South African Dricus du Plessis, the only current African UFC champion, will defend his middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev. The highly anticipated bout is set to take place on August 16 in Chicago.
Russian fighter Chimaev comes into the fight with an undefeated record of 14-0. Meanwhile, Du Plessis, who won the title from Sean Strickland in January 2024, has successfully defended it twice and will be aiming for a third consecutive defense.
Despite Du Plessis’ impressive record, Chimaev is seen as a slight favorite going into the match. The clash between these two elite fighters will headline UFC 319 at the United Center.
Du Plessis holds a professional record of 23 wins and 2 losses. However, Chimaev is widely regarded as a formidable opponent. Long considered a future UFC champion, the Russian fighter has been sidelined in recent years due to illness, which has kept him out of competition.
If no unforeseen setbacks occur, fans can expect an exciting showdown between two of the best in the middleweight division.