UFC 319 is headed to Chicago on August 16, and Dana White just dropped the bomb: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev is finally happening. The middleweight title will be on the line. The hype is real! But here’s the catch. While fans were quick to celebrate, many couldn’t help but pause. Why?
Because history has a nasty habit of repeating itself, especially when it involves Chimaev and his ever-slippery fight schedule. In terms of pure performance, the Chechen juggernaut is a certified beast. Undefeated in professional MMA with eight straight wins in the UFC and six by stoppage. He just dislocated Robert Whittaker’s jaw with a face-crank submission at UFC 308 in his last outing.
But here’s the elephant in the room: he’s only fought 4 times in the last three years. Add a few infamous pullouts, and fans are holding their breath again. Remember UFC 279? Chimaev missed weight by over seven pounds, derailing a main event with Nate Diaz and triggering a full reshuffle. Then there was the illness that forced him out of a 2024 bout with Whittaker, which was the promotion’s debut in Saudi Arabia, a fight that was only salvaged months later.
Moreover, Chimaev’s health and recovery took a massive hit after the COVID-19 pandemic. Remember his trilogy of canceled bouts against Leon Edwards between December 2020 and March 2021? “I get sick,” Chimaev said in an interview with Adam Zubayraev. “Like everyone else, I train hard and I’m constantly grinding in the gym. When your immunity is down, of course, that infection spreads to you.”
The 185lbs title contender revealed that he was forced to have half of his thyroid removed, stating that this may be why it affects him more than it would other fighters in the same. These ailments and Chimaev’s obsession to overexert himself in the gym have resulted in him competing only twice in the last 3 years.
This is also his first fight in the U.S. since 2022. That night, against Kevin Holland, was pure chaos but ended in a dominant first-round win. Now he’s back on American soil, headlining one of the biggest cards of the year, and the question is simple: will he actually make it?
The UFC’s official post read, “BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE”, and they’re not alone. But for the fans, excitement is paired with caution. Because if history has taught us anything, it’s that with Khamzat Chimaev, anything can happen. Here’s a look at what the MMA Sphere had to say!
Fans are already planning replacements for Khamzat Chimaev after the UFC 319 announcement
One fan wrote, “So who’s gonna be replacing Chimaev when he pulls out?” This wasn’t sarcasm, it was anticipation masked in disappointment. For many fans, a Khamzat Chimaev pullout feels less like a possibility and more like a countdown. They’ve seen the pattern, and they’re not betting on a full training camp this time either.
Another posted, “DDP vs Imavov after Khamzat pulls out.” Now this one took the meme route, but it speaks volumes. Even before UFC 319 hits the air, alternate matchups are being dreamed up. Nassourdine Imavov is currently the No. 1-ranked middleweight and is coming off a stunning knockout of Israel Adesanya at UFC on ESPN+ 108 in February. Will fate hand him a title shot on a silver platter if ‘Borz’ fails to make it to the Octagon? What do you think?
A different fan chimed in with, “We got Khamzat fighting in the US.” That’s not a minor detail. Since the Gilbert Burns clash at UFC 273 and UFC 279 with Holland in 2022, Chimaev’s fights have been tied to Abu Dhabi. His return to America raises questions: Has his camp adjusted? Can he handle the travel, media, and weight expectations here? Only time will tell.
Another user gave credit where it’s due, writing, “Props to DDP for signing the contract.” Indeed, Dricus Du Plessis didn’t blink. While fans worry about unpredictability, the champion is seemingly unbothered by the conversations surrounding ‘Borz’s difficulties in making it to the Octagon.
And one summed it up perfectly with, “DDP’s plot armor vs Chimaev’s first-round blitz, who’s going to survive????” That’s the question that makes this fight interesting. The South African champion’s awkward yet effective style has made him a force to be reckoned with. Yet, as Chimaev displayed against Robert Whittaker, there’s no scarier middleweight in the opening rounds than him. Unstoppable force vs immovable object? No matter what happens, the fight promises fireworks in spades!
In the end, as much as fans are itching to see Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev finally collide, the excitement is tethered to a cautious optimism. With fan theories already spinning and the stakes sky-high, all eyes are now on August 16. Will Khamzat Chimaev show up on fight night? Will ‘Stillknocks’s durability outlast ‘Borz’s blitz? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
The post UFC 319: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dricus Du Plessis Announcement Leaves Fans Sweating Over Yet Another ‘Borz’ Pull Out appeared first on EssentiallySports.