The highly anticipated Khamzat Chimaev UFC title fight is set for August 16 in Chicago, where undefeated challenger Chimaev will face reigning middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319. This clash promises to be one of the year’s biggest conflicts in mixed martial arts, as both fighters come with impressive unbeaten records.
Dricus du Plessis enters the fight with notable victories over Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland, and Robert Whittaker, establishing himself as a dominant champion. Khamzat Chimaev earned his title shot after defeating former champions Kamaru Usman and Whittaker consecutively, building momentum thanks to his elite wrestling and grappling skills. The matchup highlights two contrasting fighting styles: du Plessis’ unorthodox but versatile approach against Chimaev’s relentless pressure and wrestling pedigree.
Luke Rockhold Questions Chimaev’s Ability to Last Five Rounds
Former UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold, who has trained with both fighters, weighed in on the dynamics that might shape the bout. Rockhold pointed out that Chimaev has shown little experience in championship rounds, having only reached the third round twice in the UFC, during tough decision wins over Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman.
Rockhold emphasized Chimaev’s intensity and aggressive style as a fast starter with relentless pressure. “He’s a f—— beast,” Rockhold said on Submission Radio, highlighting Chimaev’s strengths as a wrestler and grappler. He questioned whether du Plessis could withstand Chimaev’s early onslaught and survive the brutal opening rounds.
“Can he withstand the barrage? Because he’s gonna break you…”
—Luke Rockhold, Former UFC Middleweight Champion
However, Rockhold also discussed what could happen if du Plessis manages to endure Chimaev’s initial intensity. He expressed doubt about Chimaev’s stamina and ability to maintain that same level of pressure throughout a five-round fight.
“I don’t like those opportunities for him,”
Rockhold said regarding Chimaev’s chances if the fight extends beyond the early rounds.
He praised du Plessis’ toughness, noting his own experience training with the champion. Rockhold believes du Plessis has the resilience to remain competitive deep into the fight.
“You gotta dominate him from start to finish, or you gotta finish him early. I just don’t see how Khamzat’s gonna keep that pressure. His intensity, you can only keep that for so long. That’s not five round material,”
Rockhold claimed.
Furthermore, Rockhold described du Plessis’ unique fighting style that might frustrate many opponents.
“DDP is tough. He’s tough as f—— hell. People don’t give him a lot of credit. He’s just awkward. He’s got weird timing and rhythm and he’s good. He mixes it up. He’s very confident. He’s got good grappling, decent wrestling, and some funky a– striking, but it f—— works,”
Rockhold said.
Luke Rockhold Prepares for Professional Boxing Debut Against Darren Till
Besides analyzing the title fight drama, Luke Rockhold is preparing to make his professional boxing debut later this summer. On August 30, Rockhold will face former UFC title challenger Darren Till at Misfits Boxing 22. Till is also a teammate of Khamzat Chimaev, adding another layer of intrigue to the event.
Rockhold, 40, brings experience from bare-knuckle boxing, where he suffered a loss to Mike Perry in 2023 after exiting the UFC. More recently, he won by TKO against Joe Schilling at Karate Combat 45 in April 2024. Till, now 3-0 as a pro boxer, is coming off a transition from MMA to boxing, creating anticipation for their matchup.
Other notable fighters on the Misfits Boxing 22 card include former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson, who will make his post-UFC debut against influencer Salt Papi.
The Chimaev versus du Plessis showdown remains one of the most compelling UFC title fights expected this year, with contrasting styles and stakes that could shift the middleweight division’s future. As the August fight date approaches, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Chimaev can live up to his early round dominance or if du Plessis’ experience and endurance prevail in a grueling five-round battle.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Who is better, Khamzat Chimaev or Khabib?
A. Khabib is certainly better than the others. However, Khamzat seems more intimidating. There’s concern about making it through the first round with him. According to Ezekiel De La Rosa, being scarier doesn’t necessarily mean being better.
Q. Why was Khamzat Chimaev cancelled?
A. On Thursday, UFC president Dana White revealed that Chimaev was removed from the main event of UFC on ABC 6 due to being “really sick.”