In the UFC's return to its home base, surging welterweight contender Khamzat Chimaev meets fan-favorite Nate Diaz to close out UFC 279 in Las Vegas. Have a look at our Chimaev-Diaz picks below before this weekend's event.
The lauded Chimaev has gone from blue-chipper to legit contender in just a handful of walks to the Octagon, scoring four finishes to start his UFC stint before besting Gilbert Burns by decision in an instant classic at UFC 273 in April. He now heads to Vegas for Saturday's marquee matchup with a pristin e 11-0 record and stoppages in all but one of his pro contests.
As for the other half of the weekend's headliner, Diaz takes the cage for just the fourth time since 2016, although he remains beloved among fight fans and a reliable draw. The 26-fight UFC veteran most recently dropped a lopsided decision to newly crowned welterweight king Leon Edwards, a defeat that leaves him on a two-fight slump ahead of his date with Chimaev. An upset would mark Diaz's first victory in over three years.
Here are my Chimaev-Diaz picks and predictions for this marquee welterweight bout (odds via Caesars Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook; pick confidence is based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Chimaev vs. Diaz Fight Info
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