Outside Source
Will UFC 319 be the last time Khamzat Chimaev fights?
Back in 2020, Chimaev burst onto the UFC scene, winning three fights in just two months, immediately raising talk that Chimaev was a future champion. Unfortunately, that’s yet to happen. While “Borz” remains undefeated, a protracted battle with COVID and various injury and illness setbacks have stymied his meteoric rise. Next month, though, Chimaev will finally get his title opportunity when he challenges Dricus du Plessis for the UFC middleweight championship in the main event of UFC 319. And middleweight rival Caio Borralho believes that could be the end.
“I heard somewhere, some people saying that if he wins the belt, he’s gonna retire,” Borralho told MMA Today. “And I think so. There’s some little talks, some whispers about that. If he wins the belt, he retires. I’m not sure of that. I don’t know if I believe that or not, but it’s an option. There’s too much pressure on him. Health problems and a lot of pressure from his country. I don’t know. Maybe he retires, maybe not. He has a lot of money already. A lot of money — he’s good with money. So there will be no something that’s going to make him want to fight. He’ll already be champion, so why not retire? I would do the same. I would do the same if I was him, with his money that he has.”
Of course, for any of this to happen, Chimaev first has to win. But Borralho believes that’s the most likely outcome at UFC 319.
“It’s hard to bet against Dricus, because I always lost, but here’s the thing about this fight, I think it can be as fast as the Whittaker fight,” Borralho said. “First round, two or three minutes, over. I think it can be very, very fast.
“But maybe if the fight goes longer, after the second round, the third, I think Dricus is too strong, hard to maintain on the floor. If Chimaev has some trouble to maintain him on the floor or does a lot of strain and wastes a lot of energy with that, three more rounds against Dricus when you’re tired? It’s a f*cking nightmare. So maybe the fight gets better to Dricus in the third, fourth, and fifth round.
“I don’t think Chimaev is going to just give up. He’s going to fight. He’s a very proud guy. He’s going to fight until the end, until the death, but I don’t think he’s going to be as dominant as the first two rounds.”
UFC 319 takes place on Aug. 16 at United Center in Chicago.
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Weekend fight preview.
Respect.
Shout out to Ben Askren. Just proved that he’s one of the toughest fighters of all time
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Yes you are correct Jake, but let me say a huge shoutout to Jake Paul who saw a former opponent in trouble and being screwed over by his so called medical insurance company. You showed the quality of your character by helping with the financial strain placed upon Ben and his… https://t.co/R88RxsStAv
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Jon did a lot of Tweeting.
Donald made his announcement on the morning of the Fourth of July, I called the UFC headquarters that very same afternoon. I’ll just leave it at that. America! Now that tickles my pickle. https://t.co/wDydycPNic
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It would be, for me it’s about the opportunity to represent America at the White House. I don’t care who I fight that night. I found my reason why, that’s what I needed, something that was more than money https://t.co/jdVDVyYakw
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— Jonny Meat (@JonnyBones) July 10, 2025
As of today, I was the last American champion. I was also the longest reigning champion this sport has ever seen. I was the youngest this sport has ever seen. I’ve beaten more champions than this sport has ever seen.
When kids do homework assignments about the greatest fighter… https://t.co/4rsAPlkM0S
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Sean Strickland taking shots at Tim Kennedy.
Stop hero worshipping people…. man lied to make money. What the fuck ever….
You’re only upset because you fell for the lie…. pic.twitter.com/vY3HL4ft7Z
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Silly stuff happening in boxing with Oscar De La Hoya.
UFC Nashville is … it’s there. But Taylor v. Serrano 3 tonight on Netflix should be a banger. The other two fights sure were.
Have a good weekend. Love y’all!
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