Anthony Hernandez thinks Khamzat Chimaev is still unproven heading into his first UFC title fight.
Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) challenges middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) in the UFC 319 headliner on Aug. 16 from United Center in Chicago (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).
Chimaev is the betting favorite heading into his fight with Du Plessis, who holds wins over former champions Robert Whittaker, Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland. However, Hernandez isn’t ready to buy into the undefeated phenom’s hype just yet.
“I think DDP is going to shock the world again,” Hernandez told MMA Junkie. “He’s a big, tough, awkward motherf*cker, and I’m still not really sold on Khamzat. I understand he’s good, and he’s dangerous, yada yada, but he’s kind of fought all small guys who have come up. (Kamaru) Usman gave him a run for his money off the couch, so how does he do with somebody that’s like a real 85’er?”
Hernandez (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) will look to enter the middleweight title picture when he takes on Roman Dolidze (15-3 MMA, 9-3) in Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 72 (ESPN, ESPN+) main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
