Is everybody underestimating Dricus du Plessis as soon as once more?
All through his nine-fight run contained in the Octagon, ‘DDP’ has commonly been counted out by battle followers, with a lot of them utilizing his awkward type and sus cardio as a motive to wager huge cash in opposition to the South African. Other than his most up-to-date victory in opposition to Sean Strickland, du Plessis got here in at plus cash in 4 straight outings.
And that’ll be no totally different on Friday, August 16, when du Plessis places his middleweight world championship on the road in opposition to undefeated Chechen monster Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in Chicago.
Because it stands, ‘Borz’ is a 2-to-1 favourite to unseat du Plessis, however strawweight standout Fatima Kline is completed counting out ‘DDP.’
“I really feel like I’ve form of underrated Du Plessis a bit of bit,” Kline advised James Lynch. “Like, I believed he was going to lose to Strickland and I used to be manner improper about that. His distinctive type—it’s really easy to not suppose he’s going to win, however I believe he’s gained confidence in me, and so I believe Du Plessis goes to take dwelling the win on that one.”
Coming off a TKO victory over Victoria Dudakova in January, Kline will look to make it back-to-back wins when she faces Melissa Martinez this Saturday evening at UFC Nashville.
Chimaev’s title battle in opposition to du Plessis has been a very long time coming
Chimaev burst on the UFC scene in 2020, successful three fights within the span of eight weeks. Sadly, his momentum was halted after coming down with a nasty case of COVID. Regardless of rumors that he was critically contemplating retirement, ‘Borz’ returned to the Octagon a 12 months later and resumed his marketing campaign, touchdown a dominant first-round end in opposition to Li Jingliang.
Since then, Chimaev’s appearances have been few and much between, although they’ve been spectacular nonetheless.
With a majority determination win over Kamaru Usman and a teeth-shattering face-crank end in opposition to Robert Whittaker, Chimaev has greater than earned his first shot at UFC gold.
