Joe Rogan has weighed in on Khamzat Chimaev’s dominant title victory over Dricus Du Plessis. He praised the Chechen fighter’s tactical approach as the “smartest way to win the title.”
During a recent episode of the JRE MMA Show with Michael ‘Venom’ Page, Rogan broke down why Chimaev’s game plan was not just effective, but brilliant from a strategic standpoint.
The victory saw Chimaev completely neutralize Du Plessis through superior grappling, repeatedly putting the South African in compromising positions including multiple crucifix positions throughout the fight. While some fans criticized the performance as lacking finishing instinct, Rogan sees it differently.
“This is the whole thing because he came back to his corner apparently, and this is told to me secondhand, but I’m pretty sure it’s true by a reliable source that he was saying, ‘Can I box now?'” Rogan explained, referring to Chimaev asking his corner if he could engage in striking exchanges. “His team was like, ‘No, no, you’re not boxing. Take him down. He can’t.'”
Rogan emphasized that from a tactical perspective, Chimaev’s approach was flawless. “Look, if you got that clear of a dominance, I still agree with though as a coach saying no, get take him down. Your whole thing is smash. What the hell? Like I think they just wanted that win no matter what, you know, because it’s such a big deal. Khamzat finally got a shot at the title.”
The UFC commentator compared the situation to betting everything on one fight: “You’re betting a billion dollars on this fight. What’s the best way to victory? Just take him down. You can take him down anytime you want to. Hold him down. Punch him a few times. Make sure you’re in dominant position so you’re not going to get stood back up.”
Rogan’s analysis highlights the intelligence behind Chimaev’s strategy. Rather than engaging in potentially risky striking exchanges where anything could happen, the fighter utilized his overwhelming grappling advantage to secure victory in the most reliable way possible. This approach minimized risk while maximizing the probability of success – exactly what a smart championship game plan should accomplish.
The victory establishes Chimaev as a dominant force in the division, with Rogan noting that his wrestling style presents problems for virtually any opponent. “His wrestling style is just crazy,” Rogan observed, having witnessed firsthand reports of Chimaev’s training sessions where he reportedly dominated world-class grapplers and division one wrestlers.
