Mind Games Begin Again as Khamzat Chimaev’s Pullout History Makes Dricus Du Plessis ‘Choose’ Backup Fighter

Unreliable and 'mysteriously ill' Khamzat Chimaev makes UFC champ Dricus Du Plessis choose to fight backup opponent at UFC 319 PPV.

Mind Games Begin Again as Khamzat Chimaev’s Pullout History Makes Dricus Du Plessis ‘Choose’ Backup Fighter

Dricus Du Plessis trolls Khamzat Chimaev by hilariously opting for backup fighter (Source: X)

Khamzat Chimaev is finally settling into his long-paved role as a 185-pound top seed and challenger. The Chechen fighter finally gets his prophesized title shot against Dricus Du Plessis at the UFC 319 PPV event in August. However, it is not overthinking if one does think about Chimaev pulling out at some point. In fact, the champion has thought of that scenario, and used it to play mind games.

UFC middleweight kingpin Dricus Du Plessis is a class-A trash-talk act who broke through even former champs. ‘Stillknocks’ is also often in the habit of trolling Khamzat Chimaev himself; the fighter also dissed back on occasion. Now, with Nassourdine Imavov getting the backup spot, DDP used that info to further troll Chimaev, believing his previous injury pullouts will turn up again.

Guess I’m fighting @imvov nassourdine

Chimaev is as explosive as they come. However, he has auto-immunity issues more than any fighter. By his own and the accounts of those he sparred with, the explosive fighter gives it his all during fight camps and often falls sick. Borz failed his ballot count for the UFC on ABC 6 headliner, thus postponing it to the UFC 308 PPV card.

Hence, it’s all (present) hands on deck for the UFC 319 PPV event headliner on August 16 in Chicago. Du Plessis went the bankable route and has announced (or rather hook-baited) that he was prepping for a PPV backup title fighter as well. This would be top-ranked UFC 185-pound contender, Nassourdine Imavov, who brass tapped for the title roles after his UFC Saudi Arabia win over Israel Adesanya.

Chimaev, 31, is utterly untested and strong at 14-0, but has only registered eight ballot fights in about five years. Three large UFC competition contests came in mid-to-late 2020. Since then, he has competed in four UFC bouts over the last four years.

Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev betting odds for UFC 319

Pointed at the exclusive 8-0 UFC undefeated club, Khamzat Chimaev is a reckoning in the UFC rosters. His explosive lean-ins and striking barrage have made him a good draw and push. Not just with Emirati fans but worldwide; a push MMA analyst/top voice, Chael Sonnen, teased he hasn’t seen since success stories like Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey.

Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev odds for UFC 319
Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev odds for UFC 319 (Source: X)

The fighter often catches heat for unreliable fight bookings and the shade of something mysterious, “serious camp illness,” he falls victim to. In his latest and most exciting outing to date, Khamzat Chimaev logged a first-round submission (face-crack; Round 1, 3:34) finish of former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 308.

His explosiveness and brilliant style of getting in done within one frame placed him as an early betting favorite on the money line over Dricus Du Plessis. With the champ touting a similarly explosive head-first striking style, this was a go-to skills test.

The South African fighter became champ with a UFC 297 PPV split decision win over Sean Strickland. He cemented his status better with a fourth-round submission of Izzy at UFC 305 in his first defense. His latest defense came on the UFC 312 PPV event headliner against old enemy Strickland.

Per DraftKings Sportsbooks, Du Plessis is a +164 underdog on the money line vs. the unbeaten Chimaev. However, those odds are subject to change given UFC 319 pre-fight camp prep, footage, and skills test, Du Plessis’ trash-talk mastery, and other factors.

Also Read: