Former UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman has given his Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev pre-fight prediction for the UFC 319 main event.
The American MMA star has provided a controversial prediction ahead of the du Plessis vs Chimaev UFC Middleweight Title fight in Chicago on Saturday.
Chris Weidman Gives Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev Prediction
When it comes to MMA, it’s fair to say that Chris Weidman knows a thing or two. The former UFC Middleweight Title champion boasts back-to-back wins over arguably the greatest MMA fighter of all time in Anderson Silva.
Not only that, but he was the man to end Silva’s 17-fight winning run and was also the first man to beat ‘The Spider’ in the UFC. Weidman’s opinion on big MMA fights is still highly respected.
Having ruled the 185-pound division before himself, what better man to give his thoughts on the upcoming UFC 319 fight card than ‘The All-American’ himself.
Weidman has been vocal with his Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev prediction, which may come as a bit of a surprise to some.
Not only has the 41-year-old provided a controversial opinion and prediction, but he has doubled down and made a detailed case as to why exactly he feels this way.
As the pre-fight underdog with UFC betting sites, you’d think that Weidman would be going against the champion ‘Stillknocks’. However, that isn’t the case.
Instead, Weidman’s UFC 319 prediction for the du Plessis vs Chimaev main event is one that sees the South African champion retain his title and become the first man to beat ‘Borz’ inside the octagon.
Weidman: ‘The Only Way I See Chimaev Winning This Fight Is By A Finish’
Chris Weidman hasn’t sat on the fence when it comes to his Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev prediction for the UFC 319 main event.
Having formerly been the king of the 185-pound division, it’s fair to say that the American knows what he’s talking about.
When it comes to UFC 319, Weidman believes that MMA fans will hear Bruce Buffer shouting ‘and still’ with du Plessis making a successful defence of his UFC Middleweight Title:
“The question marks in my mind are: Has he ever fought a guy the size of DDP? I don’t think so,” Weidman said in a fight week interview with MMA Junkie.
“Can you control a guy like that and hold onto your cardio with a guy like that? Does he have to finish him in the first two or three rounds? I think so.
“The only way I see Chimaev winning this fight is by a finish. I don’t see him finishing him anything past three rounds. I think he has to win this fight in the first round.
“He needs to land a big shot on the feet and look to bring it to the ground for a submission or a ground-and-pound TKO. I don’t see him winning a five-round fight.
The former 185-pound king believes that if Chimaev wins, it will be within the first round. However, if it goes past the five-minute mark, ‘The All-American’ is backing ‘Stillknocks’.
“If DDP loses, he’s going to get finished in the first round. If I had to put all my money on it, I’ll go with DDP on this one,” Weidman concluded.
Chris Weidman’s UFC 319 Prediction Priced @ 2/1
Although Chris Weidman’s du Plessis vs Chimaev prediction hasn’t provided a method of victory, it is clear that he expects Dricus du Plessis to reign supreme at UFC 319.
Despite being the champion, du Plessis is the 2/1 underdog to win the fight outright. On the flip side, Chimaev is the 2/5 favourite to become the new king of the 185-pound division.
The Chechen is priced at 6/4 to win by submission, 7/2 to win via KO/TKO and 9/2 to win on points. The champion on the other hand is 6/1 to win on points and via KO/TKO, with odds of 9/1 on the South African to win via submission.
These odds may surprise MMA fans, particularly given how good du Plessis has looked since winning the 185-pound belt.
However, Chris Weidman’s UFC 319 prediction of du Plessis to retain the UFC Middleweight Title with a hard-fought victory is one that price setters don’t seem to agree with.
That being said, SportsCasting‘s Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev betting tips are in agreement with the underdog ‘Stillknocks’ getting his hand raised.
