UFC returns to Chicago for first time since 2019
Perhaps the most anticipated UFC middleweight championship fight in recent memory will take center stage toward the end of the summer.
Dricus Du Plessis will attempt to make the third defense of his title reign when he meets undefeated Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 on Aug. 16 at United Center in Chicago (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).
UFC CEO Dana White announced the Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) vs. Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) championship clash, along with other big summer fights, Tuesday on Instagram.
After claiming the 185-pound strap from Sean Strickland in January 2024, Du Plessis firmly has established himself as the division’s top dog with successful defenses over Israel Adesanya and a rematch with Strickland.
The 31-year-old South African, who is No. 1 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie middleweight rankings and No. 5 pound-for-pound, called for a matchup with No. 2-ranked Chimaev in late 2024, but was instead booked for the rematch with Strickland at UFC 312 in February, which he won by unanimous decision.
He will now get his wish to face Chimaev, who gets his long-awaited first crack at UFC gold. The 30-year-old has had title expectations since he splashed on the UFC scene in emphatic fashion in July 2020, but the road to the top has been slowed by injuries and other health issues.
Chimaev claims to have made beneficial adjustments to his training regiment, however, and that’s what led to his first-round finish of former champ Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in October, which was named MMA Junkie’s 2024 Submission of the Year.
The victory over Whittaker left no doubt that a title shot was next, and now Chimaev can become the 15th fighter in UFC history to claim an undisputed belt with an undefeated record.
