Khamzat Chimaev opens as colossal betting favorite over Nate Diaz | UFC 279

Nate Diaz is getting no love from the oddsmakers ahead of what will likely be his final fight in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

It was revealed earlier today (Tues., July 19, 2022) that Diaz’s wish was granted as he’s slotted to headline UFC 279 on Sept. 10, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada, against emergent Welterweight superstar, Khamzat Chimaev. Soon after, BestFightOdds released the opening odds with Chimaev as the -1100 favorite to Diaz’s +775 underdog status.

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MASSIVE MIDDLEWEIGHT MATCH! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) makes its highly anticipated return to Sydney, Australia, for the first time in five years on Sat., Sept. 9, 2023, with a 185-pound world title fight inside Qudos Bank Arena. In the ESPN+-streamed pay-per-view (PPV) main event, Middleweight roost-ruler, Israel Adesanya, plans to silence No. 5-seeded contender, Sean Strickland. In UFC 293’s hard-hitting Heavyweight co-main event, No-6-ranked fan favorite, Tai Tuivasa, locks horns with towering Russian, Alexander Volkov (No. 8).

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“Borz” has been as perfect as one can hope to be starting a burgeoning 11-fight career. Before an exhilarating war with Gilbert Burns in April 2022 that resulted in a unanimous decision victory and “Fight of the Night” honors (watch highlights), Chimaev steamrolled through all of his first four Octagon opponents. Finishing the four men with two submissions and two knockouts, the Sweden resident absorbed a total of just two strikes total. The Burns win catapulted Chimaev to the top of the Welterweight division’s rankings, now comfortably sitting at No. 3.

Diaz, on the other hand, has eagerly been anticipating his departure from UFC and has made it very clear all year long. The Stockton, Calif., native last fought in a losing effort against Leon Edwards at UFC 263 in June 2021 (watch highlights). Just 1-3 in his last four bouts, the 37-year-old will participate in his tenth UFC main event against Chimaev.

Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 279 fight card right here, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard balance on ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 279: “Khamzat vs. Diaz” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.