Khamzat Chimaev continues to fight without tactics? Du Plessis will show him how a smart man fights.”

Khamzat Chimaev has built a reputation on raw strength, rapid takedowns, and relentless pressure. The Chechen-born “Borz” bulldozes through opponents, often overpowering them early. But at UFC 319, Dricus Du Plessis plans to expose the cracks in Chimaev’s one-dimensional style—and demonstrate what a truly intelligent fighter looks like.

Contrasting Fighting Styles: Strength vs Intelligence

The Chimaev Blueprint

Khamzat Chimaev has earned comparisons to wrestling legend Khabib Nurmagomedov—thanks to elite freestyle control and devastating ground-and-pound. He often opens with aggressive takedowns, then punishes with heavy strikes or seeks submissions. Critics argue he relies on brute force, sometimes struggling with cardio and stand-up finesse.

Reddit fans point out he’ll rush a takedown and then realize, “DDP is the strongest opponent he has faced and try to outstrike him”. That highlights his potential overreliance on physicality rather than mixing tactics.

The Du Plessis Approach

Dricus Du Plessis embraces what some call “scrappy” but precise strategies—a blend of awkward boxing angles, relentless forward pressure, and sudden takedowns resembling rugby tackles. He compliments that with high-volume striking and smothering guard control. Unlike textbook fighters, he battles like a storm: messy on the surface, strategic at the core.

Du Plessis’s weird angles and grinding pace outpaced Sean Strickland, earned him the middleweight belt, and gave him psychological control in the cage.

What Critics Say: “Chimaev Without Tactics?”

Chimaev’s path has been dominant. But his downfall at UFC 279—showing up overweight—revealed possible laziness in weight management. UFC 308 revealed cardio concerns—he brutalized Whittaker at the start but later slowed. Critics, including podcast analysts, suggest Chimaev unleashes brute force early but lacks sustained strategy.

He’s viewed as a wrestler first, striker second—many analysts say he “continues to fight without tactics,” more brawling than chess. That’s exactly what Du Plessis aims to exploit at UFC 319.

Du Plessis: Calling Chimaev’s Bluff

A Champion Who Prepares

Dricus Du Plessis isn’t just a pressure fighter: he’s methodical. He studies opponents, preps specific counters, and executes mind games before fights. He “broke Adesanya mentally before they ever fought” by unsettling him during face-offs. Against Strickland, he outworked him over five rounds, rendering the champion lethargic.

“I’m Going There to Kill Him”

Du Plessis hasn’t softened his message for Chimaev. On Bloody Elbow, he unveiled a “wild gameplan” fueled by aggression—but grounded in savvy. He admitted the fight will be “absolute chaos”—reflecting his commitment to outsmart and out-thrive the wrestler.

| Dricus Du Plessis: I’m going there to kill him |

That’s not bravado—it’s a declaration of confident planning. He knows Chimaev will bring the worst, so he’ll bring the smartest.

UFC 319: A Tactical Battlefield

What’s at Stake

UFC 319 (Aug 16, 2025) at Chicago’s United Center is one of the year’s most anticipated matchups. Du Plessis defends his title, while Chimaev seizes his first real test vs. an elite wrestler-striker combo.

Sportsbooks favor Chimaev (-198), with Du Plessis the +164 underdog. Yet pundits are split: Din Thomas believes Du Plessis’s resistance and veteran savvy can withstand Chimaev’s initial storm.

Joe Rogan even expects a strategic battle, noting Chimaev’s unstoppable wrestling but Du Plessis brings multidimensional threats.

Key Tactical Threads

1. Exploit wrestling openings – Du Plessis monitors Chimaev’s takedown setups, ready to counter with long sabotaging punches and swift angular movement.

2. Use pressure, but reset sparingly – Forward motion draws Chimaev in; Du Plessis zig-zags or posts up before absorbing volume.

3. Capitalize on chaos – Chimaev thrives in carnage, but Du Plessis does too—hi-volume mix-ups, sharp counters, and mental endurance may well tip the balance.

Mind Games: The Calm Inside the Storm

Psychological warfare isn’t a slight-of-hand in Du Plessis’s approach—it’s a tool. He rattled Strickland and Adesanya with pre-fight press tension. The relaxed champion demeanor, slow burn trash talk, and emotional triggers throw opponents off their game.

Chimaev responds best to physical challenges. He’s not proven in the chess matches of mental warfare. That could give Du Plessis a tangible edge once the cage closes and the lights go out.

Fan & Analyst Buzz

Reddit’s r/MMA debates predict Chimaev’s early takedowns will hit a wall vs this champion; Du Plessis’s durability and power will decide after Round 2. Other commentators agree the fight flows from chess to brawl—and Du Plessis is the mixed-martial scholar in that ring.

Fight Breakdown: Round-by-Round Sabotage

Round 1: Precision Reset

Chimaev hits with a heavy takedown attempt—Du Plessis sprawls, stands, and counters with leg kicks that erode shoulder posture. That’s Du Plessis’s wave: strike, reset, test.

Round 2: Psychological Pressure

Du Plessis uses noise—loud presence in the center, feints to freeze Chimaev, dipping elbows to sap confidence.

Round 3–5: Controlled Mauling

If Chimaev gasps in mid-rounds, Du Plessis imposes constant jab volume, bursts takedowns of his own, and smothers any offensive reboots. Watch him break will through attrition, not showdowns.

Why This Fight Matters

This match defines two narratives:

• Chimaev: Can he truly adapt beyond brute control? Is he evolving into a championship caliber fighter, or a one-hit wonder by power?

• Du Plessis: Is his tactical fighting going unnoticed, or is he ready to cement his position as the smart, resilient champion?

The Takeaway

Khamzat Chimaev may bring raw power and pressure, but Dricus Du Plessis brings nuanced tactics, mental endurance, and unpredictable angles. At UFC 319, Du Plessis will prove why fighting smart beats fighting hard—especially when “hard” lacks variety.

This fight isn’t just strength vs strategy—it’s a chess match with punches and takedowns. Du Plessis aims to show that the mind is as lethal as the fists he unleashes. The middleweight division is about to witness a lesson in intelligent fighting.