Khamzat Chimaev has been told to mix up his usual approach to round one when he challenges for gold at UFC 319.
To date, there has been little secret over what Chimaev’s opponents can expect when they share the Octagon with the undefeated Chechen phenom.
‘Borz’ has become renowned for fast starts and immediate takedown attempts, a move that set up Chimaev’s rapid brabo choke against Kevin Holland in 2022 and a brutal face crank on Robert Whittaker just last year. While his foes know what is coming, Chimaev remains just as hard to defend against.
Many expect the middleweight champion to face the same challenge when Dricus du Plessis meets Chimaev in Saturday’s main event. But one fellow star of the UFC 319 pay-per-view in Chicago has a different strategy for Chimaev in mind…
- UFC THROWBACK: Khamzat Chimaev achieved a scarily dominant stat during first four UFC fights that likely won’t be repeated
Michael ‘Venom’ Page’s surprise advice for Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319
The main card at United Center will feature one other middleweight clash, with ex-Bellator standout Michael ‘Venom’ Page and former UFC title challenger Jared Cannonier looking to boost their chances of a future showdown with the main event winner.
As well as previewing his second fight at 185 pounds in the UFC, Page gave his assessment of Du Plessis’ third title defense during a recent interview with flyweight legend Demetrious Johnson.
‘MVP’ went against the grain by suggesting that Chimaev should avoid takedowns and instead strike with the South African champ in round one.
“He (Chimaev) can do five rounds, and he’ll be dangerous for five rounds,” Page said. “But…his best chances are going to be in the earlier rounds.
“I weirdly think, if it was me, if I’m Khamzat, I come in striking first. I come in faking takedowns and landing big overhands.
“DDP gets hit, and gets hit a lot,” Page continued. “He is hard to kill, but he gets hit a lot.
“(Chimaev) does have crazy power in his hands. … Make (Du Plessis) confused, ’cause now he’s like, ‘I’ve gotta keep my hands up because I’m getting hit loads.’ And then you start to wrestle.”
- LATEST UFC NEWS: Khamzat Chimaev downplays Dricus du Plessis fight with hilarious 2-word description of UFC 319’s main event
Dricus du Plessis has welcomed Khamzat Chimaev’s fast start
Chimaev does not usually need an invitation to come bursting out of the gates, but he recently received one anyway.
Most are predicting that the champ’s path to victory lies in the latter rounds at UFC 319. Sharing that sentiment is a former UFC middleweight champion, with Michael Bisping expecting a Du Plessis comeback from two frames down to defeat Chimaev.
But the South African does not plan on simply surviving the opening exchanges. He plans to go hunting himself, and has even challenged his rival to go “full speed” with him from minute one.
“I’m going out there to fight the way (I fight) and see what happens,” Du Plessis said during UFC 319 media day.
“He didn’t change his game plan with Robert Whittaker because it was a five-rounder. That kind of already gives me the sense that he’s not gonna think about the five rounds when he should be.
“Five rounds is a long time, and I am not scared to get into that dark place,” Du Plessis continued. “We’ve seen that. If we go full speed, you know, I can fight tired all day. I’ve done that many times.
“So, let’s go for it. Let’s go from the first bell to the last. Let’s go full speed and see who quits.”