UFC 319 Odds, Prediction: Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev
The UFC is in Chicago for the first time ever, with the stacked UFC 319 card headlined by a middleweight title bout between champion Dricus du Plessis and challenger Khamzat Chimaev.
Du Plessis is riding an 11-fight win streak, including two title defences of the middleweight belt. Chimaev, a perfect 8-0 in the Octagon, continues to climb the UFC rankings at No. 3 in the middleweight division and No. 14 in the pound-for-pound rankings.
Chimaev is a sizeable -250 favourite to win on the MMA odds, while Du Plessis is a +200 underdog to retain the middleweight belt.
Dricus du Plessis UFC 319 Odds
Du Plessis 23-2 in his professional MMA career, including an undefeated 9-0 run in the Octagon. Currently sitting at No. 4 in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings, the 31-year-old is also a former welterweight and middleweight Extreme Fighting Championship champion and KSW welterweight champion.
Du Plessis is the first UFC champion form South Africa, having won the middleweight belt at UFC 297 in Toronto in January 2024 with a split decision victory over Sean Strickland. He followed that up with title defences against Israel Adesanya (fourth round submission) the following August and Strickland (unanimous decision) this past February.
“Stillknocks” fighting style is far from conventional, making him a unique challenge for opponents to approach. His athleticism helps him blitz opponents from distance when standing up and his strength gives him a leg up in clinch situations.
Du Plessis is somewhat of a wildcard. He’s not as refined as other top middleweight contenders, but he continues to improve each fight and win even if it doesn’t necessarily look pretty. Du Plessis’ cardio and strength are his biggest weapons, so look for him to hold off Chimaev early, before dealing damage in the later rounds.
Khamzat Chimaev UFC 319 Odds
Chimaev has an undefeated professional record at 14-0, including an 8-0 record since joining the UFC in 2020. Also 31, Chimaev, who is from Chechnya, but also hold United Arab Emirates citizenship, has a wrestling background and is a former three-time Swedish national wrestling champion.
Chimaev has been money for the UFC, with all but one of his fights in the Octagon earning either a Fight of the Night or Performance of the Night bonus. His first two UFC fights even broke the record for quickest turnaround between UFC wins (10 days) in the modern era. Chimaev has been off since last October when he earned a submission victory over Robert Whittaker, one of five first round finishes in his UFC career.
“Borz” is an incredibly dangerous opponent thanks to his elite technical skills combined with his ferocious attack that borders on reckless. He’s a pure grappler, who likes to land heavy punches before going for explosive takedowns.
Chimaev is the elite of the elite when it comes to wrestling, so his plan in this fight will clearly be to get Du Plessis to the mat as quick as possible. Look for Chimaev to push the pace early and try to overwhelm Du Plessis right from the get-go.
UFC 319 Prediction: Du Plessis vs. Chimaev
While Du Plessis prefers standing up and Chimaev is an expert on the ground, both these fighters can be described as reckless, so the entertainment level should be ratcheted up to 11 on Saturday. I always lean toward the technical fighter, however, so I give the edge to Chimaev.