Magomed Ankalaev Says Du Plessis Fight Is Possible at 205

Magomed Ankalaev says a move up to light heavyweight for Dricus du Plessis is real enough that the two have already been discussed as potential opponents. Ankalaev, the former UFC light heavyweight champion, confirmed the chatter in an interview with BOSTANOV MMA, saying du Plessis "wants to move up" and that a fight between them is "possible."

"Yes, he wants to move up and it's possible that they will book a fight between us," Ankalaev said. "That's the only information we have for now, we don't have anything else."

Du Plessis has not confirmed any move to 205 pounds himself, and nothing is official. But the idea lines up with a storyline that has followed him for years: his frame. Joe Rogan has repeatedly pointed out on commentary that du Plessis looks oversized for middleweight, and du Plessis just walked through a much bigger name in Kamaru Usman at UFC Oklahoma City in his return from losing the middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319.

Why Du Plessis Would Even Consider Leaving Middleweight

Du Plessis has a legitimate path back to a middleweight title shot without changing weight classes at all. He already holds two wins over current champion Sean Strickland, and beating another ranked 185-pounder would likely be enough to get him a third crack at the belt, this time against Chimaev. That makes a jump to light heavyweight a genuine gamble rather than a necessity. The size questions are real, but du Plessis has made 185 pounds work for his entire UFC middleweight run, title reign included.

What a Du Plessis-Ankalaev Fight Would Mean for the 205 Title Picture

Ankalaev is coming off a win over Bogdan Guskov at UFC Abu Dhabi in July after dropping his title to Alex Pereira in their rematch at UFC 320, so he is firmly back in the mix at light heavyweight and looking for a signature fight to get him back to gold. A win over a fighter with du Plessis's resume and name recognition would do exactly that. For du Plessis, the opposite is true: beating a former champion like Ankalaev in his very first fight at 205 pounds would be a massive swing, but it would also fast-track him into a light heavyweight title shot almost immediately given Ankalaev's standing in the division.

Betting Angle

No odds exist yet since nothing is booked, but the shape of this matchup is worth watching if it materializes. Ankalaev would almost certainly open as a favorite given his size, length and experience at 205 pounds against a natural middleweight making his light heavyweight debut, regardless of du Plessis's star power. Books tend to be cautious with fighters moving up a weight class for the first time against durable, well-rounded champions, and Ankalaev fits that description. If du Plessis does make the jump, expect his price to depend heavily on how convincingly he looks adding size and strength heading into camp, something that won't be clear until fight week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dricus du Plessis moving to light heavyweight?

Nothing is official yet, but former light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev says du Plessis wants to move up and that a fight between them is possible.

What did Magomed Ankalaev say about fighting Dricus du Plessis?

Ankalaev told BOSTANOV MMA that du Plessis wants to move up to light heavyweight and that a bout between them could be booked, though no official details exist yet.

What is Dricus du Plessis's current title situation at middleweight?

Du Plessis lost the UFC middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 but bounced back with a win over Kamaru Usman at UFC Oklahoma City, and he already holds two wins over current champion Sean Strickland.