Dricus du Plessis defends middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319

Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev are lastly set to lock horns.

On Tuesday, UFC CEO Dana White introduced through Instagram Reside that du Plessis will defend his middleweight title towards Chimaev in the primary occasion of UFC 319, which works down Aug. 16 at United Middle in Chicago. It’s the UFC’s first journey to the Windy Metropolis since UFC 238 in 2019.

Undefeated since becoming a member of the UFC in 2020, du Plessis received the middleweight title in 2024, taking a cut up determination over Sean Strickland at UFC 297. He then efficiently defended the title with a fourth-round submission of Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 final summer season. Most lately, du Plessis solidified his maintain on the middleweight title with a unanimous determination win over Strickland of their rematch at UFC 312 in February.

The breakout star of 2020, the unbeaten Chimaev has lengthy been thought of a favourite to carry UFC gold, however struggled with availability lately. When Chimaev has made it to the cage, he’s been electrical, with eight wins contained in the octagon, six by stoppage. Most lately, Chimaev submitted shaped middleweight champion Robert Whittaker within the first spherical at UFC 308 within the 2024 Submission of the 12 months, lastly incomes his crack on the title.