The Chimaev vs Du Plessis odds are out as the UFC middleweight title intrigue builds.
Ferocious challenger Khamzat Chimaev opens as a -200 favorite over the champion Dricus Du Plessis, the +170 underdog. This fight isn't booked yet, but there is a ton of appetite for this showdown after "Borz" dismantled Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in October.
Here are our Chimaev vs Du Plessis odds and picks for this impending middleweight title fight.
Chimaev vs Du Plessis Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Khamzat Chimaev | -200 |
| Dricus Du Plessis | +170 |
Odds as of November 18
Using our odds calculator, we can determine Chimaev's -200 odds suggest a 66.67% chance of winning, and a $100 bet pays out $150. The champ Du Plessis' +170 underdog odds give him a 37.04% chance of winning, with a $100 bet paying out $270.
Jon Anik's Favorite Fight To Make
Like many in the MMA community, UFC commentator Jon Anik would like to see Chimaev vs Du Plessis as the next UFC title fight.
"I'm not sure that we can put together a more interesting championship matchup right now," Anik said recently on The Huddle.
What is your DREAM UFC Fight? 👊💭@Jon_Anik wants to see @dricusduplessis and @KChimaev 👀 pic.twitter.com/x0lCAfOzFu
— Odds Shark (@OddsShark) November 26, 2024
Anik noted Sean Strickland's deservingness as a potential challenger but acknowledged that Khamzat's jaw-dropping (or jaw-twisting?) submission of Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 should allow the Chechen to skip the line.
Dricus Chimes In
The South African champ agrees with Anik's logic. Du Plessis — and welterweight champion Belal Muhammad — took to Instagram to like Odds Shark's reel of Anik stating his opinion.
Du Plessis has sounded off quite a bit about his desire to face Chimaev in his text title defense.
"If you ask what I want, I want to fight the best guy. I want to fight the guy the fans want me to fight. And that's 100 percent Khamzat," Du Plessis told ESPN in October.
How To Bet Chimaev
Du Plessis better start drilling takedown defense A.S.A.P. because Chimaev will be all over him from the moment the referee claps his hands. I questioned whether Chimaev would ease off the gas in his last bout vs Whittaker — boy, was I wrong. "The Wolf" came out like a cannonball, wrapped Whittaker up, and tapped him immediately.
I'll steer clear of MMA math, but I'm not sure Du Plessis has any better defensive wrestling than Whittaker, and after Chimaev stormed through the Australian, I'm a fan of betting Khamzat by submission in a fight against DDP.
If the Chimaev vs Du Plessis odds remain as they are come fight night, I'll play it safe and take Chimaev inside the distance. If you want to pick an outcome, go with Khamzat by submission and UNDER 1.5 rounds.
How To Bet Du Plessis
Dricus' awkward style has made him a difficult puzzle to solve, and if Chimaev's instant takedown method isn't a solve-all strategy in this fight, things will get very interesting. We know DDP can psyche people out with his lunging strikes and cheeky wrestling, so maybe that puts Khamzat in no-man's land, waiting to strike, like how he was against Kamaru Usman in Rounds 2 and 3.
My best bet for Dricus is by knockout. I'm not sure Khamzat's relentless style will permit this fight to go the distance, so Du Plessis will need to use those steel hands to wear his opponent down and put him out.
Chimaev vs Du Plessis Betting Pick
I will be betting Chimaev to win inside the distance, alongside some other value plays. I also like Khamzat by submission, Khamzat to win in Round 1, and the UNDER 2.5 rounds.
