K. Nurmagomedov (left) advised K. Chimaev. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
In the main event of UFC 319, scheduled for August 16th, Khamzat Chimaev faces the tough task of ending Dricus Du Plessis ' reign in the Ultimate's middleweight division (up to 83,9kg). The South African is making his third title defense and is coming off a winning streak against four former champions, making him a dangerous opponent for 'The Wolf'. However, for his compatriot from the Caucasus, Khabib Nurmagomedov , there is a path for the Chechen to conquer the belt.
In an interview with Adam Zubayraev, Khabib Nurmagomedov described Dricus Du Plessis as a dangerous opponent due to his aggressive and relentless style inside the octagon. Even without great precision in his strikes, the South African compensates with volume and constant movement, maintaining pressure on his opponents throughout the fight.
See too
"Dricus is an interesting opponent. He's very tough and goes for it. He's not very accurate, but he throws a lot of punches. He's always throwing punches and kicks. He throws a lot of punches and never stands still," said Khabib.
Khabib suggests striking with Chimaev, but warns of the risk of exhaustion in a prolonged fight
According to the former champion's analysis, the best strategy for Khamzat Chimaev would be to focus on striking, especially boxing, where he has a technical advantage over his opponent. However, forcing the pace in the early rounds without securing a submission could be a mistake, as it would be very physically demanding.
"Personally, I'd advise Khamzat to trade blows with him. If we put the two in a pure boxing exchange, Khamzat is better. You can try to force things in the first two rounds, but if you don't finish, you'll waste a lot of energy," the Russian continued.
One point of concern highlighted by Khabib is Khamzat's lack of experience in five-round fights. While the Chechen has yet to test his mettle in longer bouts, Du Plessis has, which could give the South African a significant advantage if the fight goes down to the final moments.
"Khamzat never made it to the championship rounds. On the other hand, that guy (Dricus), he has real experience," concluded the former lightweight champion (up to 70,3 kg).
Signed by the UFC since 2020, Khamzat Chimaev arrives at his first title fight undefeated in his career, with 14 wins, 12 of them by stoppage. Throughout his career, the Chechen has never had to fight beyond the third round.
Dricus Du Plessis has 23 wins and only two losses in his career. The champion has 20 wins by stoppage and, in his last three fights, needed so-called "championship rounds" to emerge victorious.
Reinier de Ridder wants Khamzat Chimaev's spot at UFC 319
Reinier De Ridder in victory at UFC. Photo: Reproduction x/UFC News
Reinier de Ridder , newly arrived in the UFC, already has his sights set on the middleweight belt . Scheduled for UFC Abu Dhabi next Saturday (26), the former ONE FC double champion sees the fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev , at UFC 319, as an unexpected opportunity. In an interview with Submission Radio, he revealed that he hopes Chimaev will withdraw so he can take the spot and fight for the title two weeks after his debut.
“I still hope Khamzat pulls out at the last minute. UFC 319 is two weeks after my fight, so maybe we'll still get lucky,” said the former ONE FC champion.
The hope that the 'Wolf' will withdraw from the fight comes from Chimaev's history of canceled fights in the UFC. The Chechen has had six fights canceled throughout his career, most of them due to his health.
Exclusive: Michael PQD talks about his brutal UFC debut victory.
Latest news
-
Mackenzie Dern highlights her evolution after defending her title and aims for new achievements in the UFC.
-
Arman Tsarukyan points out that the undefeated star will not be the same in the UFC; understand why.
-
Islam Makhachev places Ian Machado Garry in the Top 3 of toughest fights in UFC history; check out the first one.
You need to log in to comment.