Till, who used to train with Chimaev in a partnership that they called “The Smesh Brothers”, thinks that Chimaev’s elite-level wrestling and grappling can overpower the South African world champion when they meet in the main event at UFC 319 in Chicago this weekend.
Till has shared the cage with Du Plessis at UFC 282 in a fight he lost via third-round submission, so he knows first-hand how good, and how strong, “Stillknocks” is. But he’s also spent countless hours on the mats with Chimaev, so he’s better placed than most to offer his prediction for the fight.
“DDP will be facing the highest level of wrestling, especially in MMA,” Till told Compare.bet.
“Can Khamzat beat him early on? Most definitely. But can DDP give Khamzat hell? Most definitely.
“I think it’s 60-40 in Khamzat’s favour, but I just say, when it gets into later rounds, does Khamzat have (the stamina) to go that (far)? But I think he’s training with Arman Tsarukyan, so I think it’s going to be a demolition job. Well, I hope it is.”
While Till is backing his former training partner to prevail on fight night, he admitted that he wouldn’t be shocked if Du Plessis gives Chimaev the hardest fight of his career to date.
The South African has spent much of his UFC career being counted out and underestimated, but his focus has remained steadfast as he has fought all the way to the top of the UFC middleweight division, defeating the likes of Till, Derek Brunson, Robert Whittaker, Sean Strickland (twice) and Israel Adesanya.
Du Plessis’ formidable work rate and cardio has proved to be a major weapon in his arsenal, and Till admitted that the champion’s gas tank could be a big factor in this fight, and will pose serious questions of Chimaev’s own cardio if the bout goes into the later rounds.
“Don’t be surprised if DDP gives him problems, because he is a phenomenal fighter,” said Till.
“I think he’s going to drag Khamzat into deep waters, but I think Khamzat is going to be prepared, so I do see Khamzat winning any which way. But you cannot look past DDP.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJXNOKEKdbM
