UFC - UFC #319
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by Stephen Abiola | in UFC Picks
Dricus du Plessis (23-2-0) and Khamzat Chimaev (14-0-0) will lock horns for the UFC middleweight title at the United Center in Chicago. Du Plessis, who joined the franchise in October 2020, quickly rose through the ranks with his invincible performances. He went on a six-fight winning run to secure a title shot against Sean in January 2024. The South African defeated his opponent via a split decision before defending the title twice against Adesanya and Strickland.
Khamzat Chimaev, on the other hand, will be putting his spotless UFC record on the line in his first-ever title shot. The Russian joined the franchise in July 2020, securing impressive wins against top names like Kevin Holland and Kamaru Usman. His latest outing was in October 2024 at UFC 308, where he got a submission victory against Robert Whittaker in Round 1. The 30-year-old is the No. 3 fighter in the official UFC Middleweight rankings.
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Dricus Du Plessis - Khamzat Chimaev Key Points
- Du Plessis won via decision in two of his last five fights.
- The fight went the distance in two of the last three Du Plessis bouts.
- The total rounds went over 3.5 in the last three Du Plessis fights.
- The fight was decided via decision in two of the last four Chimaev bouts.
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Our Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev Prediction
"Stillknocks" will have a point to prove in this matchup, with critics questioning his credibility as champion. He may not be the most technically skilled fighter on paper, but he's still the champion in the division. However, his opponent is also not so good at avoiding punches, although his grappling inside the Octagon is excellent. Chimaev is a highly explosive fighter and may look to end this fight in the first round with his aggression. However, Du Plessis is skilled enough to withstand the early onslaught from "Borz" before taking over the battle to rake up points.
Our prediction for Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev: Du Plessis to win via decision.
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