in the first round, it's not going to get easier with the sweat and the fatigue, trying to keep a guy down that gets up. It uses a lot more energy than the guy getting up."

And when it comes to cardio, Du Plessis gives the edge to Strickland. "Strickland has the cardio, we've seen that. Once Khamzat has to fight Strickland's fight, I just don't think he has a chance."

The former champion also questioned Chimaev's striking. "Khamzat throws—he hits hard, he kicks hard, but not scary hard, and he's kind of predictable. And with a guy like Strickland, some of the best defense in the whole of MMA. You're not going to catch him with something if you don't set it up. I don't think Khamzat has the skills to set that knockout up, but it's fighting. He can catch you."

Ultimately, Du Plessis sees the fight hinging on that crucial first round. "If Khamzat takes him down in that first round, holds him down, and Strickland cannot get up, it's Khamzat's fight. But I do believe Strickland has every tool to not let that happen and maybe snatch that title away. I think the first round is going to tell us how that fight is."

For fans of the middleweight division, this is a must-watch matchup with championship implications—and Du Plessis's insider perspective only adds to the intrigue.