Some exciting news dropped earlier this summer when it was first reported the UFC is targeting a five-round welterweight main event between Khamzat Chimaev (11-0) and Nate Diaz (20-13) for UFC 279. Now, the bout will officially take place September 10 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Diaz has been very outspoken about having one more fight on his UFC contract, previously criticizing president Dana White for “holding (him) hostage” with disputes over salary and opponents. It appears that’s all been put aside, as the Chimaev vs Diaz bout gives Diaz the tough matchup he's been looking for.
When Sportsbook first released the Chimaev vs Diaz odds, they were incredibly lopsided, with “The Wolf” Sportsbook as a -1600 favorite, leaving Diaz as the +800 underdog. Days away from the fight, Chimaev has moved to a -950 favorite, with Diaz at +700.
In his potential UFC swan song, Diaz will have one more fearsome opponent to face in Chimaev before potentially ditching mixed martial arts for a lucrative boxing match with Jake Paul.
Khamzat Chimaev vs Nate Diaz Betting Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Khamzat Chimaev | -950 |
| Nate Diaz | +700 |
Odds as of September 7 via Sportsbook
Looking at the Chimaev vs Diaz odds, our sports betting calculator tells us Chimaev’s -950 odds represent a whopping implied win probability of 90.48 percent. Diaz’s +700 odds earn him a 12.50 percent chance to win. That means a successful $10 bet on Chimaev pays out a meager $11.05, whereas the same wager on Diaz would pay out $80.
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Khamzat Chimaev vs Nate Diaz Betting Odds Analysis
Chimaev's been the favorite in all five of his UFC fights, but not often by this wide of a margin. At UFC Fight Island 3, he faced Rhys McKee as -1400 chalk. The Chechen played up to his billing, blasting the Irishman with constant ground attacks and out-striking him 68-0 on the way to a first-round finish.
Chimaev has only improved since then, most recently withstanding a grueling test against Gilbert Burns at UFC 273, winning by decision in a fight he entered as the -550 favorite.
Diaz, a 15-year UFC veteran, rolls into the bout as a +700 underdog, representing by far the steepest odds of his career. The southpaw last fought Leon Edwards at UFC 263, entering as a +350 underdog, tied for the second-biggest ‘dog status of his career (the other is +350 at UFC 196 against Conor McGregor). After losing to Edwards by decision, the 37-year-old is on a two-fight losing skid.
Chimaev vs Diaz Preview: Expect The Best Version of Khamzat
Pressure, wrestling, strength, endurance — all those tools were on display in Chimaev’s last fight vs Gilbert Burns at UFC 273. For the first time in his UFC career, his opponent pushed him past the second round and all the way to a decision, but Khamzat stood tall.
The six-foot-two fighter switched stances, ripped off fluid combos and creatively punched his way to a decision victory against a top-of-the-line contender in Burns. Even when the Brazilian rocked him, he bounced back without panicking, demonstrating a willingness to continue trading blows.
It’s rare to see a fighter as young as Chimaev have such polished intangibles combined with a devastating physical profile. The 28-year-old is a true UFC superstar in the making. Coming off a war vs Burns, he should be in peak form, both mentally and physically, which will be deadly for the older, less physically fit Diaz.
How Does Diaz Go Out?
There’s no denying Diaz has had a thrilling UFC career, but for a guy who’s won just one fight in the last six years, there are concerns about motivation and work ethic heading into what’s likely his final bout in the UFC.
Nate Diaz wobbles Leon Edwards
— Fight Pics That Go Hard (@fightpicsgohard) May 14, 2022
Glendale, Arizona (2021) pic.twitter.com/l4iZXnh6RZ
Nate, like his older brother Nick, has always carried a mercurial temperament into the Octagon. It’s a dice roll as to which version of Nate we see at UFC 279. Will Diaz stay active with his rangy strikes and perhaps even make use of his underrated wrestling and jiu-jitsu game? Or will Stockton’s Own keep the trash talk high and the output low, perhaps as one final “screw you” to Uncle Dana for his contractual mess?
In his last fight vs Edwards, Diaz rocked the Englishman in the fifth round. Ever the showman, Nate decided to point at Edwards instead of engaging. It will be interesting to observe Diaz’s in-fight attitude vs Chimaev, even if it is a one-sided bout, nonetheless.
Chimaev vs Diaz Betting Pick
Diaz is being fed to The Wolf, quite literally. Chimaev is like a freight train when he picks his line and puts the heat on opponents in the cage. There’s a strong chance Diaz, who’s fought off his heels recently, is overwhelmed by this pressure almost immediately.
Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) provided this comment about the fight to ESPN. Translated from Swedish by his representative Majdi Shammas.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) July 19, 2022
"I am going to handle Nate Diaz's funeral with the UFC."
Nate is outgunned in size, strength, striking and grappling. Chimaev is a beast of a fighter who promised to “handle Nate Diaz’s funeral with the UFC.” We’re inclined to believe him, trusting he will finish Diaz early in the bout.
Bet On Chimaev vs Diaz Odds Here
