Khamzat Chimaev vs Nathan Diaz Prediction and Odds

UFC 279 in Las Vegas Betting Preview

Two elite fighters meet in the octagon as Nate Diaz will attempt to pull off the miracle and take the 0 of undefeated top contender Khamzat Chimaev.

This is a rare PPV headliner that’ll feature a non-title bout, but that’s not stopping the hype of this matchup as Diaz and Chimaev are two of the biggest superstars in the UFC.

In what is a common theme in the career of Chimaev, he’s a massive favourite, currently listed at -1220, while Diaz looks to pull off the biggest upset in UFC history in what could very well be his final fight inside the octagon.

To do such, Diaz must come through as a +850 underdog. WagerTalk UFC handicapper Andrew McInnis gives his UFC 279 betting preview

Khamzat Chimaev vs Nathan Diaz Preview

Saturday, September 10	UFC Fight Night Betting Notes (Courtesy of Caesars)
Moneyline:	Khamzat Chimaev -1220 vs Nathan Diaz +850
Rounds:	1.5 Rounds (Over -140 / Under +120)
Fight Time:	Main Card Starts at 10:00pm ET / 7:00pm PT
Arena:	T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV
TV:	ESPN+ PPV

This is some strange matchmaking from the UFC, to say the least, as Diaz enters the twilight of his career while Chimaev is coming off a fight of the year calibre win over recent title challenger Gilbert Burns.

Nate Diaz hasn’t been shy in the underdog spot over his career but is now 1-3 in his last four fights in that spot. Khamzat Chimaev will be looking to put a nail in the coffin of his contender days and earn a championship fight with a statement victory over Diaz.

Stockton’s Finest

Nate Diaz is a fighter for the people; he doesn’t care about all the politics of the fight game and doesn’t care who he fights. He loves to compete and put on a show.

He’s most well known for defeating Conor Mcgregor on short notice, but Diaz has put together a significant body of work dating back to his WEC days.

Diaz has challenged for UFC gold at lightweight, in which he fell short against long-time champion Benson Henderson.

Diaz uses his world-class BJJ along with boxing and some of the best cardio the sport has to offer as he attempts to be one of the most challenging puzzles to solve over the course of five rounds.

Young Wolf

Khamzat Chimaev is an animal in the most respectful way ever. His work ethic and commitment to being the best and wanting to be the best, along with a decade of high-level training and focus, make him one of the most dangerous fighters today.

He has tremendous wrestling and overall grappling acumen that he matches with very strong kickboxing and cardio. The Size of Chimaev is something to behold, and it’s hard to believe he’ll be at 170 pounds forever with how big he is for the division.

He faced significant adversity in his bout with Gilbert Burns and will be looking to build off of that with a finish of Nate Diaz.

Khamzat Chimaev vs Nathan Diaz Prediction

I have so much love, and respect for the body of work Nate Diaz has put in, but he’s outmatched in size and skill and fighting Chimaev in his most dangerous form.

I see Chimaev walking him down and taking him down early, searching for a quick victory which could open the door for a submission from Diaz, but I expect fireworks early and like the under.

Prediction: Under 2.5 Rounds (-160)

Interested in placing a bet on Saturday’s UFC 279 card? Caesars Sports is offering up to a $1,500 risk-free bet for first-time deposits in New Jersey, West Virginia, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Virginia, Tennessee, Arizona, New York and Louisiana.

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