Jul 8, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dricus Du Plessis (blue gloves) reacts after defeating Robert Whittaker (red gloves) during UFC 290 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

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Luke Rockhold Breaks Down How Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 319 Could Play Out!

Former champions know what it takes to reach the top of the mountain. They also know how quickly everything can fall apart. Luke Rockhold learned both lessons the hard way during his time as UFC middleweight champion. He knocked out Chris Weidman to win the belt in 2015, then lost it to Michael Bisping just eight months later. Now he’s watching from the outside as two exceptional fighters prepare to settle their differences.

UFC 319 takes place on August 16 at Chicago’s United Center, and the main event features everything fans love about title fights. Fans have got Dricus Du Plessis, the current middleweight champion who keeps proving doubters wrong. Then there’s Khamzat Chimaev, the undefeated wrestling machine who has bulldozed through every opponent placed in front of him. Both fighters are undefeated in 17 combined UFC appearances, making this one of those rare fights where something has to give. The question isn’t whether it will be exciting, but how long it will last!

Luke Rockhold Talks About Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev

Luke Rockhold talked about the pros and cons of each fighter. He didn’t mince words when talking about Chimaev’s abilities. He pointed out the obvious advantages the challenger brings to this fight. Chimaev’s wrestling background gives him a clear path to victory, especially early in the fight. His ability to mix takedowns with striking pressure has overwhelmed everyone. Robert Whittaker found this out the hard way when Chimaev submitted him in the first round of their recent encounter.

“He’s a f*cking beast. He’s a wrestler, he’s a grappler, he’s going to get relentless pressure. He’s going to start fast and hard. Can Dricus take that the first two rounds? Can he withstand the barrage? Because he’s going to bring it.”

People love to focus on Du Plessis’s awkward style and strange timing. What they miss is how tough he really is between the ears and physically. Rockhold picked up on this during their training sessions together. The champion has this weird ability to absorb punishment and keep moving forward.

“I’ve trained with DDP a lot. He’s tough. He ain’t going to go away. You’ve got to dominate him from start to finish, or you’ve got to finish him early. I just don’t see how Khamzat’s going to keep that pressure. His intensity, you can only keep that for so long.

Rockhold believes this durability could be the deciding factor in a five round fight. Chimaev has never been tested in championship rounds, and his cardio remains a question mark. Meanwhile, the South African has proven he can maintain his output deep into fights. Rockhold’s breakdown suggests this fight might come down to who wants it more when both men are tired and hurt.

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Dricus Du Plessis

Khamzat Chimaev

Luke Rockhold

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!