Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping expressed astonishment regarding the betting odds for Dricus du Plessis` next title defense.
Du Plessis is set to defend his middleweight championship for the third time against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in Chicago on August 16th. Despite Du Plessis` impressive recent victories over notable opponents like Robert Whittaker, Israel Adesanya, and Sean Strickland, he is listed as a +150 underdog by FanDuel, while Chimaev is the favorite at -194.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Bisping questioned these odds, highlighting Du Plessis` strong performances in high-pressure bouts and pointing out Chimaev`s tendency to visibly fatigue in later rounds.
“The fact that Dricus du Plessis is the underdog is insane,” Bisping stated. “He possesses wrestling ability, strong jiu-jitsu, he`s large for the division, and crucially, he has excellent cardio. He has proven he can comfortably fight for five rounds.
“The two instances where Khamzat went to a decision were when he failed to secure a finish in the initial rounds. In those fights, Gilbert Burns began to gain momentum, and Kamaru Usman found significant success, nearly resulting in a draw. This upcoming fight is five rounds, not three. Khamzat Chimaev has a distinct fighting style that isn`t likely to change. As the saying goes, if it isn`t broken, don`t fix it.”
Chimaev remains undefeated across 14 professional fights, though his bouts against Burns and former welterweight champion Usman were competitive. He is known for his explosive early finishes (and periods of inactivity), having finished five of his eight UFC fights in the first round.
While acknowledging Chimaev`s impressive record, Bisping suggested that an earlier career loss might have ultimately been beneficial for him.
“When you experience a loss, you can view it not as a true defeat but as an opportunity to learn,” Bisping commented. “That`s accurate. A loss prompts you to examine various aspects: your preparation, weight cutting, diet, and other potential errors. One such area for reflection might be pacing. However, as I mentioned, if his approach hasn`t failed yet, he`s unlikely to change it.
“He will undoubtedly come out aggressively,” Bisping predicted. “Khamzat Chimaev will attack immediately. He won`t hold back, he`ll throw powerful strikes, attempt takedowns and slams. He`ll fight ferociously, which is precisely why this fight is so anticipated. But if he fails to finish Du Plessis in the first or second round and begins to tire by round three, finding himself exhausted in rounds four and five, Dricus du Plessis will capitalize. And Du Plessis is a large, powerful fighter who is also capable of finishing his opponents.”
