Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya believes the early minutes will tell the story of the UFC 319 headliner.
UFC middleweight titleholder Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev headline a stacked card this Saturday at UFC 319. In what arguably is the toughest on-paper title defense of his reign, Du Plessis will look to hand the undefeated Chimaev his first career setback after going undefeated so far in his promotional tenure.
If Du Plessis is victorious this weekend, he could potentially enter the middleweight GOAT conversation after UFC 319. He’ll enter the debate alongside legendary names like Israel Adesanya, Anderson Silva, and Chris Weidman.
Chimaev’s early blitzes in his fights could be a key tell as to how the UFC 319 main event will play out. According to one of Du Plessis’s former foes, the first few minutes will dictate how the fight goes.
Israel Adesanya shares his prediction for Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev
During a recent breakdown on his YouTube channel, Adesanya revealed his prediction for the UFC 319 main event.
“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, Khamzat’s crazy with his type of crazy and his willingness to not quit, and then drags Khamzat into deep waters in the third, fourth, or fifth round and gets him out of there. That’s how I see this fight going,” Adesanya said.
“Khamzat showed his hand, he’s going to go after him from the get-go. But I think DDP will weather the storm, and probably finish Khamzat later on, because Khamzat, if it gets to Rounds 3, 4, 5, it’s going to be a problem. 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…
“The UFC probably wants Khamzat to be champion because he’s a guy that brings a lot of eyes, says it and gets it done type s—…he’ll get it done, he’s just stubborn. Dricus by late TKO.”
One of Du Plessis’s former opponents, Darren Till, believes Chimaev will get the job done at UFC 319. He believes the fight won’t go past three rounds.
Ahead of UFC 319, Du Plessis and Chimaev shared a fight week interaction that went viral, and left many fans concerned for the middleweight titleholder’s chances.
Dricus du Plessis shut down size difference concerns ahead of UFC 319
After Du Plessis and Chimaev came face-to-face at the fighter hotel in Chicago, fans pointed out that Chimaev looks significantly bigger than the champion ahead of fight night. But Du Plessis shut down those concerns and believes the footage overblew their sizes.
Du Plessis believes Chimaev is doubting his own cardiovascular endurance ahead of UFC 319. Chimaev worked out with TJ Dillashaw’s longtime conditioning coach, Sam Calavita, ahead of UFC 319.
If Chimaev blitzes Du Plessis in Round 1, it could tell the story of how the fight goes. If Du Plessis is able to withstand the early barrage, he could be well on his way to defending his title again.
