Sep 10, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Khamzat Chimaev (red gloves) fights Kevin Holland (blue gloves) during UFC 279 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

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Khamzat Chimaev vs DDP To End In 1 Round? Future Middleweight Title Challenger Feels So!

As anticipation builds for the explosive UFC 319 title matchup, a future title challenger believes the clash won’t see a second round!

Sep 10, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Khamzat Chimaev (red gloves) fights Kevin Holland (blue gloves) during UFC 279 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The middleweight division has become one of the most exciting weight classes in the UFC lately. Rising Brazilian contender Caio Borralho finds himself in the unique position of potentially facing whoever wins the upcoming title fight between champion Dricus Du Plessis and undefeated challenger Khamzat Chimaev. He is set to take on Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Paris, but he recently announced that he will be the backup fighter for the UFC 319 title fight.

The ‘Natural’ has been watching both fighters closely, and his prediction might surprise some fans who expect him to play it safe. He has made up his mind but still feels that there might be some heavy surprises in the fight.

Caio Borralho Makes His Prediction

Borralho admitted that his track record against Du Plessis hasn’t been stellar. The Brazilian fighter has a fascinating relationship with betting on fights, especially when it comes to the South African champion. Every time he’s gone against Du Plessis in the past, the champion has found ways to prove him wrong. But this time feels different, and Borralho is leaning heavily toward the Chechen-born wrestler.

He believes Chimaev will handle Du Plessis much the same way he demolished Robert Whittaker at UFC 308. That performance was absolutely brutal, with Chimaev securing a face crank submission in the first round that left Whittaker tapping almost immediately. It also left Whittaker’s jaw broken in three places. The speed and violence of that finish shocked many fans who expected a longer, more competitive fight.

“I always bet against DDP, but he always shuts my mouth. But this could be a fight as fast as the fight with Khamzat and Whittaker, like first or second round. 60% of me says Khamzat will finish this fight very fast, but 40% says that Dricus, with his size and weight, can survive the first two rounds, then the fight gets better for him,” said Borralho while talking to The Schmo.

Caio Borralho is leaning towards Khamzat Chimaev… but admits he’s been wrong every time he bets against Dricus Du Plessis 😅🔥

"I always bet against DDP, but he always shuts my mouth. But this could be a fight as fast as the fight with Khamzat and Whittaker — like first or… pic.twitter.com/7Lhz8g8NSE
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) August 2, 2025

Chimaev has built his reputation on explosive starts and overwhelming opponents before they can settle into their rhythm. Borralho, who has trained with Chimaev in the past, explains that the undefeated fighter brings something completely different to the table.

But Borralho acknowledges that if Dricus Du Plessis can weather the early storm, the fight dynamics could shift dramatically. The South African champion has shown incredible resilience throughout his career, Khamzat Chimaev, on the other hand, has had some questions raised about his gas tank in longer fights.

(Image Credit: Joe Camporeale – Imagn Images)

Caio Borralho

Dricus Du Plessis

Khamzat Chimaev

UFC 319

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!