UFC 319: Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev Preview, Odds, Prediction (Aug 16)

• Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev is the main event of UFC 319.
• DDP is the defending UFC Middleweight champion
• Khamzat Chimaev is 14-0, and UFC 319 odds suggest he’ll stay undefeated

After demolishing Robert Whittaker’s teeth with a face crank, Khamzat Chimaev is favored to do something similar to Dricus du Plessis. His odds to become the new champ are -190, but DDP is ready for war.

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How to Watch

• Where: United Center in Chicago, Illinois
• When: Saturday, August 16, at 10 p.m. ET
• How to Watch: PPV

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Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev Odds

Fighter	Odds
Dricus du Plessis	+165
Khamzat Chimaev	-190

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Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev Fight Preview

We think Khamzat Chimaev is the best wrestler/grappler in the UFC. He’s also incredibly powerful, but his gas tank is questionable. Only two of his 14 wins happened after the final bell, but both of those were very close.

Against Gilbert Burns, he won the first round but then struggled when he got tired. Nevertheless, he won that fight by unanimous decision. Against Kamaru Usman, it was a similar story.

After winning the first round dominantly, he lost the next two. Two of the three judges scored 10-9 for Usman in Round 2, while in Round 3, they all went 10-9 in “The Nigerian Nightmare’s” favor. In the end, Chimaev won by majority decision.

Dricus Du Plessis defeated an entire Gracie Barra Team in a Quintet Match.

He hits a guillotine, a one-arm guillotine, a north-south choke and a D'Arce Choke.

Won the other match on points. pic.twitter.com/TSnYyITepS

— Ocelot MMA (@Ocelot_MMA) January 15, 2024

Dricus du Plessis knows how dangerous this guy is, especially in the first round, so he’ll probably take a more cautious approach than usual. The good news for DDP is that he’s a fine grappler and he’s got a takedown defense of 50%, with zero TDs suffered in the last three fights.

So, if he can survive Round 1, the defending champ can switch to offense. His striking is superior to Khamzat’s, especially against the gassed-out Khamzat.

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Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev Prediction

Dricus du Plessis knows that the only way to beat Khamzat Chimaev is to tire him out. For this, he needs to stop the Chechen fighter from getting close. DDP has never faced such an elite wrestler in the UFC, so we don’t know if he can handle him.

But we have faith in the reigning king of the Middleweight Division. Our prediction is that he won’t let Khamzat squash him like he squashed Whittaker. Instead, he’ll keep him at a distance, and once the time comes – when Khamzat gasses out, DDP will finish him with KO/TKO.

Free Pick:

• Dricus du Plessis by KO/TKO