When it comes to breaking down the UFC 328 main event, few people have better insight than Dricus Du Plessis. The former middleweight champion has shared the Octagon with both title challengers—scoring two wins over Sean Strickland while being completely dominated by Khamzat Chimaev. So who better to ask about this high-stakes title bout?

Speaking with Fight Forecast, Du Plessis offered a balanced and intriguing preview of the matchup, warning fans not to count Strickland out. "It's a very interesting fight. I think Strickland has such a good chance. I think people are overlooking him in this fight, and that would be a big mistake," he said.

Du Plessis believes the first round will be critical. "I know that Khamzat is going to get him down. Like I said, I've taken Strickland down so many times. I know Khamzat's going to get him down, but you keep him there. That's going to be the question because 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—is really good. I think he's going to surprise some people," Du Plessis explained.

He emphasized the energy drain of defending takedowns. "If Strickland gets up two or three times in that first round, or the first two, it's not going to get any easier with the sweat and the fatigue. Trying to keep a guy down that gets up uses a lot more energy than the guy getting up."

According to Du Plessis, if Strickland can successfully fend off Chimaev's takedown attempts and get back to his feet, he has a strong path to reclaiming the belt. But if Chimaev manages to keep him on the mat, it could be a long night for the former champion.

Du Plessis also questioned Chimaev's striking against Strickland's elite defense. "Once Khamzat has to fight Strickland's fight, I just don't think he has a chance. I mean, Khamzat throws, he hits hard. He kicks hard, but not scary hard. And he's kind of predictable. You can see the shots coming. 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, you know, if you don't set it up. And I don't think Khamzat has the skillset to set that knockout up."

For fight fans and athletes alike, this middleweight title clash promises to be a fascinating test of styles—wrestling pressure versus defensive resilience. Whether you're gearing up for fight night or just love the strategy behind the sport, this is one matchup you won't want to miss.