UFC 319 – Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev: Preview & Betting Tips
Saturday night in Chicago is going to be an absolute cracker as Dricus du Plessis looks to defend his middleweight title for the second time against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319.
Du Plessis (23-2) has taken to the UFC like a duck to water. Early on in his career, there were potential stamina issues due to his busted up nose which he then went on to fix through surgery. Since then, the South African has been an impossible puzzle to solve due to his volume and unorthodox style.
Chimaev (14-0) has been earmarked for a stage like this ever since he burst onto the scene at Fight Island. But despite his dominance, some MMA fans don’t agree with him landing a title fight given that he has only beaten one ranked middleweight fighter, albeit that man was Robert Whittaker.
Tale of the Tape
Dricus du Plessis – Odds 3.05 (Bet MGM)
Record: 23-2
Age: 31
Height: 6ft1
Reach: 76”
Weight: Middleweight
Stance: Switch
Khamzat Chimaev – Odds 1.40 (Bet MGM)
Record: 14-0
Age: 31
Height: 6ft2
Reach: 75”
Weight: Middleweight
Stance: Orthodox
Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev: Analysis
Du Plessis must defend the early takedowns, scramble back to his feet, and make Chimaev carry his weight in the clinch. If he can extend the fight into rounds three, four and five, his pace and awkward power shots could shine through. His unorthodox striking could also frustrate Chimaev, creating pockets for his power punches and kicks.
Chimaev’s game is no secret: he will use his smothering wrestling, relentless pressure, and physicality that has broken every opponent to date. If he’s allowed to dictate position early, his probability of winning this fight will skyrocket. His key here is to start strong, force Du Plessis into defensive grappling exchanges, and keep him pinned to the fence or mat to sap his energy.
Du Plessis vs Chimaev: Prediction & Betting Tips
On paper, the most obvious play is Chimaev to win in round 1 or 2, but that’s where the risk lies. The hype around Chimaev’s early aggression is justified, yet this camp he’s reportedly leaned heavily into cardio work, suggesting a more measured, drawn-out approach could be on the cards.
However, one thing people are overlooking in this one is the physical matchup. Throughout his entire UFC career, the Chechnya fighter has been the much more physical man in terms of reach, size, and natural strength. The tale of the tape shows them evenly matched in reach and size, and I believe that the South African does match up well in terms of natural strength as well.
If that is the case, Chimaev won’t be able to bulldoze the champ with the same success as in previous fights. Let’s not forget, it wasn’t that long ago that an ageing Kamaru Usman stepped up to middleweight and pushed Chimaev all the way.
For that reason, I’m with the champ on this one as he can survive and eventually drain Chimaev in the second round and then punish him. I’m going for a Dricus du Plessis KO/TKO win at odds of 7.00 (Bet MGM).
Find all the latest boxing news and MMA breaking updates on boxingnews.com.
