MMA legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has shared his thoughts on the highly anticipated UFC 319 main event between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev, set to take place on August 17 in Chicago, Illinois. The bout will be contested for the UFC Middleweight Championship and marks a pivotal moment in Chimaev’s career as he aims to claim his first UFC title.
Speaking candidly, Khabib broke down the matchup and offered key insights into both fighters’ styles, particularly highlighting the unique challenges posed by Du Plessis.
“Dricus is an interesting opponent. He’s very tough, he’s gonna scrap,” Khabib said. “He’s not very accurate, but throws a lot. He’s always throwing hands and legs constantly. He throws a ton of volume and doesn’t stand still.”
Known for his strategic brilliance in the octagon, Khabib offered advice to Chimaev on how to approach the South African striker. He emphasized that Khamzat should take the fight to the feet, at least initially.
“I personally would advise Khamzat to strike with him. If you put them in straight boxing, Khamzat is better,” Khabib explained. “You can try to force things early in the first two rounds, but if you don’t finish him, you’ll burn a lot of energy.”
With UFC 319 just weeks away, the anticipation is building as fans and fighters alike await to see whether Chimaev can maintain his unbeaten run and become a UFC champion, or if Du Plessis will defend his belt by outlasting another dangerous challenger.
'He's A Big A******': Paulo Costa Furious As Khamzat Chimaev Allegedly Contacts His Girlfriend Before UFC 318 Clash; Video
UFC fighter Paulo Costa recently called out fellow middleweight star Khamzat Chimaev after winning his fight at UFC 318. Costa claimed that Chimaev had sent inappropriate messages to his girlfriend, telling her to “find a better man.” Costa was very angry and called Chimaev a coward in his post-fight interview.
“He’s a big a******, and my wife is over here, he DMed her. This is not good, this is a bad thing. But he never sent them to me, because he’s a coward. Chimaev, I’m going to show you why you’re a coward. I am here, I’m going to look for you, chase you, and I will not stop until I get you!" Costa said after beating Roman Kopylov.
This isn’t the first time the two fighters have had issues. They were supposed to fight at UFC 294, but Costa pulled out due to an elbow infection. Their rivalry has grown more personal since then.
In response, Chimaev posted on X (formerly Twitter), joking, “It was she who wrote to me habibi,” followed by laughing emojis. Chimaev didn’t take the accusation seriously and seemed to dismiss it as a joke. He is currently preparing for a title fight at UFC 319 against Dricus du Plessis, which is scheduled for August 17.
While Chimaev is focused on becoming champion, Costa is eager to settle things with him in the Octagon. If Chimaev wins or loses at UFC 319, there’s a strong chance these two rivals will finally meet in the cage soon.
