Dricus du Plessis‘ coach, Morne Visser, asserts that his fighter gained the upper hand mentally over Khamzat Chimaev during their <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/mma/ufc/”>UFC 319 press conference face-offs. This encounter took place ahead of the middleweight bout scheduled for August 16 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, highlighting the psychological dynamics between the two competitors.
Visser explained his perspective on Submission Radio, identifying subtle non-verbal cues during the face-off that indicated du Plessis’ dominance. Specifically, he pointed to how ‘Stillknocks’ positioned his hands above Chimaev’s, a gesture that signaled control and confidence in the intense moment.
According to Visser, Chimaev only resorted to vocal outbursts after UFC president Dana White intervened to separate them, implying that the Emirati fighter was less composed when directly confronting his opponent. These observations suggest that du Plessis held a clear mental advantage even before the physical battle began.
Reading the Body Language at the UFC 319 Face-Off
During their pre-fight confrontation, the stance and hand positioning of Dricus du Plessis contrasted sharply with Khamzat Chimaev’s. Visser described Chimaev as keeping his hands close to his chest while du Plessis maintained control over Chimaev’s arms, a subtle but telling sign of dominance often overlooked by casual observers.
“Khamzat has got his hands close to his chest, and Dricus has his hands over Khamzat’s arms. Not a lot of people look at that, but that shows dominance. If you look at that face-off, you know, when there are two guys fighting in the street and one guy gets pulled away and his buddies kind of save him. Dana came in between, and he pushed them apart, and only then Khamzat made a big noise.”
—Morne Visser, coach
Visser further noted the oddity of Chimaev’s behavior, questioning why the fighter did not show arrogance while standing directly in front of du Plessis but instead waited until they were separated to shout.
“Why wasn’t he so arrogant when he was standing right in front of Dricus? That’s just weird for me. That just shows a little bit of weakness. If you want to be tough, be tough in front of the guy. Don’t walk away and then shout stupid things.”
—Morne Visser, coach
Assessing Chimaev’s Fighting Style and Threat Level
Despite Khamzat Chimaev’s reputation as a formidable middleweight contender, Morne Visser dismissed the Emirati fighter as being overly reliant on wrestling. Labeling him one-dimensional, Visser conveyed skepticism about Chimaev’s ability to challenge du Plessis in areas beyond grappling, particularly striking.
“You can’t think you’re going to beat my guy coming in with one thing, that wrestling. That guy [Chimaev] is one-dimensional. Have you seen his standup? I won’t even give me a pro-license for his s**t standup. He doesn’t present any problem for us. We are the problem.”
—Morne Visser, coach
Visser’s comments suggest that du Plessis and his team are confident in exploiting perceived weaknesses in Chimaev’s approach when they meet inside the Octagon. This viewpoint sets the stage for a tactical clash rather than a straightforward wrestling contest.
Upcoming UFC 319 Bout and Its Implications
UFC 319 is set to take place on August 16 at the United Center in Chicago, where du Plessis will face Chimaev in a highly anticipated middleweight battle. Current betting odds favor Chimaev at -265, with du Plessis positioned as the +215 underdog, emphasizing the expectations and tension surrounding their matchup.
The mental advantage claimed by du Plessis’ coach could play a significant role in shifting momentum once the fighters step into the cage. This psychological edge during pre-fight events might influence confidence levels and in-fight decisions, potentially affecting the outcome.
As fans and analysts continue to scrutinize their rivalry, the UFC 319 faceoff stands as more than just a promotional spectacle; it offers a window into the mindset and strategies shaping one of the division’s key confrontations. The coming fight promises to reveal whether du Plessis’ mental dominance will translate into victory inside the Octagon or if Chimaev can overturn these early psychological challenges.