If Du Plessis is victorious this weekend, he could potentially enter the middleweight GOAT conversation after UFC 319. He\u2019ll enter the debate alongside legendary names like Israel Adesanya<\/a>, Anderson Silva<\/a>, and Chris Weidman<\/a>.<\/p>\n Chimaev\u2019s early blitzes in his fights<\/a> could be a key tell as to how the UFC 319 main event will play out. According to one of Du Plessis\u2019s former foes, the first few minutes will dictate how the fight goes.<\/p>\n During a recent breakdown on his YouTube<\/a> channel, Adesanya revealed his prediction for the UFC 319 main event.<\/p>\n \u201cI look at this fight two ways: Khamzat comes out, gets a hold of DDP, and just drags him into deep water in the first or second, and finishes him. Or DDP matches his crazy, Khamzat\u2019s crazy with his type of crazy and his willingness to not quit, and then drags Khamzat into deep waters in the third, fourth, or fifth round and gets him out of there. That\u2019s how I see this fight going,\u201d Adesanya said.<\/p>\n \u201cKhamzat showed his hand, he\u2019s going to go after him from the get-go. But I think DDP will weather the storm, and probably finish Khamzat later on, because Khamzat, if it gets to Rounds 3, 4, 5, it\u2019s going to be a problem. I say Round 3 or 4, DDP. But if Khamzat is going to win, it\u2019s going to be in the first round, spectacular and violent. I\u2019ll go with DDP\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cThe UFC probably wants Khamzat to be champion because he\u2019s a guy that brings a lot of eyes, says it and gets it done type s\u2014\u2026he\u2019ll get it done, he\u2019s just stubborn. Dricus by late TKO.\u201d<\/p>\n One of Du Plessis\u2019s former opponents, Darren Till, believes Chimaev will get the job done at UFC 319<\/a>. He believes the fight won\u2019t go past three rounds.<\/p>\n Ahead of UFC 319, Du Plessis and Chimaev shared a fight week interaction that went viral, and left many fans concerned for the middleweight titleholder\u2019s chances.<\/p>\n Dricus du Plessis shut down size difference concerns ahead of UFC 319<\/p>\n After Du Plessis and Chimaev came face-to-face at the fighter hotel in Chicago, fans pointed out that Chimaev looks significantly bigger than the champion ahead of fight night. But Du Plessis shut down those concerns<\/a> and believes the footage overblew their sizes.<\/p>\n![\"Dricus](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2167219642-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Jeff Bottari\/Zuffa LLCIsrael Adesanya shares his prediction for Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev<\/p>\n