There isn’t much Khamzat Chimaev is lacking as an MMA fighter, but he doesn’t have one thing that’s in Dricus du Plessis’ arsenal.
The next time divisional gold is on the line will be at the UFC 319 pay-per-view, set to take place at United Center in Chicago on August 16.
Closing out the show in the main event will be Du Plessis and Chimaev’s middleweight title battle, as the South African looks to record his third successful defense by blemishing the currently perfect record of ‘Borz’.
Du Plessis has continued to prove his doubters wrong throughout an undefeated UFC career thus far, and one of the world’s other best middleweights is predicting that to be the case again at UFC 319.
Johnny Eblen likes Dricus du Plessis’ chances against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319
During a recent interview on MMA Junkie Radio, PFL star and former Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen broke down the next title fight in the UFC’s 185-pound division.
Eblen, who has long been described as one of the top fighters competing outside the UFC, sees one major advantage that could take Du Plessis over the line: his experience.
“He’s not (the boogie man), though. He’s just a guy,” Eblen said of Chimaev. “He’s just a human. Gilbert (Burns) made him look human, (Kamaru) Usman made him look human, and I think DDP is going to make him look human.
“Plus DDP is like a big, physical guy. I don’t think Khamzat is just going to manhandle him. Plus, (Chimaev’s) cardio is a little questionable. I don’t think DDP’s cardio is as questionable. He gets tired, but he still has a lot of output.
“I like DDP’s chances just because the guys he’s fought and the rounds he’s put in,” Eblen added. “Chimaev hasn’t. Not to say it’s going to be easy, Chimaev is very, very tough, but I think DDP has more, he’s just more of a veteran when it comes to five-round fights, and tough fights, and he’s fought middleweight this whole time. Chimaev is just kind of coming up.”
Johnny Eblen hopes to prove himself against Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev
Though he currently competes under a different banner, Eblen hopes to soon lay claim to the ‘best middleweight in the world’ tag by facing and defeating the UFC 319 headliners.
Eblen’s PFL contract expires in early 2026, meaning he’ll have the opportunity to explore the possibility of signing with the UFC and adding that promotion’s gold to his trophy cabinet.
Though he’s had positive things to say about the PFL, ‘Johnny Pressure’ has insisted that he can’t prove his superiority over every other middleweight unless he’s competing against the elite.
Since that level of opposition is simply not possible in his current promotion, Eblen looks likely to pursue a move to the Octagon after handling business in his remaining fight or two in the PFL, starting against Costello van Steenis in Cape Town this month.