Khamzat Chimaev is entering his first UFC middleweight title opportunity as the betting favorite to defeat current champion Dricus du Plessis.
UFC CEO Dana White officially announced on Tuesday that Chimaev will step up to challenge du Plessis for the middleweight belt. The championship showdown is slated to be the main event of UFC 319, which is scheduled for August 16th at the United Center in Chicago.
According to initial odds released by FanDuel, the challenger, Chimaev, has opened as a significant favorite at -194. The reigning middleweight king, Dricus du Plessis, is listed as the underdog with odds of +150.
These betting lines imply that Chimaev has approximately a 66 percent chance of emerging victorious in the fight. To illustrate potential returns, a $100 wager placed on Chimaev would result in a total payout of $151.55 (including the initial stake). Conversely, the same $100 bet placed on the underdog du Plessis would yield a total return of $250.
Chimaev`s title shot follows what many consider his most impressive performance to date. He secured a dominant first-round submission victory over former champion Robert Whittaker at the UFC 308 co-main event last October in Abu Dhabi. This marked “Borz`s” first appearance in over a year and just his third professional bout since September 2022, but the decisive nature of the win was enough to earn him this long-awaited championship opportunity.
Dricus du Plessis captured the UFC middleweight title by defeating Sean Strickland via decision at UFC 297 in January 2024. Since winning the championship, he has successfully defended the belt, most recently securing a victory in a rematch against Sean Strickland at UFC 312.
