UFC 319: Why Khamzat Chimaev rated as potential winner against Du Plessis
- Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev are set to battle in the main event of the UFC 319 at the United Centre in Chicago, United States
- Chimaev would be taking part in his first title fight since he joined UFC and has been rated as the favourite to win against the South African MMA superstar
- A Combat sports expert has explained during a chat with Briefly News why the Russian fighter as been tagged the favourite to win against DDP despite the SA athlete being the defending champion
UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis will take on Khamzat Chimaev in the most anticipated main event at UFC 319.
The Russian fighter and the defending champion will battle at the United Centre in Chicago, United States, in the early hours of Sunday, August 17, 2025.
The South African MMA star defended his title against Sean Strickland in his last fight in Australia, but he's not rated as the favourite to win against Chimaev by pundits and betting sites.
Source: Getty Images
A Combat Sports analyst has explained the reason Khamzat is rated as the favourite ahead of the bout against DDP in Chicago.
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Why Chimaev is the favourite to win against DDP
MMA expert Afolabi Ojabowale, in an exclusive interview with Briefly News, shared his view about the bout between Chimaev and du Plessis.
He admitted that Khamzat should've gotten a title fight earlier before this his bout against DDP, because of how good he has been since joining the UFC.
"Interestingly, Khamzat is just getting his first title shot now because with the way he started in the UFC, there was a lot of hype and everybody thought that even if he doesn't become champion, he would at least fight in a title fight within the first two or three years of him being in the UFC and this is like his fifth year," he said.
"Different things have happened. The time he was expected to get a title fight, he got COVID, and all of that drama, regardless, he has finally gotten his title bout."
Source: Getty Images
Ojabowale also outlined some of the skills Chimaev has that made him a favourite to win the bout ahead of the current holder of the middleweight title.
"Khamzat is like a wrecking machine, I think he has the least amount of punches received in the UFC nobody has taken him down, never been on bottom before, apart from his fight against Gilbert Burns, he has dominated all other opponents, and he's 8-0 in the UFC," he added.
"So, his statistics are just amazing, and it's no surprise that he's being rated the favourite (to win the bout against Dricus du Plessis)."
Adesanya predicts winner between DDP and Chimaev
Briefly News also reported that Nigerian-born Israel Adesanya has made a bold prediction for the fight between Du Plessis and Chimaev this weekend.
The 36-year-old former middleweight champion explained the reason behind his choice while also listing what he expect to happen in the bout.
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Source: Briefly News
