As UFC 319 approaches, excitement builds around Khamzat Chimaev’s highly anticipated championship appearance. Despite improvements in his fight endurance, concerns remain that physical factors could challenge Chimaev in his upcoming clash with Dricus du Plessis.
Potential Challenges Beyond Cardio for Chimaev Against Du Plessis
Khamzat Chimaev, known for his relentless wrestling style, has long impressed fans but also exposed some vulnerabilities in longer bouts. His past contests against top fighters like Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns demonstrated moments where his stamina became an issue as the fight progressed. To address this, Chimaev has been working closely with conditioning expert Sam Calavitta, aiming to strengthen his endurance and resolve past weaknesses.
However, former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub recently suggested that despite these cardio gains, the physical size difference between Chimaev and Dricus du Plessis could still pose a significant obstacle. Schaub highlighted that du Plessis matches his own size and dwarfs Michael Bisping, who is considered a big fighter, implying that Chimaev will face a difficult physical battle.
“The knock on him [Chimaev] was the cardio right? Which he had long COVID and all those issues with his lungs and stuff, which is completely fixed now… but that being said… Khamzat is big, right? DDP is my size. You seen the picture of him and [Michael] Bisping? Bisping is a big dude, DDP dwarfs him.”
— Brendan Schaub, Former UFC Heavyweight
Schaub further remarked on how this size factor might affect the fight duration and outcome, stating that while Chimaev is likely to dominate early, extended rounds could favor du Plessis due to his physicality and toughness.
“If it ends before two rounds, it’s Khamzat all day. I would extend that after seeing this [his new training] to even the first three rounds. Four and five is what I want to see… DDP is going to be tough to finish… So for Khamzat, it’s going to be about dealing with that mass.”
— Brendan Schaub, Former UFC Heavyweight
Chimaev’s Confidence in His Wrestling Edge Over Du Plessis
Khamzat Chimaev maintains strong belief in his grappling superiority, considering it a decisive advantage in his battle against Dricus du Plessis. At the UFC 308 post-fight press conference, Chimaev compared their respective victories over former champion Robert Whittaker to illustrate his confidence.
Chimaev pointed out that du Plessis faced tough moments in his fight with Whittaker, who managed to take du Plessis down during the first round but eventually lost by TKO in the second. In contrast, Chimaev finished Whittaker quickly in the first round with a submission that inflicted significant damage.
“What do you think, guys? How I did with this guy, Rob [Robert Whittaker], and how he did. Rob took him down. So if Rob took him down, it’s Assalamualaikum.”
— Khamzat Chimaev, UFC Fighter
The Impact of Physical Attributes and Endurance on UFC 319 Outcome
The upcoming UFC 319 fight will test Chimaev’s ability to combine his enhanced fight endurance with tactics to overcome du Plessis’ greater size and toughness. While improved cardio could allow Chimaev to maintain a high pace longer, the strength and mass of du Plessis might complicate finishing the fight in later rounds.
This clash stands out as a critical juncture for Chimaev, whose wrestling base has remained dominant but whose performance in extended fights has previously reflected endurance challenges. How well Chimaev adapts to du Plessis’ physicality could define the trajectory of his title pursuit and potentially expose new strategic dimensions in his fighting style.