- Dricus Du Plessis defends his UFC middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev on Aug. 16 at UFC 319.
- The fight will take place inside the United Center in Chicago.
- Du Plessis is the +170 betting underdog, while Chimaev is the -210 betting favorite.
Reigning undisputed UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis defends his title for the third time on Aug. 16, as he welcomes the challenge of No. 3-ranked Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of UFC 319 inside the United Center in Chicago.
Although he’s still undefeated in the UFC with two successful title defenses, Du Plessis heads into the match as the betting underdog with +170 UFC odds. The challenger, on the other hand, is going to be the -210 betting favorite, likely because of his perfect pro record.
UFC 319: Du Plessis vs. Chimaev Odds
- Dricus Du Plessis: +170
- Khamzat Chimaev: -210
UFC 319: Du Plessis vs. Chimaev: Prediction
I predict a submission win for Chimaev over Du Plessis in this UFC middleweight championship showdown because of the former’s superior grappling skills, specifically the top-tier wrestling caliber that he has in his arsenal.
One of the main reasons Chimaev remains undefeated is his unmatched wrestling skills, which overwhelm his opponents and cause them to crumble. The primary key for him is to start early and apply these wrestling skills against the defending champion.
Furthermore, he needs to go all in with this fight strategy, as there’s always a question about his cardio and durability, specifically whether he can go the full distance against Du Plessis. This is especially true since he has only been in three-round fights and has slowed down significantly in the latter rounds.
On the other hand, Du Plessis needs to survive the first two rounds of grappling offense from the challenger and defend his takedowns effectively. This way, he can drag him to the championship rounds and test his durability to the limit.
Du Plessis also needs to make things awkward and unorthodox for Chimaev, particularly in the striking exchanges, so that he would have a higher chance of landing his power punches and kicks to potentially hurt Chimaev in the early stages of the fight.
But ultimately, I think that Chimaev’s wrestling skills will come out on top, and Du Plessis will succumb to this, which is going to result in an early submission finish within the first two rounds of the match and begin a new era in the 185-pound weight class.
Dricus Du Plessis’ Recent Fight Results
Du Plessis was the former EFC and KSW champion before he joined the UFC in 2020. He made his octagon debut against Markus Perez and scored a first-round finish to begin his UFC career in the win column.
Since then, he swept his next five fights and defeated Trevin Giles, Brad Tavares, Darren Till, Derek Brunson, and Robert Whittaker to earn his shot for the UFC title against Sean Strickland in July 2023.
Du Plessis made the most of his championship opportunity and won a close split decision over Strickland to become the undisputed king of the division. The South African MMA star continued his reign as the champion with wins over Israel Adesanya and Strickland during their rematch at UFC 312.
Khamzat Chimaev’s Recent Fight Results
Chimaev was a highly touted prospect when he joined the UFC in 2020, with a perfect 6-0 professional record. He fought in the European MMA circuit until the Las Vegas-based promotion signed him to a contract.
Since his UFC arrival, Chimaev has asserted his wrestling dominance and incredible one-punch knockout power, as he defeated the likes of John Philips, Rhys McKee, Gerald Meerschaert, and Li Jingliang.
His last four fights were wins over top names on the roster, which include Gilbert Burns, Kevin Holland, Kamaru Usman, and Robert Whittaker. These victories helped Chimaev earn his first shot at the coveted championship belt.
UFC 319: Du Plessis vs. Chimaev: Tale of the Tape
| Dricus Du Plessis | Khamzat Chimaev | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 31 | 31 |
| Height | 6’1” | 6’2” |
| Reach | 76 inches | 75 inches |
| Leg Reach | 43 inches | 40 inches |
| Record | 23-2 | 14-0 |
| Fighting Style | MMA | Wrestling |
| Finishing Rate | 87% | 86% |
UFC 319: Du Plessis vs. Chimaev Fight Card
- Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev, UFC middleweight championship fight
- Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico, featherweight fight
- Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates, welterweight fight
- Jared Cannonier vs. Michael Page, middleweight fight
- Tim Elliott vs. Kai Asakura, flyweight fight
- King Green vs. Diego Ferreira, lightweight fight
- Gerald Meerschaert vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk, middleweight fight
- Jessica Andrade vs. Loopy Godinez, women’s strawweight fight
- Chase Hooper vs. Alexander Hernandez, lightweight fight
- Edson Barboza vs. Drakkar Klose, lightweight fight
- Bryan Battle vs. Nursulton Ruziboev, middleweight fight
- Karine Silva vs. JJ Aldrich, women’s flyweight fight
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