UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has given Khamzat Chimaev specific guidance on how to approach his upcoming title fight at UFC 319. The undefeated middleweight contender is scheduled to face Dricus du Plessis for the championship on August 16 in Chicago’s United Center. While Chimaev has relied heavily on his dominant wrestling skills to reach this point, Khabib suggests a different strategy might be key to capturing the belt.

Although Khamzat Chimaev’s wrestling has overwhelmed many opponents, Nurmagomedov believes that staying on the feet and engaging in striking could improve his chances against du Plessis. Since retiring, Khabib has earned acclaim as a coach, applying his own grappling expertise to help fighters succeed. However, he thinks Chimaev’s strengths could shine best through boxing rather than wrestling in this particular matchup.

“Personally, I would advise Khamzat to strike with him,”

Nurmagomedov said during an interview on the Hustle Show.

If I were coaching, I would give him different advice. If you put them straight boxing, Khamzat is better.

He cautioned that forcing an early finish through wrestling could waste energy that Khamzat will need in the later championship rounds, especially since Chimaev has not yet experienced fighting across full five-round title bouts. Khabib explained that preparing for a fight of this magnitude requires flexibility and awareness of different outcomes, rather than relying solely on one game plan.

You can try to force things early, but if you don’t finish him, you’ll burn a lot of energy. You’ll need it in the championship rounds. And Khamzat hasn’t been to the championship,

Nurmagomedov remarked.

Drawing on his experience with previous fights involving Khamzat, he pointed out that in matches against fighters like Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman, Chimaev’s wrestling output decreased in later rounds while he shifted toward striking. Khabib argues Chimaev might have achieved better results by adopting a striking focus from the start in those fights.

“When you’re preparing for a fight like that, you have to consider all possible scenarios. You can’t go in like, ‘I’ll just wreck him.’ For me, making a game plan was never that hard. I always had one plan. I go in, take them down. If I can take them down, I will. If not, I’ll shoot 100 times. But with Khamzat, you don’t see that in his fights,”

he explained.

“With Gilbert [Burns], with Kamaru [Usman], in the later rounds, he stops wrestling, and he starts striking instead. If he had just struck from the beginning against those guys, he’d have done better.”

“It’s a very interesting fight for me. Very, very high level… In these fights, a small mistake can cost you everything,”

Nurmagomedov added.

Israel Adesanya Offers His Perspective on UFC 319 Outcome

While Khabib avoids predicting the winner between Chimaev and du Plessis, former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has publicly shared his expectations for the August 16 bout. Known as “The Last Stylebender,” Adesanya envisions du Plessis reclaiming the title with a late finish inside the United Center.

“I still think Dricus gets it. I think late finish. Yeah, late finish,”

Adesanya stated. He added that if Chimaev wins, it would likely be within the first two rounds or possibly the first round.

“But Dricus is just chaotic. Chaotic good. Chaotic evil. That’s literally what this fight might be. Chaotic good versus chaotic evil,”

he remarked, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the matchup.

Potential Impact of Khabib’s Advice on Chimaev’s Title Strategy

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s suggestion that Khamzat Chimaev shift from his proven wrestling to a striking approach at UFC 319 offers a compelling alternative tactic for the rising star. Should Chimaev take this counsel, his performance could become more dynamic, increasing his chances of outmaneuvering du Plessis. Given Khabib’s successful coaching career and fight IQ, his advice carries significant weight within the MMA community.

With Khamzat preparing for his first championship fight, adapting his style as Nurmagomedov recommends might be crucial for conserving energy and managing the fight across multiple rounds. Meanwhile, Israel Adesanya’s prediction emphasizes the fight’s closeness and volatility, underscoring how a single mistake could influence the outcome. UFC fans will be keenly watching August 16 to see how these fighters execute their game plans in one of the most anticipated middleweight title fights in recent memory.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. Is Khamzat Chimaev a millionaire?

A. Khamzat Chimaev currently has an estimated net worth of around $3 million. At 30 years old, he is very wealthy and famous in Russia. Chimaev, a star in mixed martial arts, has won all 14 of his professional matches, finishing 12 before the final bell.

Q. Who is better, Khamzat Chimaev or Khabib?

A. Chimaev is undoubtedly the best. While Khabib and Islam are excellent, the Chechen fighter shows greater skill, especially in grappling and wrestling. This can often lead to less exciting matches.

Q. Does Khamzat Chimaev have a disease?

A. A 30-year-old caught Covid-19 in December 2020 and has suffered from ongoing symptoms, managing to fight only four times over the past four years.

Q. Has anyone beaten Khamzat Chimaev?

A. Khamzat Chimaev has a perfect record of 14 wins, no losses, and no draws.