UFC 279: Chimaev vs. Diaz predictions & tips with 13/1 accumulator!

UFC 279 takes place in Paradise, Nevada, this weekend as the unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev takes on veteran Nate Diaz and Li Jingliang faces off against Tony Ferguson.

We’ve got a tip for Chimaev’s clash with Diaz and a 13/1 accumulator including some of the under bouts from expert Bobbie Jackson.

Where to watch UFC 279 & what time does it start?

UFC 279 will be broadcast exclusively on BT Sport after they extended their existing partnership, with the event available to watch on BT Sport 1HD, the BT Sport app and the BT Sport website.

UK coverage of the event, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, will begin at 1am on Sunday, 11th September with the prelim bouts before the main card gets going at around 3am.

UFC 279 Chimaev vs Diaz prediction

Khamzat Chimaev is potentially just one win away from earning a title shot but the legendary Nate Diaz stands in his way in the main event at UFC 279.

Chimaev arrived in the UFC with a bang, winning two fights in the space of 10 days before going on to stop veteran Gerald Meerschaert in just 17 seconds. He’s since earned a first-round win over Li Jingliang and defeated Gilbert Burns via decision last time out.

A title bout is likely next up for the Chechen-born Swede but he’ll need to avoid slipping up against a game Diaz in what’s expected to be his last fight in the UFC.

Diaz, who made his UFC debut in 2007, hasn’t managed to win a belt during his time with the company, however, his win over Conor McGregor in 2016 proved he’s not one to be overlooked.

Chimaev, ranked #3 ranked, should have the tools to find a route to victory but Diaz has an immense amount of heart and won’t roll over easily.

It’s likely ‘Borz’ will get this done inside the distance but fans hoping to get one last glimpse of Diaz should get at least three rounds out of the 37-year-old.

UFC 279 Accumulator Tip

Li Jingliang v Tony Ferguson – Li Jingliang to win

The co-main event is another welterweight contest with Li Jingliang looking to take advantage of a wilting Tony Ferguson.

After losing four in a row, there’s plenty of talk that a fifth successive defeat could see 38-year-old Ferguson call time on his career.

With that in mind, he wouldn’t have welcomed the matchup against a man nicknamed The Leech, especially with Li looking to start climbing up the welterweight rankings.

Li bounced back from his loss to Chimaev with a knockout victory over Muslim Salikhov, taking his overall record to 19-7 with an impressive 10 wins by KO or TKO.

Former interim lightweight Ferguson, like Diaz, won’t be forgotten quickly but unfortunately for MMA fans, it looks like this could be the end of the road.

Kevin Holland v Daniel Rodriguez – Fight to go the distance – NO

Kevin Holland and Daniel Rodriguez are meeting in a catchweight bout held at 180lbs and there should be no shortage of excitement between two well-rounded fighters.

Holland has been in the UFC since 2018 but he came to the fore when the company held shows behind closed doors in 2020, tying the record for the most wins in a calendar year (5), with four of those wins coming via KO or TKO and taking his overall victories in that column to 13.

Rodriguez is also no stranger to a knockout triumph, with eight of his 16 career wins coming in that fashion, and it’s hard to see this contest going the full three rounds.

Johnny Walker v Ion Cutelaba – Johnny Walker to win

Again, the bout between light heavyweight pair Johnny Walker and Ion Cutelaba to kick off the main card should guarantee fireworks.

The pair have previously been talked about as potential title contenders but those days appear to be over with far too many flaws to really stand up to the best in the division.

But that doesn’t mean they have nothing to offer and we can expect them to come out swinging in front of the Las Vegas crowd.

Walker has lost his last two trips to the octagon against much higher-ranked opponents but he has gone back to the drawing board and insists a new outlook on training puts him in a stronger position.

Cutelaba’s loss to Ryan Spann last time out, a man who Walker beat in 2020, also offers an indication as to how this fight might play out.

Khamzat Chimaev v Nate Diaz – Over 2.5 rounds