So, with five championship rounds on deck against Dricus du Plessis, fans and analysts alike wondered if he could keep the pace. By the time the final bell rang in Chicago, though, Chimaev had delivered the kind of performance that silenced every critic of his cardio in one go.

Unlike his two prior title defences, the build-up to Dricus du Plessis’ third title defence, against Khamzat Chimaev, has been strictly focused on the action inside the octagon.