UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis is set to defend his belt against undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev in the headline bout of UFC 319 on 16 August at the United Center in Chicago, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed Tuesday.
The event marks the promotion’s first return to Chicago since UFC 238 in 2019, and it promises to deliver a high-stakes clash between two of the division’s top fighters.
Du Plessis, who has not lost since joining the UFC in 2020, captured the middleweight title by edging Sean Strickland via split decision at UFC 297.
He went on to submit Israel Adesanya in the fourth round at UFC 305 and followed it up with a unanimous decision win over Strickland in their February 2025 rematch at UFC 312.
Meanwhile, Chimaev enters the fight with an unblemished record and growing hype, having delivered eight wins in the UFC, six of them by stoppage.
The Chechen-born star made his strongest case for a title shot by submitting former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in the first round at UFC 308—a performance awarded 2024 Submission of the Year.
Though Chimaev’s rise has been marked by sporadic activity due to injuries and visa issues, his dominance when active has kept him firmly in the title conversation.
The upcoming bout against du Plessis offers him his long-awaited chance to claim UFC gold.
UFC 319’s full fight card is expected to be announced in the coming weeks, but the main event already has fans and analysts anticipating a potentially career-defining showdown.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ