One UFC analyst believes Khamzat Chimaev’s improved cardio might not be the recipe to success at UFC 319.
UFC middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev will get his long-awaited title shot against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 later this month. Chimaev, who is undefeated in his career, defeated former UFC champions Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker en route to UFC 319.
Chimaev’s ferocious wrestling makes him a matchup nightmare for many fighters, including Du Plessis. He’s known for earning many quick finishes in his career, utilizing lightning-quick outbursts in the first round.
But Chimaev could potentially take a more long-winded approach in the Octagon when he faces Du Plessis at UFC 319. According to former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw, Chimaev has made enhancing his cardio a major focus of his fight camp.
- CHIMAEV REACTS: Khamzat Chimaev has hilarious five-word reaction to Adin Ross’ $700,000 stream controversy
Michael Bisping wonders if Khamzat Chimaev’s rumored cardio upgrade could hinder performance
Chimaev has been working down in California with Dillashaw’s longtime conditioning guru, Sam Calavita, who was instrumental in building the former champ’s longevity. Dillashaw has labeled Chimaev’s cardio enhancement as a ‘secret weapon’ he plans to utilize against Du Plessis.
One UFC analyst believes if Chimaev takes a more measured approach against Du Plessis, it might come back to haunt him.
During a recent segment on his YouTube channel, UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping weighed in on Dillashaw’s insight into Chimaev’s camp.
“I understand that Khamzat is going to be a very dangerous threat early, but you can’t be a marathon runner and a sprinter at the same time,” Bisping said of Chimaev.
“Khamzat Chimaev is a sprinter. Whereas other people have the style to go longer. Look at some of the most explosive fighters on the roster, they’re amazing in the first round. Conor McGregor…didn’t have the best gas tank going on for five rounds, but in the first round, holy s—, you were in a lot of trouble.
“So Khamzat Chimaev, I just think he’s built a certain way. And if Dricus du Plessis can drag him into the later rounds, I still think it favors Dricus. And the fact that Khamzat is a 2-to-1 favorite, is crazy.”
One of Bisping’s former rivals, Luke Rockhold, questions whether or not Chimaev can hold up against Du Plessis’s relentless pressure if the fight gets into the championship rounds. Rockhold trained with both Du Plessis and Chimaev during his UFC career.
If there’s been one major question mark regarding Chimaev’s UFC career, it’s been his conditioning and cardiovascular endurance. Chimaev faded in the later rounds in wins over Gilbert Burns and Usman.
If Chimaev is successful at UFC 319, a former UFC heavyweight believes Chimaev could move up two weight classes and challenge for two more belts.
Brendan Schaub predicts Chimaev/Du Plessis winner could challenge for three belts
Brendan Schaub raised eyebrows when he claimed that the Chimaev vs. Du Plessis winner could fight as high as heavyweight after UFC 319. Chimaev and Du Plessis haven’t fought above the middleweight limits in their careers, but Schaub believes either one of them could make the move up to heavyweight in the future.
Du Plessis teased a potential move up to light heavyweight to fight then-champion Alex Pereira. But Du Plessis’s plans were thwarted when Pereira lost to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313.
Pereira will fight Ankalaev in their UFC 320 rematch in October. If he’s victorious, Du Plessis could potentially revisit his 205 lb plans and make the case for a super fight.
As for Chimaev, he has the chance to change the landscape of the middleweight division with a win at UFC 319. Like Du Plessis, Chimaev could challenge for multiple belts before he hangs up the gloves.