Adesanya Foresees Two Potential Outcomes in Du Plessis vs. Chimaev Clash

Ahead of their anticipated showdown at UFC 319 this Saturday, Israel Adesanya has shared his predictions for the Dricus du Plessis versus Khamzat Chimaev fight, according to various international media outlets.

Du Plessis, the reigning South African middleweight UFC titleholder, is set to defend his championship against Chimaev at the United Center in Chicago. This will be Du Plessis’ third title defense.

Adesanya conveyed on his YouTube channel that the match could conclude in one of two ways: If Du Plessis can extend the fight into the later rounds, he believes the advantage will shift in his favor. Conversely, Chimaev’s strategy should revolve around securing an early finish, ideally in the first couple of rounds.

“My analysis suggests that Khamzat might initiate a swift takedown, submerging Dricus into deep waters early on, potentially leading to a finish in the initial rounds,” Adesanya commented.

“Alternatively, should Dricus match Khamzat’s intensity and resilience, enduring the early pressure and dragging Khamzat into the later rounds, he could very well turn the tide. That’s my perspective on how this fight might unfold.”

Adesanya further elaborated that while Khamzat is expected to aggressively pursue ‘DDP’ from the start, Du Plessis’ ability to withstand the initial onslaught and extend the fight could spell trouble for ‘Borz’.

“Khamzat has revealed his intentions, signaling an aggressive approach from the outset,” Adesanya noted.

“However, I believe DDP possesses the fortitude to weather that initial storm and potentially overcome Khamzat later in the fight. If the match progresses into Rounds 3, 4, or 5, Khamzat will likely face significant challenges, although it might not reach Round 5. I anticipate a DDP victory in Round 3 or 4.

“Conversely, if Khamzat is to emerge victorious, it will be a swift, impactful, and potentially brutal finish in the first round. Nevertheless, my inclination leans toward DDP.”

Khamzat Chimaev boasts an unblemished record of 14-0 since his professional debut five years ago.

Meanwhile, Du Plessis has demonstrated remarkable form recently, including a victory over Sean Strickland in their UFC 312 rematch in February and a fourth-round submission win against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305.