Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping finds the betting odds for the upcoming title defense between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev completely unbelievable, specifically the fact that the current champion, du Plessis, is listed as the underdog.
Dricus du Plessis is set to make his third defense of the middleweight belt against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 on August 16th in Chicago. Despite du Plessis`s impressive recent victories over top contenders and former champions like Robert Whittaker, Israel Adesanya, and Sean Strickland, he is currently pegged as a +150 underdog according to major oddsmakers. In contrast, Chimaev is a significant favorite at -194.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Bisping openly questioned the rationale behind these odds. He highlighted du Plessis`s proven track record in high-pressure title bouts and contrasted it with what he perceives as Chimaev`s tendency to slow down noticeably later in fights.
Bisping stated emphatically, “The fact that they’ve got Dricus du Plessis as the underdog is insane.” He praised the champion`s well-rounded skillset, noting, “The man can wrestle, he’s got great jiu-jitsu, he’s big for the weight class, and more importantly, he has a gas tank. He has had no problems going five rounds.”
Analyzing Chimaev, Bisping referenced instances where Chimaev couldn`t secure an early finish, specifically mentioning his decision wins against Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman. He pointed out that in those fights, his opponents started finding success as the fight progressed. Bisping emphasized the critical difference for the upcoming bout: “And now it`s not three rounds, it`s five rounds.” He suggested Chimaev`s high-paced, aggressive style is unlikely to change because “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” which could be a vulnerability over 25 minutes.
Chimaev maintains a perfect 14-0 professional record, although he faced stiff challenges in the decision wins against Burns and former welterweight king Usman. He is renowned for his explosive starts and early finishes, with many of his UFC victories coming in the first round, interspersed with periods of inactivity.
While acknowledging Chimaev`s undeniable achievements, Bisping mused that perhaps experiencing a loss earlier in his career could have paradoxically benefited him in the long run.
“When you lose fights… you address some things,” Bisping commented, suggesting that losses prompt fighters to refine preparation, weight cutting, diet, and crucial aspects like pacing. Without that experience, Bisping believes Chimaev will stick to his guns.
“He’s going to go full steam ahead. Khamzat Chimaev is going to go right at him… He’s going to go berserk,” Bisping predicted of Chimaev`s approach. He highlighted this aggressive style as what fans love and anticipate. However, he warned, “But if he doesn’t get him out of there in the first round or the second round and he’s starting to gas come Round 3, and Round 4 and Round 5 he is looking to be anywhere else but in the middle of the octagon… Dricus du Plessis’ going to take over and that man is a big, powerful son of a bitch and he is a finisher as well.” Bisping`s analysis implies that du Plessis`s conditioning and power in the later rounds could be the deciding factor if Chimaev`s early surge proves unsustainable.
