UFC - UFC 319
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by Devesh Jaganath | in UFC Predictions
The Ultimate Fighting Championship descends upon the United Center in Chicago for UFC 319 this weekend, headlined by a battle for the middleweight title - Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev! Stillknocks has a pro record of 23-2-0, while Borz is 14-0-0. Check out our match prediction below!
The immovable force: DDP is the first South African to win a UFC championship belt and has earned the respect of the MMA world by being as dogged as they come. The champ is stepping up to make his third title defence following victories over the division’s elite in Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland.
The unstoppable object: In the opposite corner is Chimaev, who has skyrocketed to the top of the division with his signature frenzy of wolf-like aggression, grappling dominance, and rapid-fire finishing ability. With a perfect record and a desire to “Smesh Everybody”, the Chechen is a different type of beast inside the Octagon.
What happens when the two collide? Let’s get into the stats and try to figure it out!
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Dricus Du Plessis - Khamzat Chimaev: Form Analysis
Dricus du Plessis assumed the throne as king of the middleweight division by edging Sean Strickland in a five-round brawl before making his first title defence against Israel Adesanya via submission.
While some suggested he lost the title fight against Strickland, Stillknocks left no question unanswered in his last fight when he left the American in a bloody mess en route to a unanimous decision victory.
The South African is now riding an 11-match win streak dating back to 2019, and he is a perfect 9-0 since arriving in the UFC in October 2020 - six of which have ended in stoppage.
Khamzat Chimaev holds the UFC record for the fastest consecutive wins (10 days)!
If that’s not impressive enough, Chimaev also has the quickest three-fight win streak in UFC history (66 days) and one of the fastest finishes ever in the franchise (17 seconds).
Borz will be returning to the Octagon for the first time since October 2024, when he submitted Robert Whitaker in the first round, maintaining his flawless 14-0 record, 8-0 in the UFC.
Other notable wins for the Chechen include those over Gilbert Burns, Kevin Holland and Kamaru Usman. Of his eight wins in the franchise, four were by submission, two by KO/TKO, and two by decision.
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Dricus Du Plessis & Khamzat Chimaev Squad Analysis
On to the tale of tape - Du Plessis is 31 years old and weighs in at 185 lbs. He is 1.85m tall and has a reach of 193cm.
Striking: DDP throws 6.12 significant strikes per minute and lands at a rate 48%. He absorbs 4.90 significant strikes per minute.
Wrestling: Stillknocks averages 2.55 takedowns per 15 minutes and has a 50% success rate and a 50% takedown defence. The champ attempts 0.7 submissions per three rounds.
The challenger is also 31 years old and matches the champion’s weight. He has a one-inch height advantage but gives away an inch in wingspan.
Striking: Borz throws 5.36 significant strikes per minute but lands at a 58% clip, which is a higher rate than du Plessis. He absorbs 3.25 significant strikes per minute.
Wrestling: The Chechen has a 48% takedown success rate and a stunning 90% takedown defence, while attempting 2.8 submissions per three rounds.
Dricus Du Plessis - Khamzat Chimaev Key Points
- Du Plessis is on a nine-match win streak in the UFC.
- Both of du Plessis’ title defences went the distance.
- Only two of Chimaev’s eight UFC fights have gone beyond two rounds.
- Chimaev has never fought a five-round bout.
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Our Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev Prediction
If you’re looking for a stylish bout, this is probably not the one for you. What we have here is a junkyard pitbull going up against a lone wolf with both sharing one common goal - survive at all costs.
This looks likely to come down to whether the champ can withstand Chimaev’s explosive onslaught out the gate. That’s where we feel the key lies, since DDP has an engine that runs for days and he is an elite grappler despite being unpleasing on the eye. DDP is the underdog in this match, so we could be looking at a solid payday for the ”and still”. Our Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev prediction is Dricus du Plessis wins the match.
Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev - Other Interesting Predictions
Over 2.5 rounds
Five of Dricus du Plessis’s last seven fights have gone over 2.5 rounds, including his title victory and both title defences. Two of Chimaev’s last four fights have gone over 2.5 rounds.
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Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev match : Frequently asked questions
UFC 319 will take place on Saturday, August 16, at the United Center in Chicago. The main card starts at 23:00 GMT (18:00 ET).
Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 will be broadcast on TNT Sport in the UK and on ESPN+ in the US. You can also watch all the fights live on UFC’s Fight Pass.
All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
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