Khamzat Chimaev Strongly Favored in Major Betting Odds to Secure UFC Championship Title by 2025
Dricus du Plessis is set to face off against previous champion Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 312, but the betting odds suggest that neither of these fighters will still be the UFC middleweight champion by the end of 2025. Instead, Khamzat Chimaev is the top betting choice to hold the title at year's end.
Chimaev (14-0) has the No. 2 spot in the official UFC middleweight rankings. He entered the UFC in July 2020 with a second-round submission victory over John Phillips. This was followed by a first-round TKO over Rhys McKee, breaking the UFC record for the quickest turnaround between wins. Later in September, he knocked out Gerald Meerschaert.
However, Chimaev faced numerous cancellations in his booked fight against Leon Edwards. The reasons behind these cancellations can be traced back to COVID-19. After his October 2021 win against Li Jingliang, Chimaev went the distance for the first time in his career and emerged victorious. He then followed up with a submission win over Gilbert Burns, and another win over Kevin Holland.
A break of more than a year followed what was his last victory. In October 2023, Chimaev secured a decision win against Kamaru Usman. After this, he effectively ended Robert Whittaker's UFC middleweight championship reign with a first-round submission (face crank) in their UFC 308 encounter.
Chimaev doesn't have an upcoming fight scheduled, but it's likely the UFC will have him challenge whichever fighter comes out on top in the UFC 312 main event for the UFC middleweight title.
UFC 312: Du Plessis Vs. Strickland 2
Du Plessis boasts a 22-2 record, including an undefeated streak of 10 fights and a perfect 8-0 record in the UFC, with six finishes and four fight-night bonus awards. He joined the UFC in October 2020.
Strickland, who has been part of the UFC since March 2014, has a career record of 29-6. He has a 16-6 record in the UFC with four finishes and four fight-night bonus awards.
Du Plessis and Strickland were honored with "Fight of the Night" awards after their initial encounter.
UFC Middleweight Champion At The End of 2025 Betting Odds
Khamzat Chimaev: -300
Dricus du Plessis: +400
Nasourdine Imavov: +800
Sean Strickland: +900
Anthony Hernandez: +1400
Caio Borralho: +1400
Israel Adesanya: +2000
Robert Whittaker: +5000
Marvin Vettori: +5000
Jared Cannonier: +5000
Brendan Allen: +5000
Roman Dolidze: +5000
Paulo Costa: +5000
Shara Magomedov: +5000
Michel Pereira: +8000
Jack Hermansson: +8000
*Betting odds via BetOnline
Tom Aspinall Favored Over Jon Jones To End 2025 As UFC HW Champion
Alex Pereira Favorite To Finish 2025 As UFC Light Heavyweight Champ
Keep an eye out for more betting odds for UFC champions at the end of 2025.
Despite Chimaev's impressive record and current status as the top betting choice to become the UFC middleweight champion by the end of 2025, current UFC 312 contenders Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland have their own odds at +400 and +900, respectively. (UFC 312 main event context)
The UFC odds for the UFC middleweight champion at the end of 2025 show Khamzat Chimaev with the shortest odds at -300, followed by Dricus du Plessis, Nasourdine Imavov, Sean Strickland, and several other contenders with longer odds. (UFC odds context)
With Khamzat Chimaev currently leading the betting odds to become the UFC middleweight champion by the end of 2025, Sean Strickland's title bid against Dricus du Plessis in the UFC 312 main event is an exciting clash of up-and-coming middleweight futures. (Overall context)
