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Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev Tips & Predictions – DDP can retain at UFC 319

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Last updated: 16 Aug 2025

Site Editor 16 Aug 2025

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Du Plessis possesses strong cardio & resilience.
Chimaev known for fast and aggressive starts.
DDP could dominate in later rounds if early storm is weathered.

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Dricus du Plessis (Getty Images)

Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev Preview
Dricus Du Plessis Form
Khamzat Chimaev Form

Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev Preview

Dricus Du Plessis is tipped to successfully defend his middleweight title. DDP has the wrestling ability to hang with Khamzat Chimaev and ride out any early storm as the challenger looks for the takedown.

His tremendous cardio will then allow him to take over in the championship rounds, break down Chimaev and score the finish.

Dricus Du Plessis is on an 11-fight win streak
20 of DDP’s 23 career wins have come via stoppage
Dricus Du Plessis has gone the distance just 3 times in his career
Khamzat Chimaev has gone the distance only 2 times in his career

Dricus Du Plessis Form

Dricus Du Plessis is the defending UFC middleweight champion with a professional record of 23-2 (9 KOs, 11 Subs).

DDP debuted in the UFC in late 2020 following a successful run on the European scene, and he marked his debut with a first-round knockout of Markus Perez.

He then knocked out Trevin Giles in the second, before out-pointing Brad Tavares and submitting Darren Till as his stock continued to rise.

The 31-year-old South African then stopped Derek Brunson in the second to earn himself a title eliminator fight with former champion Robert Whittaker.

Du Plessis won that fight via second-round knockout, setting up a title fight with Sean Strickland in early 2024.

DDP took his big chance at UFC 297 as he beat Sean Strickland via split decision, and during the following summer he submitted ex-champion Israel Adesanya in the fourth round to retain the crown.

He then began 2025 with a unanimous decision win over Strickland in their rematch from the previous year.

Khamzat Chimaev Form

Khamzat Chimaev is the number three ranked middleweight contender with a professional record of 14-0 (6 KOs, 6 Subs).

Chimaev made his UFC debut in 2020, and wasted little time in making an impact as he fought twice in 10 days – the quickest turnaround between wins in the modern UFC era.

He debuted with a second-round submission win over John Phillips, before knocking out Rhys McKee in the first round of his sophomore outing.

From there he took just 17 seconds to knockout Gerald Meerschaert, before submitting Li Jungliang in the first round.

Chimaev then fought twice in 2022 as he continued his climb up the ladder with a points win over Gilbert Burns and a first-round submission of Kevin Holland.

The 31-year-old Russian fought just twice over the next two years, but he kept his streak going with notable wins over former UFC champions.

He beat Kamaru Usman via majority decision in October 2023, before submitting Robert Whittaker by first-round submission in October 2024.

Verdict

Dricus Du Plessis v Khamzat Chimaev

Dricus Du Plessis has the skillset and cardio to make him a highly-appealing underdog.

We have seen Khamzat Chimaev fade after the first two rounds before, so if DDP can fend off the challenger over the first two rounds, he can take over and take this.

Dricus Du Plessis

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Du Plessis by KO/TKO

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