Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has shared his insights on the upcoming UFC 319 headliner, emphasizing that the early moments of the fight will be crucial. The main event features Dricus du Plessis, the current UFC middleweight titleholder, defending his title against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev. This highly anticipated clash is set to take place this Saturday and is being touted as one of the most challenging title defenses in Du Plessis's reign.
In this pivotal matchup, Dricus du Plessis aims to hand Khamzat Chimaev his first professional defeat. Chimaev has maintained an unblemished record throughout his career, making this title fight even more significant. Should Du Plessis emerge victorious at UFC 319, he could find himself in the conversation for the greatest of all time (GOAT) in the middleweight division, joining the ranks of legends such as Israel Adesanya, Anderson Silva, and Chris Weidman.
Adesanya has pointed out that Chimaev's aggressive start in his fights could be a telling sign of how the main event will unfold. In a recent analysis on his YouTube channel, he stated, “I look at this fight two ways: Khamzat comes out, gets a hold of DDP, and just drags him into deep water in the first or second, and finishes him. Or DDP matches his crazy with his type of crazy and his willingness to not quit, dragging Khamzat into deep waters in the later rounds.”
Adesanya believes that if the fight reaches the third, fourth, or fifth rounds, Du Plessis might have the upper hand due to Chimaev's potential fatigue. He expressed confidence in Du Plessis, predicting a victory by late TKO, stating, “I say Round 3 or 4, DDP. But if Khamzat is going to win, it’s going to be in the first round, spectacular and violent. I’ll go with DDP.”
Despite Adesanya's prediction, former opponent Darren Till believes that Khamzat Chimaev will secure the win at UFC 319, suggesting the fight may not extend beyond three rounds. The fight week interactions between Du Plessis and Chimaev have also garnered attention, with many fans expressing concern over the size difference between the two fighters.
However, Dricus du Plessis has dismissed these size concerns, asserting that the footage has exaggerated the difference. He believes that Chimaev may be underestimating his own cardiovascular endurance ahead of the fight. Chimaev has been training with renowned conditioning coach Sam Calavita in preparation for UFC 319, indicating that he is taking his fitness seriously.
As the anticipation builds for UFC 319, the narrative surrounding this title fight is rich with intrigue. If Chimaev can successfully blitz Du Plessis in the first round, it could dictate the fight's outcome. Conversely, if Du Plessis withstands the initial storm, he may very well defend his title and solidify his place in the middleweight division's storied history.
UFC 319 promises to be a thrilling event, showcasing the best of mixed martial arts as two elite fighters clash for the title. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how this showdown will unfold and who will ultimately emerge victorious in this high-stakes battle.
