Dricus Du Plessis has been told by one of the world's best middle weights that he has to reach the later rounds to beat Khamzat Chimaev.
Number six arranged Caio Borralho insisted on its own fight against Chimaev earlier this year, but understands the dangers of the Swede at the highest level. He believes that if the fight ended up early, it would be for Chimaev, but that Du Plessis will manage it in the final rounds.
Du Plessis has so far been a fascinating business in his career; He does not yet have to taste defeat in the UFC Octagon, even though he sometimes shows a bizarre shape against opponents of the highest level. He won the middleweight title from Sean Strickland last year, and has already defended it twice, with his next defense on UFC 319.
Caio Borralho supports Dricus Du Plessis in later rounds against Khamzat Chimaev
Caio Borralho has experience with training with Khamzat Chimaev and understands exactly which strengths the competition will offer in his first world title effort. His various health problems, however, have hindered its progress in the division and UFC 319 will only be his third five-rounder.
Speaking with Bloody Elbow, Borralho explained that Dricus du Plessis should take the fight in those championship rounds to win and defend his belt. “It's a crazy fight,” he noticed.
“Because it can go to Khamzat in the first or second rounds. But when it comes by those rounds, it goes to Du Plessis. I will never again doubt Du Plessis because he always closes the mouth of the doubters, so let's look.”
Caio Borralho explains the truth behind his attempt at Khamzat Chimaev fight
Last month, before the fight by Du Plessis and Chimaev was officially made for the Pay-per-View in Chicago in August, Borralho had heard rumors that the champion was injured and could not compete. He quickly offered his own services because he was forced to inactivity because of the inability to coordinate.
Although he was dominated in his spruce with Chimaev year earlier, he offered an interim title fight with the Swede. However, it turned out that his information was incorrect and that he, or another, never got it.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
“I tried,” he continued. “I had heard that Dricus was injured and all that stuff, so I tried to get the fight. But it turned out that Dricus was not injured, so they would still fight.
'Now I want to fight [Nassourdine] Imavov, he is number one competition, so that's the fight I want. That fight would push me or him to the belt, so let's do that. “