Prediction for the fight Khamzat Chimaev vs Dricus Du Plessis

Dricus Du Plessis will face Khamzat Chimaev in the headlining event of UFC 319 in Chicago on August 17, with the middleweight title on the line. Their fight was supposed to take place two months earlier, making it even more anticipated. Will Du Plessis be able to retain the gold, or will we see a new champion announced? Let's find out.

• Khamzat Chimaev vs Dricus Du Plessis;
• Khamzat Chimaev;
• Dricus Du Plessis;
• Comparative analysis;
• Game Totals Prediction.

Khamzat Chimaev vs Dricus Du Plessis

Khamzat Chimaev

"Borz" is ranked No. 3. He remains undefeated (14-0), wears a brown belt in jiu-jitsu and has already earned six Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses.

In his last fights he defeated former champions Usman and Whittaker, before that the bets on his victory in the confrontations with Holland and Burns went up. Finally, Chimaev got to the championship fight that was predicted for him several years ago.

Strengths

Not everyone considers Khamzat's striking to be a plus, but now it has become really good, and in terms of strength there was already a complete order. However, Chimaev's trump card is the ground game, concrete control of positions, strikes from above and techniques. Once on the ground, it is difficult to counter him with anything.

Weaknesses

"Borz" had cardio problems, plus he didn't look so convincing in the fight with Usman, which is why there are reasons to doubt him. At the same time, we are talking about a title fight and an unconventional, versatile opponent, which will also complicate the implementation of the game plan.

The current form and readiness of the fighter

Khamzat is 31 years old, judging by the fight with Whittaker - he is in perfect order and only improves his skills of outclassing opponents. In the camp with Du Plessis, the coach of the former UFC champion, TJ Dillashaw, is taking part in functional training, and TJ himself promises that "Borz" will reach a new level of endurance. And Tsarukyan was not superfluous there. Considering all this and the lack of information about injuries, we expect to see Chimaev at his peak.

Dricus Du Plessis

The undisputed champion is on an 11-fight winning streak – punters have seen great odds on him as an underdog on more than one occasion. Being a champion is nothing new for Du Plessis: before the UFC, he was the best in two promotions, and held belts in a couple of divisions in one of them.

His most recent victories came against former champions Adesanya, Whittaker and Strickland, and he is now set to defend his belt for the third time.

Strengths

Drikus was good at everything: he wrestles well, while having a considerable baggage of techniques in his arsenal, and also hits hard. Yes, he is unique in the execution of all this, but the combination of attacks brings results. The champion's cardio is a separate story, because he knows how to restart when, it would seem, he is already close to defeat. And he withstands Du Plessis's blow as he should.

Weaknesses

The South African is not a master of defense, he takes a lot of punches, and he has problems defending against takedowns. In fact, his skills on the ground and his overall defense are exactly what he needs to test.

The current form and readiness of the fighter

The fighter is 31 years old, he is on a great win streak and, it would seem, there can be no questions here. However, the topic of injury, which no one in his camp has talked about in detail, the postponement of the fight and the clash of skills in the next fight, raise certain concerns. Drikus is good, but he is facing a big test.

Comparative analysis

Chimaev will be noticeably taller and bigger, but slightly inferior in reach. There is no doubt that he will immediately try to make a takedown, as he did with Whittaker, in order to deprive the champion of any prospect of developing success in the stand-up. The unusual angles from which Drikus punches can really cause some problems if you linger with him vertically.

Comparing the fighters' styles on the ground, it only remains to establish the established fact: Chimaev uses ground-and-pound more actively, goes for holds more often, and fights many times more aggressively, restricting the movements of his opponents like a spider.

The bottom line is that Drikus is dangerous on the feet, but the gap there will only become apparent once Khamzat tires out. Given his new conditioning coach, that moment may come later than expected. And with Du Plessis' takedown defense, it won't come at all, since surviving two rounds of pressure from "Borz" is an extremely difficult task when he's in good health.

Khamzat Chimaev vs Dricus Du Plessis Prediction

Total pressure from the very start, with Khamzat's obvious dominance in the top positions, is most likely taken into account by Drikus' angle. His team will choose a strategy of waiting, but will the cast-iron head of the champion withstand the blows, and then the holds of Chimaev?

If so, we are in for a great fight for survival and a bet on Total Over (2.5) by rounds. Since Khamzat has not even been to the 4th round, we will still risk betting on an early end to the fight, as well as his victory, succumbing to the general aura of "Borz", who has no equal. Download 1xbet to your phone and place a bet on the favorite!

Prediction: Total Less (4.5) by rounds/Victory of Khamzat Chimaev