The Khamzat Chimaev next fight news has finally arrived, and the popular middleweight will fight for UFC gold this Saturday night in his first pay-per-view main event.
Related: UFC tonight – Fight card, betting odds, and watch times for Saturday’s UFC event
Who will Khamzat Chimaev next fight be against?
After a year away from the cage, Chimaev made his triumphant return in October at UFC 308. To the surprise of many, the 30-year-old showed no ring rust as he needed just 3:34 to make middleweight legend Robert Whittaker tap out.
The assumption had been that the win earned him a UFC middleweight title fight next. Well, that news was confirmed in May when it was revealed he would face Dricus du Plessis in the main event of UFC 319 on August 16.
How to watch Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dricus Du Plessis in August
- Chimaev vs. Du Plessis will headline UFC 319 on Aug. 16
- The bout will take place inside the United Center in Chicago, Illinois
- The fight will air exclusively on ESPN+
- UFC 319 tickets go on sale June 20
Khamzat Chimaev vs Dricus Du Plessis preview
Chimaev and Du Plessis are, arguably, the two best middleweights on Earth right now. And they are right in the middle of their primes. The winner of this fight could rule over the division for the next two to three years.
Ground Warfare: Chimaev is a wrecking machine of a wrestler. However, Du Plessis is no slouch and can grapple in his own right. It is a guarantee that “Borz” will get his foe to the ground early. But if the champ can continue to get back up and make his foe work hard, the fight will start tilting to his advantage.
Cardio and Standup Questions: DDP has shown throughout his career that he has underrated cardio. While Chimaev can tire as the fight goes on. Furthermore, the champ has proven he can stand up and compete with the best strikers in the game. His opponent still has more to prove about his striking.
- Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dricus Du Plessis betting odds: Chimaev (-225), DDP (+185)
If DDP can make the fight a stand-up war, he has advantages. While Chimaev is powerful, his opponent is double-tough and could outwork and outpoint him on the feet.
The Bottom Line: This is a huge fight and showcases the diverse talent of the UFC’s roster. The winner of this fight could become the new face of the organization.
Why is Khamzat Chimaev so famous?
The Chechen Crusher: Over his career inside the MMA world, leader Khamzat Chimaev has become one of the most popular stars in the industry and a legitimate needle mover. He has done that by being an unstoppable force that has met little resistance from some high-level competition inside the Octagon.
- Khamzat Chimaev record: 14-0 (6 knockouts, 6 submissions)
- How tall is Khamzat Chimaev?: 6-foot-2
- Khamzat Chimaev last fight: Submission win over Robert Whittaker
- Chiamev is 9-0 inside the Octagon and has scored victories over former champions and future hall-of-famers Robert Whittaker and Kamaru Usman.
- “Borz” became a favorite of his new boss by being down for a fight anytime and anywhere. His first four matchups in the Octagon were split between the welterweight and middleweight divisions. And his first two fights in the promotion also took place just 10 days apart.
The Russian McGregor: Trash talk and callouts on social media are the name of the game in the UFC today. And despite English not being his first language, Chimaev has become quite adept at using his Twitter fingers.
- The native of Russia, by way of Sweden, has become an avid user of his Twitter account, using it to challenge many of the top fighters in the UFC welterweight division — including Leon Edwards, Gilbert Burns, and Colby Covington.
- During a 2021 rampage of tweets, Chimaev drew attention by seeking out MMA fights with retired UFC legends Brock Lesnar and Georges St-Pierre and a wrestling match with former two-division champion Daniel Cormier. Only Cormier answered, and the former Olympian found the challenge quite entertaining.
- Chimaev has also made headlines in training videos. Dominating world-class talents like Bellator welterweight champion Yaroslav Amosov and UFC veteran Darren Till.
Does Khamzat Chimaev have a wife?
The UFC star does not talk much about his personal life. However, there have been reports that he was married in May of 2022. Furthermore, following his win over Kamaru Usman, he revealed that he now has an infant child who has become one of his new motivations in life.
Khamzat Chimaev’s net worth
The measure of a fighter’s success is the dollars and cents they stack up from a career of professional fisticuffs. It is still early days for Chimaev, but his net worth is estimated to be around $3 million.
What language does Khamzat speak?
Khamzat Chimaev is a man of many talents, and that includes speaking multiple languages. He learned Russian and Chechen while growing up in the Republic of Chechnya. He eventually moved to Sweden, and there he learned both Swedish and English.
Also Read: Where does Khamzat Chimaev land in our latest UFC middleweight rankings?
