Dricus Du Plessis says he is surprised the Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland fight was even a split decision, calling the outcome clear and pushing back on the idea that Chimaev deserves an immediate rematch.
Strickland dethroned Chimaev by split decision at UFC 328 earlier this month. Media scores were nearly evenly divided, but Du Plessis told Fight Forecast he saw it differently.
“Crazy thing is where people go, ‘Oh, it was a robbery.’ I can’t believe it was a split decision. It was a very clear three rounds for Strickland, two rounds for Khamzat. That was it, and it was a great fight. I think Strickland did what most people thought he couldn’t do, but I just had the feeling being in there with both of these guys, both of them are phenomenal at what they do. I just think that Strickland was better being able to be all around than Khamzat in that fight.”
On the question of a Chimaev rematch, Du Plessis was firm.
“I don’t think he deserves a rematch. He definitely doesn’t because he has no title defenses, zero. So, it doesn’t justify a rematch at all, but it’s going to be interesting to see what he does next.”
Du Plessis also offered a broader take on what Chimaev’s first career loss means for him going forward.
“People don’t necessarily enjoy that fighting style, but he’s so dominant, he has been. This fight is going to go one of two ways for him. Is this going to break him or is this going to motivate him to say, ‘Listen, I can’t just rely on my wrestling, I need to fight MMA,’ because that is at the end of the day where this sport is heading. The wrestling guys have been so dominant that everybody’s starting to catch up.”
Du Plessis lost his middleweight title to Chimaev and will look to re-enter the title picture in his next fight.
Dricus Du Plessis dismissed the suggestion that Khamzat Chimaev’s weight cut played a significant role in his split decision loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 328, calling it a rookie-level cut that does not justify being used as an excuse.
Chimaev’s teammate Arman Tsarukyan revealed after the fight that Chimaev had to cut 12 to 13 pounds in the final 24 hours before weigh-ins, with some attributing his early slowdown to the drastic cut. Du Plessis, who lost his middleweight title to Chimaev before Chimaev dropped it to Strickland, had no sympathy speaking on Fight Forecast.
“I think this whole weight cut excuse is ridiculous. I mean, they said he cut 12 pounds in the 24 hours. Those are rookie numbers. 12 pounds in 24 hours, that’s not that bad. What matters is that last 24 hours and 12 pounds is not that much. I definitely done more than that. Sometimes I’ve had bad weight cuts, too. Everybody that cuts weight has had that experience where the next day you feel, ‘Ugh,’ and you have a bad cut. One kilogram can make the world of difference in a weight cut. I just think using a weight cut as an excuse when it comes to the fight, even if you did have a bad weight cut, it’s fine.”
Du Plessis delivered a broader message about accountability in the sport.
“It’s happened to all of us, but you don’t go out and say, ‘Oh, I lost the fight because of that.’ No. If you want to change weight divisions, change weight divisions. But blaming a bad weight cut is like saying, ‘I lost the fight because I wasn’t fit.’ It’s on you. Be more disciplined. Be more disciplined and the weight cut would be easier. When you get to octagon, there is no excuse. Be a man and take your loss like a man. Don’t make any excuses. There are no excuses.”
Chimaev initially told Dana White he wanted to move to light heavyweight after the loss, but later reversed course and expressed a desire to rematch Strickland.
Dricus du Plessis may have been one of the happiest people in the building after Sean Strickland shocked the MMA world by defeating Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC 328 main event.
Strickland reclaimed the middleweight title with a grueling split-decision victory over Chimaev on Saturday night in Newark, handing “Borz” the first loss of his professional career and ending his title reign after just one defense.
Watching cageside was Du Plessis, who suddenly finds himself right back in the middle of the championship picture thanks to the result.
The South African previously defeated Strickland twice during his own title reign, first capturing the belt against him at UFC 297 before successfully defending it in their rematch at UFC 312.
However, Du Plessis later lost the title to Chimaev after being controlled for long stretches in their clash at UFC 319 last year.
Following UFC 328, “Stillknocks” made it clear he wasn’t surprised by how the fight unfolded.
Dricus du Plessis Believes Sean Strickland Broke Khamzat Chimaev’s Pace At UFC 328
“The fight went exactly the way I thought it would,” Du Plessis said in a backstage UFC interview. “Great, great fight by Strickland. Like I said, it’s so hard to keep that man on the ground.”
Du Plessis explained that Strickland’s ability to repeatedly work his way back to his feet eventually drained Chimaev’s gas tank and shifted the momentum of the fight.
“He is incredibly tough to hold down,” Du Plessis said. “He made Khamzat tired and that’s exactly what happened.”
The former champion also reiterated his belief that once the fight stayed standing for extended periods, Strickland held the advantage.
“And like I said, in the stand-up, [Khamzat] just won’t be able to hang with him,” Du Plessis added. “So congratulations.”
Du Plessis then jokingly closed his reaction with a line that immediately caught fans’ attention online.
“I guess this makes me world champion again.”
👀Dricus du Plessis reacts to Sean Strickland becoming champion again!
"So the fight went exactly the way I thought it would. Uh, great — great fight by Sean.
Videos circulating on social media also showed Du Plessis celebrating Strickland’s victory cageside, smiling and applauding after the judges announced the decision.
Although the UFC has not confirmed what comes next at middleweight, Strickland’s win potentially places Du Plessis in a strong position for a trilogy fight, given his two previous victories over the newly crowned champion.
Dricus du Plessis believes a lot of people may be underestimating Sean Strickland heading into his title clash with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328.
Chimaev enters Saturday’s main event at the Prudential Center in Newark as a sizable betting favorite while preparing for the first defense of the middleweight belt he captured from Du Plessis at UFC 319 last year.
But despite losing his title to “Borz”, Du Plessis isn’t convinced the matchup is as one-sided as many expect.
Speaking during an appearance on Fight Forecast, “Stillknocks” explained why he believes the opening round could determine everything.
“The first round is going to tell us so much about this fight,” Du Plessis said. “I know Khamzat is going to get him down. I’ve taken Strickland down so many times. I know Khamzat is going to get him down, but to keep him there? That’s going to be the big question.”
Du Plessis Gives Strickland Surprising Edge Over Chimaev At UFC 328
Having spent extended time inside the cage with both men, Du Plessis offered an unexpected assessment when comparing their physicality.
“Because Strickland’s ability to get up, the technique he uses, the strength he has. He’s a strong guy, a lot stronger than Khamzat on a physical level,” Du Plessis said. “I think he’s going to surprise some people.”
The South African believes Strickland’s cardio and defensive style could become major factors if the fight extends beyond the early grappling exchanges.
“If Strickland gets up two or three times in the first round, it’s not going to get easier with the sweat and the fatigue, trying to keep a guy down that gets up,” he said. “It uses a lot more energy than the guy getting up.”
Dricus Du Plessis believes Sean Strickland has a genuine shot at dethroning Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 — and he’s speaking from experience having faced both men.
Du Plessis, who lost the UFC middleweight title to Chimaev at UFC 319 last August, appeared on SA Boxing Talk this week and offered his candid assessment of the May 9 main event at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
“I honestly believe Strickland can land that fight,” Du Plessis said. “It’s a fight that makes the most sense right now. I believe Strickland in the striking definitely beats Khamzat for sure.”
He was careful not to overlook Chimaev’s wrestling, however.
“Khamzat is a problem to deal with when he has you on your back — we’ve seen that many times. But I think Strickland has a very good chance in that fight.”
Du Plessis Questions Whether Chimaev Can Adapt
Du Plessis expressed doubt that Chimaev can evolve his game the way a champion typically needs to over multiple defenses.
“I don’t think he has the ability to change,” Du Plessis said. “I don’t think he has the ability to become a striker or even just match any good striker. He doesn’t. I was in there with him striking — it’s not a fight.”
He added that Chimaev’s success against him came down to execution, not versatility.
“He implemented his game plan a lot better, and he won the fight fair and square. It wasn’t controversial. But he was better at 10% of this game than me — and now I know it, and I’ve been working on it.”
Du Plessis Still Wants the Rematch
Du Plessis called Chimaev’s approach against him “a pretty cowardly game plan” and made clear he believes a second fight would go differently.
“The second time will be a way different result — I know that for a fact,” he said. “25 minutes is not a lot of time to adapt that quickly on the fly.”
He also acknowledged some ambivalence about a rematch being his next step.
“I know Khamzat and I kind of don’t want to fight each other — I’m not really excited for that fight. Not a lot of people are.”
Strickland, who earned his title shot with a knockout of Anthony Hernandez in February, faces Chimaev (15-0) when the champion makes his first title defense at UFC 328 on May 9.
Former UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis is blaming Khamzat Chimaev for what he calls a “terrible fight” when they met at UFC 319 in August 2025. Du Plessis (record not provided) lost the title to Chimaev (record not provided) by unanimous decision. Now, he’s calling for a rematch.
Du Plessis is targeting a return to the Octagon at UFC 327 in Miami on April 11, 2026. Speaking with Fight Forecast, Du Plessis stated he would “love to be on that April card.” He added that there is “no opponent yet, there’s no contract yet.” Chimaev has also been considering a move to light heavyweight.
Du Plessis Aims to Counter Chimaev’s Wrestling
Du Plessis anticipates Chimaev will rely on his wrestling in a potential rematch. He plans to counter it to force his own fighting style. In an interview with Fight Forecast, Du Plessis explained why he felt the fight with Chimaev was terrible and what he needs to do to win in a rematch:
“It’s always great if you have a guy that comes and fights because it’s my style and it’s what I love to do entertain, to hear the crowd go crazy. But he knows that and that’s why he went for that style. Once again, I understand that it wasn’t the best fight to watch. In fact, it was a terrible fight to watch, but he did what he had to do to win that title and good for him. My responsibility is to stop him from doing that and that’s what I will do.”
Du Plessis aims to regain the title before the end of 2026.
Dricus Du Plessis trusts Alex Pereira won’t repeat the mistakes he made in the first clash with Magomed Ankalaev.
Pereira is set to run it back with reigning light heavyweight champion Ankalaev in the UFC 320 main event on October 4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Two titles headline in the Fight Capital 🏆🏆#UFC320 Fight Week has officially started!
The two first met at UFC 313 in March, where “Poatan” showcased his stellar takedown defense by shutting down all 12 of Ankalaev’s attempts to bring the fight to the mat. Despite neutralizing the his opponent’s wrestling, Pereira found himself on the wrong side of the striking exchanges, as the Russian edged him across five rounds to claim the 205-pound title.
Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC
Dricus Du Plessis Believes Alex Pereira Will Defeat Magomed Ankalaev In UFC 320 Rematch
During a recent interview with Fight Forecast, Dricus Du Plessis shared his thoughts on the upcoming UFC 320 clash between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira. The former middleweight champion credited Ankalaev for emerging victorious at UFC 313 but warned that “Poatan” will return sharper, and far more dangerous in the rematch as he looks to reclaim his crown.
“I’ve been looking at the training footage of Pereira for this one.” Du Plessis said. “He looks scary. He looks angry. And, you know, we’ll see what that loss did to him. He has come back from a loss and came back to reclaim the title, but, this fight is a big fight for him. Ankalaev now has that confidence, of course, of being the champion. But, I’m going to go with Pereira on this one.”
“Stillknocks” went on to say he believes Pereira has addressed the weaknesses that cost him in their first encounter and is confident the Brazilian will correct those mistakes to finish Ankalaev at UFC 320.
“It wasn’t the fact that he got taken down. It’s the fact that he got smothered… He’s going to need to keep his back off the fence, and I do believe that they’ve spent enough time working on that. Him taking some time away from the sport was good for him… I really don’t see this fight going the distance this time, but I’m putting my money on Alex Pereira to claim the title. I have to go with him.”
Before his loss to Ankalaev, Alex Pereira successfully defended the light heavyweight title three times in 2024, scoring back-to-back knockout victories over Khalil Rountree Jr., Jiri Prochazka, and Jamahal Hill. “Poatan” now boasts a 9-2 UFC record, with seven of those wins coming via devastating knockouts.
UFC middleweight contender Anthony Hernandez has given his thoughts on Dricus du Plessis‘ UFC 319 defeat to Khamzat Chimaev.
As we know, Dricus du Plessis lost his UFC middleweight championship in a one-sided affair against Khamzat Chimaev in Chicago. While DDP plans on rebuilding himself and bouncing back, many have doubted that the rematch would go any differently between them.
Someone who is trying to make their own case for a title shot is Anthony Hernandez. In a recent interview, ahead of his fight against Reinier de Ridder, ‘Fluffy’ had the following to say about Dricus du Plessis’ performance.
Anthony Hernandez’s view on Dricus du Plessis’ UFC 319 loss
“I was [surprised], until I started watching what DDP was doing,” Hernandez told MMA Fighting. “It’s like, bro, you’re doing all big explosive strong guy s***. That s*** doesn’t work against good wrestlers, like they can flow off of that s***.
“So like DDP just kind of f*cked himself on that, and then Khazmat did a really good job of keeping the pressure on him, keeping him on his hands, keeping it so he couldn’t get up, and I mean, it’s very high level on Khazmat’s end.
“But to watch as a fan and watch to enjoy blood and s***, like people cracking the f*ck out of each other and like mixing it up. It was kind of boring, but like, that’s just my opinion. I’m a fighter, too. So, I mean, I try to send it, usually, and I’ve been there, too, where it’s like, you’re kind of hurt and you gotta just f*cking do what you gotta do to win.
“So I get it, but I look forward to when I get to fight that guy. Right now, I’ve got some more proving to do, so I’m going to go prove a point and then how the f*cking s*** plays out, it plays out. …
“[But] after about the second round [is] when I realized he couldn’t do s***, and he didn’t know what to do, and like he was just still flexing hella hard on s***. I was like, ‘Oh, OK. He’s f*cked.’”
“Stillknocks” had no solution for Chimaev’s relentless wrestling, as the undefeated Russian imposed his will with repeated takedowns and smothering top control across five rounds, leaving Du Plessis with virtually no room to mount offense.
Although the defending champion showed brief flashes in the fifth round, landing a few crisp strikes, the momentum had long slipped away. Chimaev’s suffocating ground game left no doubt, as the judges scored it 50-44 to crown “Borz” the new UFC middleweight champion.
Dricus Du Plessis may be gutted by the defeat, but the setback has ignited a renewed fire within him.
Image: @ufc/X
Dricus Du Plessis Calls UFC 319 Loss A Lesson Not A Setback
On Monday, Dricus Du Plessis took to social media to share his first statement since losing the middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319. The South African admitted the pain of defeat but vowed to use it as fuel for an even greater return, while also showing respect to “Borz” for his performance.
“It’s been just over a week and I have spent some time with my family and friends, those closest to me who will be with me win or lose. I embrace this loss with open arms, because believe me as much as I hate losing, it’s as much part of life as part of our game- and I believe it’s necessary in my pursuit of greatness. ‘Without the bitter, the sweet wouldn’t be as sweet.’
“Make no mistake I’m not a good loser, because a good loser becomes a frequent one. I am however- an avid learner of the arts and of life itself. This loss has exploded a desire in me that will have the consequence of an onslaught bigger than the original domination- my return to glory and pursuit of greatness will be unimaginable for the average minded.
“I have absolutely no excuses for my performance, I was beaten by a better fighter on the night, congratulations to my opponent and thank you for the honour of sharing the octagon with you. Thank you for all the love and support from fans all over the world, and my sponsors that has always and will in the future play a critical role in my success.
“AND SINCERELY thank you to all those who enjoyed to see me fall, because I will return the favour, like I always have. I believe in the plan of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for He knows best and I can’t wait to see what He has planned for me going forward,” Du Plessis wrote on Instagram.
Before the loss, Dricus Du Plessis had enjoyed an unbeaten run in the UFC, racking up nine consecutive wins that included statement finishes over former champions Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya.
“Stillknocks” captured the middleweight crown by defeating Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in January 2024 and went on to successfully defend it twice.
Dricus du Plessis‘ coach Morne Visser needs to make an important decision about his student’s future, says UFC veteran Chael Sonnen.
As we know, Dricus du Plessis is no longer the UFC middleweight champion. He was beaten and dominated in his UFC 319 main event against Khamzat Chimaev and while he had a brief window of opportunity in the last round, he was ultimately outmatched pretty heavily in the wrestling department.
As you can imagine, a lot of people have been going after Dricus du Plessis for his inability to stop Khamzat Chimaev. In a recent video, Chael Sonnen weighed in on the issue and had some words of advice.
Chael Sonnen’s view on Dricus du Plessis’ future
“Okay. What does Dricus’ coach do now? In a couple of categories. He sends Dricus out. Hey, we don’t have it right here in our gym. We don’t have these answers, but they do exist and I’m going to send you to where they are. University of Iowa comes to mind. University of Iowa has offered to host Dricus for two weeks and let him be part of their room and training.
“Okay, there’s one idea. Or the other is bring somebody in, right? And again, we could probably turn right back to Iowa, get him on a plane, have him go and work with Dricus. But you still have, do you send him out? Do you bring somebody in? You must come to the conclusion of we don’t have the answers right now. And this is very normal, by the way.
“That’s not an insult. I came through that at Team Quest. We brought in John Lewis and we brought in John Hackleman. We had the work ethic, the bodies, the dream, but we didn’t have the skills that were needed in this sport.”
The UFC’s long-awaited return to Chicago finally happened on August 16, as the promotion held UFC 319 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, featuring a highly-hyped main event.
It was the UFC’s first venture to the Windy City since 2019, when the promotion held UFC 238 in June of that year. That night saw Henry Cejudo become the third champ-champ in UFC history by defeating Marlon Moraes for the bantamweight title, as well as Valentina Shevchenko’s scary knockout of Jessica Eye to retain the women’s flyweight title.
The main event of UFC 319 saw the middleweight title on the line when Dricus Du Plessis defended the gold against Khamzat Chimaev. Du Plessis originally won the belt by defeating Sean Strickland at UFC 297 and retained against Israel Adesanya and Strickland, respectively, at UFC 305 and UFC 312. The undefeated Chimaev earned the title shot with a violent finish of another former champion, Robert Whittaker, at UFC 308.
The co-main event featured unbeaten featherweight contender Lerone Murphy in action, as he welcomed former Bellator top prospect Aaron Pico to the Octagon.
Who showed up in Chicago? Who missed the mark? Let’s find out in this edition of Hits and Misses for UFC 319!
Hit – Alexander Hernandez Does Indeed Do Great
The intention may have been to use Alexander Hernandez as another name for Chase Hooper to put away on his path toward becoming the breakout star some would hope he’d become. “The Great” stopped that in its tracks for now.
Hooper had a notable reach advantage and used that early on. But Hernandez worked his boxing, and his hands ended becoming the difference in this outing. Hernandez landed a right hand just before the horn that dropped Hooper, and he’d put the young star away with seconds remaining in the first round.
That’s now three straight wins for Hernandez since returning to lightweight last year, and he might be a win away from facing a lightweight contender. As far as Hooper goes, this isn’t the end, as he’s only 25, had a win streak coming into this contest, and is still developing.
Hit – Fighting Nerd Michal Oleksiejczuk Is Different
Sometimes a change of camp really does something to a fighter, and perhaps there’s no better example of late than with Michal Oleksiejczuk’s move to the Fighting Nerds.
Facing Gerald Meerschaert at UFC 319, Oleksiejczuk consistently stopped Meerschaert’s attempts to take the fight to the ground. That would have put the outing in Meerschaert’s world, and instead, Oleksiejczuk kept the fight in his and made Meerschaert pay.
Oleksiejczuk scored a pair of knockdowns before blasting Meerschaert away with ground-and-pound until the ref stopped the fight.
MOST 1ST-ROUND KNOCKOUTS – UFC History 11 – Vitor Belfort 09 – Anthony Johnson 08 – Michal Oleksiejczuk#UFC319pic.twitter.com/nunUEUzO8B
This is the second straight first-round finish for Oleksiejczuk, following his first-round finish of Sedriques Dumas at UFC 314. Oleksiejczuk feels like a reborn fighter since moving to the Fighting Nerds, and a third finish in a row his next time out would just put a stamp on that.
Miss – “Baysangur Susurkaev!” & The Silence Of Chicago
Let’s start by saying this — Baysangur Susurkaev deserves all the credit in the world for taking a Dana White’s Contender Series fight on a week’s notice, winning that, turning around four days later for his UFC debut and scoring a finish. That’s not my issue.
My issue is that more credit needs to be given to Eric Nolan — because Susurkaev left a performance that leaves much to be desired.
Susurkaev tried to pressure Nolan during the opening round, only for Nolan to work his hands and rock Susurkaev in the closing seconds of the round. In fact, had there been more time, Nolan could have gotten a finish. Susurkaev worked over Nolan’s legs in the second, and when the former CFFC welterweight champion tried to take the fight to the mat, Susurkaev made him pay and took his back, scoring the submission.
And while it’s good to have confidence, Susurkaev went on to say he’d be willing to fight again in a few weeks and tried to lead a chant of his name with the Chicago crowd…it failed spectacularly.
The feat itself is phenomenal, but I need to see more from Susurkaev before I can call him something special.
Hit – Tim Elliott Gives “Age Is Only A Number” A Supporting Argument
You may not see Tim Elliott challenging for a flyweight title soon, if ever again. That might be a miracle. But what he did at UFC 319 against Kai Asakura cannot be denied.
Asakura’s footwork helped give him an edge early on in the fight, allowing him to connect a number of times on Elliott. While Asakura had the edge for about four minutes, Elliott took him down in the final minute of the first and didn’t look back. In the second, he’d score another takedown and worked top position until he was able to score a submission via choke.
Elliott has now won four of his last five, though this marked his first fight since December 2023. Again, it may take a miracle for Elliott to blow up the flyweight rankings and get his way into a title shot. But this win has shown he’s a tough competitor who up-and-comers may have to go through just to get into the contender scene.
Hit – MVP: Same Ol’ Antics & Fighting Style
Vintage Michael “Venom” Page. That’s the best way to describe his victory over Jared Cannonier at UFC 319.
MVP stayed on the outside to start the opening round, nullifying Cannonier’s attempts to come inside and landing on Cannonier from range. He taunted throughout the fight, daring Cannonier to try and get him, only to make Cannonier miss and land on him. MVP also knocked Cannonier down a couple of times during the fight. And even when Cannonier got him down in the third, he wasn’t able to do much with it and couldn’t get the finish, which resulted in a decision win for Page.
After the way he looked against a former middleweight title challenger, and looking at MVP’s run in the UFC so far, it would benefit the Bellator veteran more to stay at 185.
Hit – Carlos Prates Makes Chicago Come Unglued…
What else needs to be said? It was one of the best knockouts 2025 has delivered and then some.
While Geoff Neal looked to be aggressive and come out strong, his single-shotted efforts proved to be no match in the long run for the game Carlos Prates was playing. Prates aimed low with kicks and picked up his output over the course of the fight’s near five minutes.
And then, right before the horn, WHAM! One of the most vicious elbows ever delivered in this sport, bringing everyone to their feet, jaw-dropped or roaring with cheers.
Carlos Prates scores the 9th spinning back elbow knockout in UFC history. It's his 5th UFC knockout, most in the UFC since 2024.
This is how you rebound following the loss to Ian Machado Garry. This is how you gain yet another Performance of the Night bonus. And this is how you make your mark and say, “I’m right in the middle of this welterweight title picture.”
Hit – …And Then Lerone Murphy Delivers An Encore
Second verse, same as the first, right? A spinning elbow KO is rare enough in the UFC, but then we saw two in a row.
Lerone Murphy pulled off the highlight to give Aaron Pico a rude awakening (or in this case, “sleepening”…I know it’s not a word) into the UFC. In something that has been a repeat of some of Pico’s other losses in his career, Pico got too careless and aggressive with his striking, and Murphy took advantage. Murphy picked up on Pico’s forward pressure motions and used a spinning elbow to drop him out cold in vicious fashion.
Murphy is undefeated, and the only time he didn’t win a fight was when he fought to a draw in his UFC debut. “The Miracle” finally, however, got a highlight that stamped a statement for a title shot — and featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski seemed to be listening, posting “See you in December” after the fight. Perhaps Murphy has now found a way to jump Movsar Evloev for the next crack at the 145-pound title.
Miss – Names From Outside The UFC Aren’t Delivering
I was watching a YouTube video in the immediate aftermath of the fight from someone I really respect in the MMA media landscape, James Lynch, talking about whose stock has risen and fallen the most following UFC 319. And he had an interesting take in that, instead of picking Dricus Du Plessis or Aaron Pico, he selected Kai Asakura for the fact he’s now 0-2 since coming over from RIZIN and just lost to an elder stateman of the flyweight division.
And the more I think about it, the more he’s right. And that combined with the Pico loss, despite some wild takes in the MMA community over the past week, is why I’m putting this “miss” here and combining Asakura, Pico, Patchy Mix, and even Patricio Pitbull.
Of late, these names have all been fighters once prominent in other promotions, who have just not delivered when it comes to their time in the UFC thus far. For Asakura to lose to the defending champ in his debut is one thing, getting finished by Tim Elliott (no disrespect to him whatsoever) is another. People raved about Pico despite his track record, his UFC opponent, and the lack of success of some of his Bellator precedents. Look what happened.
Then there’s Patchy Mix, who looked awful in his UFC debut against Mario Bautista a couple of months ago. Patricio Pitbull might be a case of “came over too late,” but it’s undeniable his 1-1 start in the UFC, and how he’s performed in both fights, leaves a lot to be desired. Obviously, there are exceptions (look at Michael Chandler and Michael “Venom” Page), but the recent track sheet of guys coming over to the UFC from other promotions has not been great.
And now Pitbull and Mix are being paired against two other names from other promotions, respectively in former two-division Oktagon champion Losene Keita and former KSW champion Jakub Wiklacz. And the thing is, the UFC has no big loss either way with fighters they bring from other promotions. Win and they can consider you a top name and put promotion behind you. Lose? “Well these other promotions aren’t the UFC.”
Takedown, takedown, takedown was the strategy. And the belief was that the longer the fight went on, the more it’d favor Du Plessis. There were plenty of questions about Chimaev’s gas tank and how he would handle the wild, unorthodox nature of DDP’s fighting style.
He answered those questions and then some with an absolutely dominating performance. In fact, the last time a challenger had this much of a one-sided beating of a defending champion for as long as Chimaev did, you’d have to go back to Kamaru Usman beating the breaks off Tyron Woodley to dethrone him of the welterweight title at UFC 235. If were talking title fights in general, then perhaps the beatdown Amanda Nunes put on Felicia Spencer at UFC 250.
So what’s next for Chimaev? Despite not fighting more than once a year since 2020, he’s being very open about a desire to turn around on short fashion and defend the belt in Abu Dhabi at UFC 321. Is there anyone who seems to be willing to step up and try to match his style and beat him? Reinier de Ridder is raising his hand. But after all this time he’s spent on the sidelines with the Jon Jones situation, you can’t just move heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall down from the main event, right?…Right?
Miss – A Disappointing Ending To DDP’s Run
As someone who has ridden the DDP hype train since 2016, it’s crazy that the minute everyone starts to believe in his style, along comes Khamzat Chimaev to end the run in one of the most spectacular fashions.
The man simply had no answers on the mat. He just couldn’t figure out how to get away from Chimaev’s wrestling. The pressure Chimaev put on was just too much; and it’s honestly kind of a shock Chimaev either didn’t get the finish or have scorecards that were like 50-43 or 50-42.
And it’s a shame. Du Plessis solidified himself as one of the most entertaining fighters at 185 in the UFC. He made a name for himself proving people wrong; and this time he just couldn’t. And unfortunately, it means he isn’t getting a rematch anytime soon. And you have to wonder what is next for him considering he’s beaten Sean Strickland twice, and Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker once.
Perhaps Reinier de Ridder is next if the UFC isn’t ready to give RDR the title shot? Or maybe DDP can face Nassourdine Imavov or rematch with Adesanya?
Miss – Chicago Turns On Chimaev
Finally, I have to call this out. It goes beyond Chicago and into the toxicity that is the MMA online community, but Chicago really proved to show the hypocrisy in fans.
If you heard the kind of crowd Chicago was this week, it seemed like a massive W. People were wild and crazy, and it seemed most of the crowd put their support behind Chimaev. They were nuts for him during the pre-fight press conference and the ceremonial weigh-ins.
Then the fight happened. And the longer it went, the more boos rang down. Even when the man got the gold strapped around him, something most in Chicago wanted to happen, the reaction was a lot tamer by comparison.
Absolutely DOMINANT performance from @KChimaev tonight 👏
Look, it wasn’t the most entertaining fight and plenty of people are disappointed there wasn’t a finish. There is no doubt about it. But you can’t take away from the fact it was one of the most dominant performances ever in a UFC title fight — and that is an accomplishment in its own right.
Georges St. Pierre didn’t finish every fight, but he put on excellent, dominating performances. Khabib Nurmagomedov didn’t finish every fight, but he put on excellent, dominating performances. Amanda Nunes didn’t finish every fight, but he put on excellent, dominating performances.
Criticizing the fight does not mean someone is anti-Chimaev or making disparaging remarks about him and his background, and it doesn’t mean that someone is a “casual.” It can simply be journalistic or expert commentary. At the same time, if someone is praising the performance of Chimaev, it doesn’t mean they are crazy.
How is it that both things can’t be true? It wasn’t a great fight from the entertainment value perspective, but it did leave a significant moment in its own way.
Maybe the next time UFC hypes up a big main event fight, we as fans and pundits take more of a cautious approach when looking at it.
Dricus Du Plessis receives an encouraging message from his fiancée after his recent loss.
On Saturday night at Chicago’s United Center, Du Plessis dropped his middleweight title after a lopsided unanimous decision defeat to Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC 319 main event.
Absolutely DOMINANT performance from @KChimaev tonight 👏
The fight unfolded as expected, with Chimaev immediately asserting his dominance by taking Du Plessis down and keeping him grounded throughout the first round. That approach defined the bout, as “Borz” repeatedly controlled the South African on the canvas over five rounds, landing 12 of 17 takedowns and leaving Du Plessis little room to mount any offense.
On the ground, Chimaev moved Du Plessis across the Octagon at will, landing ground strikes that, while not heavily damaging, prevented any meaningful counterattack. It wasn’t until the fifth round that “Stillknocks” found a brief spark with his striking, landing some clean shots, but it was too late to turn the tide. The judges unanimously scored the fight 50-44, handing Chimaev a dominant win and crowning him the new UFC middleweight champion.
In the wake of his loss, Dricus Du Plessis finds comfort and encouragement from his closest loved ones.
Image: @ufc/X
Vasti Spiller Pens Supportive Message After Dricus Du Plessis’ Title Loss At UFC 319
After his tough defeat at UFC 319, Dricus Du Plessis’ fiancée, Vasti Spiller, turned to social media to send an uplifting message to “Stillknocks,” proving she remains a constant pillar of support in his life.
“My world. This is just the beginning,” Spiller posted on Instagram.
This defeat marked Du Plessis’ first loss in the UFC since his debut in October 2020. Before that, “Stillknocks” hadn’t experienced defeat since October 2018 at KSW 45, where he suffered a third-round TKO at the hands of Roberto Soldić.
The 31-year-old South African captured the UFC middleweight title in January 2024, defeating Sean Strickland via split decision at UFC 297. He then successfully defended his belt twice, first against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 and later in a rematch with Strickland at UFC 312.
Khamzat Chimaev has put on one of the most dominant displays in the history of UFC title fights, completing blanking Dricus Du Plessis over five rounds to claim the UFC middleweight championship in the UFC 319 main event.
Mere seconds into the fight, Chimaev level changed and scored a takedown. DDP attempted to get an arm around Chimaev but was forced to release. Chimaev got Du Plessis in a crucifix, landing short punches around the head of the trapped defending champion. Chimaev continued to work DDP over in top position for most of the round, until Du Plessis got back to his feet in the final 20 seconds. Du Plessis went for another guillotine but was unsuccessful.
Chimaev scored another takedown seconds into the second round, getting right into back control and maintaining it despite Du Plessis’ attempts to shake him off. Du Plessis got to the fence, but Chimaev continued to smother him with pressure, nearly locking in a rear-naked choke at one point.
The process continued in the third round, where Chimaev wrapped DDP up in another crucifix and landed more short shots. Du Plessis avoided the first takedown attempt in the fourth round, but Chimaev was right back to work with another successful takedown seconds later. Chimaev dominated through back and side control during the fourth.
Du Plessis tried to bring out strong strikes in the fifth round, and even through in a guillotine attempt, but it all was for naught.
Khamzat Chimaev Defeats Dricus Du Plessis To Become UFC Middleweight Champion At UFC 319
Chimaev now improves to 15-0 in MMA and completes the destiny that seemed set for him when he made his Octagon debut in July 2020. Chimaev earned the title shot with a submission of Robert Whittaker at UFC 308.
Du Plessis had won the middleweight title with a decision over Sean Strickland at UFC 297. He retained the belt against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 and in a rematch with Strickland at UFC 312.
Dricus Du Plessis’ coach has an unexpected takeaway from the face-off with Khamzat Chimaev.
Du Plessis is set to put his middleweight crown on the line for the third time tonight, squaring off against Chimaev in the UFC 319 main event at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
The lead-up to this eagerly awaited clash has been fraught with tension, fueled by fiery exchanges between the fighters on social media. Interestingly, fight week began on a different note, as Du Plessis and Chimaev showed mutual respect and initially steered clear of the usual trash talk.
However, that initial courtesy quickly evaporated during Thursday’s pre-fight press conference, when both fighters officially faced off for the first time. The intensity spiked, particularly from “Borz”, who fired a barrage of words at the reigning UFC middleweight champion.
Chimaev turned up the heat physically during the final staredown on Friday at the ceremonial weigh-ins, shoving ‘Stillknocks’ before being pulled apart by UFC CEO Dana White and on-stage security. Dricus Du Plessis, however, appeared completely unfazed by the incident.
Image: @ufc/X
Morne Visser Believes Dricus Du Plessis Gained Mental Edge Over Khamzat Chimaev Before UFC 319
During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Dricus Du Plessis’ longtime coach, Morne Visser, broke down the UFC 319 face-off between ‘Stillknocks’ and Khamzat Chimaev. Visser pointed out that Du Plessis demonstrated control by holding his hands higher than ‘Borz’ and effectively got inside his opponent’s head.
“You’ll see Khamzat has got his hands close to his chest, and Dricus has got his hands over Khamzat’s arm,” Visser said. “Not a lot of people look at that, but that shows dominance. If you look at that face-off, you know when there are two guys fighting in the street and one guy gets pulled away and his buddies kind of save him. Dana came in between and he pushed them apart, and only then did Khamzat make a big noise.
“Why wasn’t he so arrogant when he was standing right in front of Dricus? That’s just weird for me. That just shows a little bit of weakness. If you want to be tough, be tough in front of the guy, don’t walk away and then shout stupid things.”
Dricus Du Plessis last stepped into the Octagon at UFC 312 this past February, where he secured a dominant unanimous decision victory over Khamzat Chimaev in their rematch. ‘Stillknocks’ remains undefeated in the UFC with a perfect 9-0 record, including six wins by stoppage.
UFC 319 took place tonight from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!
In the main event, Dricus du Plessis looked to defend his middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev. While in the co-main event, Lerone Murphy took on Aaron Pico in a featherweight matchup.
UFC 319 Results: Main Card
Middleweight Championship: Khamzat Chimaev def. Dricus du Plessis via unanimous decision (50-44×3)
Featherweight: Lerone Murphy def. Aaron Pico via KO: R1, 3.21
Welterweight: Carlos Prates de. Geoff Neal via KO: R1, 4.59
Middleweight: Michael Page def. Jared Cannonier via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Flyweight: Tim Elliott def. Kai Asakura via submission: R2, 4.39
Preliminary Card
Middleweight: Baysangur Susurkaev def. Eric Nolan via submission: R2, 2.01
Middleweight: Michał Oleksiejczuk def. Gerald Meerschaert via TKO: R1, 3.03
Joe Rogan is skeptical about Khamzat Chimaev’s endurance.
Chimaev is locked in to headline UFC 319 this Saturday at the United Center in Chicago, where he will challenge reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis for the title.
CHICAGO, TODAY'S THE DAY 🚨#UFC319 is FINALLY here!!
Although “Borz” remains undefeated in his professional career, he has only gone the distance twice in the UFC. In both bouts, Chimaev faced significant challenges, and as the fights progressed into the later rounds, he appeared to fade, raising questions about the durability of his cardio.
Joe Rogan Questions Whether Khamzat Chimaev Can Last Against Dricus Du Plessis
During a recent episode of his JRE MMA Show, Joe Rogan shared his insights on the highly anticipated clash between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev. The veteran commentator also discussed the undefeated Russian’s preparation for UFC 319, discussing whether “Borz” has made any gains in endurance while training with renowned conditioning coach Sam Calavitta.
“What’s going to be interesting is if it gets into deep water, because I know he started training with Calvita—for his conditioning,” Rogan said. “He went to Sam Calvita who trained TJ Dillashaw, works with Aaron Pico, Arman Tsarukyan’s doing it with him, too. And that guy is a legend, man… He’s using real science to do it. This is the first time he’s ever been through a camp like this where he’s coming in fresh, where he’s not overtrained.”
Rogan also questioned how Khamzat Chimaev’s cardio would hold up in championship rounds, warning that Du Plessis could become a serious threat late in the fight.
“That’s the question—is can he sprint for five rounds? ‘Cause we know DDP can. Him and Sean Strickland, they were ready to have heart attacks at the end of that fight. Getting his nose busted like that and still staying and fighting with staph. He had staph. He had staph through the second fight. That’s why he was listless. He was on antibiotics and everything. He was all messed up.”
“Borz” enters UFC 319 riding a first-round submission win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in October of last year. Chimaev currently holds a perfect 14-0 professional record, with 12 victories coming by stoppage.
Dricus du Plessis is a betting underdog this weekend as he steps into the cage against Khamzat Chimaev. DDP being seen as an underdog at UFC 319 as he enters the cage in Chicago on August 16th to defend his middleweight crown has drawn the attention of many, including a former multi-time UFC middleweight title challenger.
Chael Sonnen recently took the time to discuss the oddsmakers perceptions of Saturday night’s main event with a localized focus on DDP’s career but also on a more macro view of the sport. While discussing instances where du Plessis has been an underdog before only to shock the broader MMA world and also observing how the public has historically looked at certain stylistic matchups, Sonnen said,
“I think you just found out how good Dricus is. I think that’s what happened here. And I accuse you of that because I feel it, too. But I can’t identify it for you. I can’t verbalize it for you. Dricus fought Izzy and he showed a couple of things ever so slight. To get Izzy tired is hard to do and Dricus did. There’s nothing more intimidating than a guy that can weaponize pace, and we saw that he did it and he struck with Izzy, so all of a sudden you got to check off that box.”
Dricus du Plessis’ stand up and Khamzat Chimaev’s grappling
When touching on how public perception on upcoming fights has largely leaned toward particular approaches over other stylistic frameworks in the context of the Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev betting line, Sonnen continued,
“Never in history, and I’m going back to 1993, has DraftKings favored the striker over the grappler. Not a literal statement, but close enough. So Dricus showed you what a great and well-conditioned striker he is. When has that ever made you change your bet when you’re taking on one of the great grapplers ever? Go all the way back to ’93. Go all the way back to Royce and Severn. Go to Shamrock and tell me what you were so impressed with those guys.“
UFC 319 is almost here, and we here at MMA News are here to provide you the latest on betting odds for the card.
The card takes place from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday, August 16. The pay-per-view main card portion of the event will start at 10PM ET/7PM PT, with preliminary action starting at 6PM ET/3PM PT.
The headline attraction for the event will feature Dricus Du Plessis taking on Khamzat Chimaev with the UFC middleweight championship on the line.
The co-main event will see the undefeated Lerone Murphy welcoming Aaron Pico to the Octagon.
The pay-per-view card will also feature Geoff Neal facing Carlos Prates, Jared Cannonier clashing with Michael “Venom” Page, and Tim Elliott meeting Kai Asakura.
UFC 319: Du Plessis vs. Chimaev Betting Odds
Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 319 as of August 15 at 9:30pm ET, courtesy of DraftKings.
Main Card:
Middleweight Championship: Dricus Du Plessis (+215) vs. Khamzat Chimaev (-265)
Featherweight: Lerone Murphy (+154) vs. Aaron Pico (-185)
Welterweight: Geoff Neal (+180) vs. Carlos Prates (-218)
Middleweight: Jared Cannonier (+180) vs. Michael Page (-218)
Flyweight: Tim Elliott (+250) vs. Kai Asakura (-310)
Preliminary Card:
Welterweight: Baysangur Susurkaev (-950) vs. Eric Nolan (+625)
Middleweight: Gerald Meerschaert (+180) vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk (-210)
Women’s Strawweight: Jessica Andrade (+120) vs. Loopy Godinez (-142)
Lightweight: Chase Hooper (-325) vs. Alexander Hernandez (+260)
Early Preliminary Card:
Lightweight: Edson Barboza (-130) vs. Drakkar Klose (+110)
Women’s Flyweight: Karine Silva (-198) vs. Dione Barbosa (+164)
Flyweight: TUF Finale: Alibi Idiris (-455) vs. Joseph Morales (+350)
We’re about 24 hours away from UFC 319, and MMA News is here to bring you the video from the ceremonial weigh-ins for the card!
UFC 319 takes place on August 16 from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
The main event of the evening will feature Dricus Du Plessis defending the UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev. Du Plessis, unbeaten in the UFC, originally claimed the championship with a decision win over Sean Strickland at UFC 297. He has since defended the title against Israel Adesanya and Strickland at UFC 305 and UFC 312, respectively. Chimaev, who hasn’t lost in MMA, secured this title shot with a finish of another former champion in Robert Whittaker at UFC 308.
The co-main event will feature the UFC debut of Aaron Pico, as the Bellator veteran faces undefeated featherweight contender Lerone Murphy.
The rest of the main card sees Geoff Neal face Carlos Prates, Jared Cannonier taking on Michael “Venom” Page, and Tim Elliott going toe-to-toe with Kai Asakura.
The ceremonial weigh-ins present the last opportunity for opponents to face off before they meet inside the Octagon. Check them out below via the UFC’s official YouTube channel!
MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has given his thoughts on the striking differences between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev.
Tomorrow night, Dricus du Plessis will defend his UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev. He’ll do so in the main event of UFC 319, and he’ll do so with a lot of people doubting his ability to get the job done. Of course, that’s nothing new for DDP in his UFC career.
He has constantly been able to flip the script and spring an upset – or at least, what would be seen as an upset in the eyes of the fans. Alas, Dricus du Plessis is far more talented than a lot of people give him credit for, especially in the striking department.
Speaking of which, Chael Sonnen recently weighed in on how the striking exchanges could go between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev on Saturday.
Chael Sonnen’s view on Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev
“In the history of Chimaev’s striking, there was one moment — one shot — landed by Gilbert Burns. It got through, and Chimaev went down to a knee. He popped right back up. He won the standup battle in that fight, which was an instant classic, colossally hard and close. And against Kamaru Usman — who can handle himself everywhere, who was even in talks to box Canelo — Chimaev still won the standup portion. That one Gilbert shot has made people think he can’t strike, but that’s not what the record shows.”
“Dricus is much better in understanding and experience if you were to put him in pure boxing or kickboxing. Which one would do better in that environment? Dricus. But does that mean he can beat Chimaev in an MMA striking exchange? Very different. Chimaev is ugly, street-fighter-esque. He’s punching you just to get in and clinch — which would be a foul in boxing — but in MMA, it works. He still lands punches, he still throws a lot, there’s still power on them, and they’re still aimed right at your face.”
“I’m not asking if they just stand and box. I’m asking if they’re on their feet in an MMA fight — are you sure Dricus is better? That’s the question.”
We are just one day away from UFC 319, and we’ve got the official weigh-in results for you here at MMA News.
UFC 319 takes place from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, featuring a number of noteworthy matchups, including a highly-anticipated middleweight title fight.
The UFC middleweight championship is on the line in the evening’s main event, as Dricus Du Plessis defends against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev.
Du Plessis, who made his UFC debut in October 2020, won the UFC middleweight title with a decision win over Sean Strickland at UFC 297. He has since retained the belt twice, defeating Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 and winning a rematch against Strickland at UFC 312.
Chimaev, who made his UFC debut in July 2020, has also quickly risen up the ranks with his impressive performances. He earned this title shot with a finish of Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in October.
The co-main event will see the undefeated Lerone Murphy, coming in off a win over Josh Emmett, face a man who will be making his UFC debut — Bellator veteran Aaron Pico.
The main card will also feature a welterweight bout between Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates, a middleweight battle between Jared Cannonier and Michael Page, and a flyweight fight featuring Tim Elliott and Kai Asakura.
UFC 319 Weigh-In Video, Results
UFC 319 takes place Saturday, August 16 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.
See above to watch the UFC 319 Weigh-In Show (beginning at 9:50 a.m. ET), and check out the full results below.
Main Card:
Middleweight Championship: Dricus Du Plessis (185) vs. Khamzat Chimaev (183) (Backup fighter: Caio Borralho (184 lbs))
Featherweight: Lerone Murphy (146) vs. Aaron Pico (145)
Welterweight: Geoff Neal (171) vs. Carlos Prates (170)
Middleweight: Jared Cannonier (186) vs. Michael Page (186)
Flyweight: Tim Elliott (126) vs. Kai Asakura (126)
Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Baysangur Susurkaev (186) vs. Eric Nolan (183)
Middleweight: Gerald Meerschaert (185) vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk (186)
Women’s Strawweight: Jessica Andrade (116) vs. Loopy Godinez (115)
Lightweight: Chase Hooper (155) vs. Alexander Hernandez (156)
Early Preliminary Card:
Lightweight: Edson Barboza (155.5) vs. Drakkar Klose (156)
Middleweight: Bryan Battle (190)* vs. Nursulton Ruziboev (186)
Women’s Flyweight: Karine Silva (125) vs. Dione Barbosa (125.5)
Flyweight: TUF Finale: Alibi Idiris (126) vs. Joseph Morales (126)
*Battle missed weight by 4 pounds, fight is off (originally reported to remain on with a 30 percent fine of his purse)
Dricus Du Plessis is curious how Khamzat Chimaev will react to his first loss.
“Stillknocks” is set to make his third middleweight title defense against Chimaev in the UFC 319 main event this Saturday, August 16, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Du Plessis enters this fight riding an impressive 11-fight win streak, nine of which have come inside the UFC. The South African has only suffered defeat twice in his career, but those losses taught him hard lessons and fueled the confidence he carries into this weekend’s bout.
On the other hand, Chimaev has faced challenges in a few UFC bouts but remains unbeaten across his 14 professional fights. “Borz’s” perfect record has reinforced his mindset, giving him the belief he needs to dethrone “Stillknocks” at UFC 319.
However, Dricus Du Plessis is determined to put an end to Chimaev’s streak.
Dricus Du Plessis Raises Questions About Khhamzat Chimaev’s Composure Following First Potential Loss At UFC 319
During UFC 319 media day, Dricus Du Plessis spoke about his upcoming title defense against Khamzat Chimaev. “Stillknocks” questioned Chimaev’s mental toughness, pondering how the undefeated Russian might react if he suffers his first career defeat and loses his undefeated record.
“I think after Saturday night, it’s going to be time to go and maybe do some introspection saying ‘how are we approaching this?’ Because I don’t know where he’s at on a mental level,” Du Plessis said. “I know he has a lot of money, as he says. I haven’t checked his bank statements but he says he has a lot of money.
“You know he’s so certain he’s becoming world champion and I’m here to say no. There’s no way you’re becoming world champion while I’m the champion. It’s going to be interesting to see.”
UFC 319 is just a couple of days away, featuring a highly-anticipated middleweight title fight. Time to stir the pot more and gain more hype for UFC 319, courtesy of a good ol’ fashion question-and-answer session.
The ninth UFC pay-per-view event of the year goes down from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday, August 16. UFC 319 will be headlined by Dricus Du Plessis defending the UFC middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev.
The co-main event sees undefeated featherweight contender Lerone Murphy facing Bellator veteran Aaron Pico in Pico’s UFC debut.
The rest of the main card features a welterweight battle between Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates, a middleweight fight featuring Jared Cannonier and Michael “Venom” Page, and a flyweight scrap with Tim Elliott taking on Kai Asakura.
Watch The UFC 319: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev Pre-Fight Press Conference
As per tradition, the UFC pay-per-view main card participants will be featured in a press conference during fight week. This is the opportunity for fighters to answer questions from media and fans, as well as potentially lay in some smack talk on their opponents.
UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis has made it clear that he isn’t afraid to wrestle with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319.
In the main event of UFC 319, Dricus du Plessis will defend his UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev. As we’ve said for weeks now, this is easily one of the most highly anticipated fights of the year. DDP is unpredictable and chaotic, whereas Chimaev is ruthless and efficient in what he does.
Something has to give, and we can’t wait to see them lock up for the first time. Of course, the wrestling prowess of Khamzat Chimaev is considered to be the strongest factor for either fight in this one – and it’s pretty clear to see why. At the same time, though, Dricus du Plessis is the kind of fighter who can pull a rabbit out of his hat in the blink of an eye.
In a recent interview, Dricus du Plessis made it known that he isn’t particularly bothered about the porospect of having to wrestle with Chimaev on Saturday night.
Dricus du Plessis discusses Khamzat Chimaev’s wrestling
“I understand that he’s really good at wrestling and he’s really good on the ground, but I mean, that is the game. That’s truly how I feel about this fight. Yes, he is going to shoot. And yes, he is probably going to take me down, but I’m going to shoot too and I’m probably going to take him down. I’m going to strike and I’m probably going to hit him and he’s going to strike and probably hit me. I’m not scared of any of that.”
For the first time in six years, the UFC returns to the Windy City, as Chicago plays host to this Saturday’s UFC 319. Get yourself ready and in the know with another edition of MMA News staff fight predictions.
The event will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view on Saturday, August 16. The main card will begin at its usual 10pm ET start time, with preliminary card action kicking off at 6pm ET.
The main event will see an exciting and anticipated middleweight championship clash featuring defending champ Dricus Du Plessis facing challenger Khamzat Chimaev.
Unbeaten in the UFC, Du Plessis originally claimed the title with a win over Sean Strickland at UFC 297. Since then, he’s retained the title twice, defeating Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 last year and winning a rematch with Strickland at UFC 312 this past February.
Chimaev is undefeated and, just like Du Plessis, has risen up the middleweight ranks in impressive fashion since arriving to the UFC in 2020. Chimaev earned this title shot after his win at UFC 308, defeating former champion Robert Whittaker in a title eliminator.
The UFC 319 co-main event sees undefeated featherweight contender Lerone Murphy welcome former Bellator prospect Aaron Pico to the Octagon.
Murphy has won eight in a row since his UFC debut went to a draw. He most recently defeated Josh Emmett in the main event of UFC Vegas 105 this past April. This will be Pico’s first fight since defeating Henry Corrales at the PFL vs. Bellator event in February 2024.
The rest of the UFC 319 main card features a welterweight bout between Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates, a middleweight battle between former title challenger Jared Cannonier and Michael “Venom” Page, and a flyweight fight featuring former title challengers Tim Elliott and Kai Asakura.
UFC 319: MMA News Staff Predictions
With UFC 319 just a couple of short days away, Ryan Jarrell, Pranav Pandey, and myself (Thomas Albano) have provided our picks for the fights that make up the main card.
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through seven cards in 2025.
Pranav Pandey (22-15) Thomas Albano (20-17)
Ryan Jarrell (20-17)
And now, let’s take a look at everyone’s picks for UFC 319!
Flyweight: Tim Elliott vs. Kai Asakura
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: From my perspective, this one feels pretty straightforward. Yes, Asakura’s UFC debut ended in a crushing submission loss to Alexandre Pantoja, but that single setback doesn’t define his skill set. He brings championship experience and, in my opinion, has the striking tools to shut anyone’s lights out. The key will be keeping Elliott at bay and denying his relentless takedown attempts, which could prove tricky. Still, at 38 years old, Elliott faces a bigger question: can he match Asakura’s pace, power, and intensity over three rounds? Personally, I have my doubts. (Prediction: Asakura)
Thomas Albano: This is going to be fun. Kai Asakura may have come up short in his UFC debut, but a debut fight against one of the best champions in the sport, let alone the defending flyweight champion, was always going to be a tough task. But against an aging veteran like Tim Elliott? I definitely see Asakura displaying his full abilities that made him a champion in RIZIN on display here. It’s going to be a battle between Elliott’s wrestling game and Asakura’s striking – and with Asakura being the more well-rounded fighter in my eyes, it’s obvious where I lean to here. (Prediction: Asakura)
Ryan Jarrell: Father Time is undefeated and I expect that old saying to ring true in this scrap. Tim Elliot is closing in on 39 years old and that’s a big deal especially for a lighter weight class. Kai Asakura still must have a bad taste in his mouth from his UFC debut fight loss to the champion, Pantoja. Asakura is legit and coming in to his prime where Elliot is close to the end. No need to overthink this one, give me Asakura all day. (Prediction: Asakura)
Consensus: 3-0 Asakura
Middleweight: Jared Cannonier vs. Michael Page
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: I’ll be honest, this matchup is tricky to predict. Both fighters are arguably past their peak, yet each still brings dangerous tools to the table. “Venom” retains his trademark flair for unpredictable, complex striking. Add in his nimble footwork, and he could give Cannonier plenty of problems. That said, “The Killa Gorilla” has only fallen short against the elite of the elite. His raw power and fight-ending shots could be the exact antidote to Page’s movement-heavy style. If Cannonier can cut off the cage and let his hands go, he might just put a stop to the Brit’s night. (Prediction: Cannonier)
Thomas Albano: This is an interesting battle between two fighters who are past their prime but still relevant in the middleweight contender scene. Cannonier obviously has got some strong wrestling, and while Page’s abilities in this area aren’t the strongest, we have seen him defend well before. And besides that, he’s going to have the reach and striking advantages here. MVP can still hit well for an older fighter, and I expect that his striking is going to do far better work than Cannonier’s grappling. I expect this one to go the distance, and I see MVP getting his hand raised. (Prediction: Page)
Ryan Jarrell: I am very excited to see this fight from a stylistic standpoint. Venom Page is coming up a weight class against a veteran fighter with heavy hands and a granite chin. I am very interested to see if his slick movement will be on point and allow him to evade the power shots of Cannonier for a full fifteen minutes. I expect the Killa Gorilla to land something big and if he cannot, he will use his grappling and strength advantage to help him win a decision. (Prediction: Cannonier)
Consensus: 2-1 Cannonier
Welterweight: Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: They don’t call Neal “Handz of Steel” for nothing. The veteran slugger has made a career out of crashing parties with his heavy hands. That said, Neal has historically struggled against opponents with a significant reach advantage. Prates may have lost some momentum after his setback against Ian Garry, but “The Nightmare” remains a dangerous striker with the power to live up to his nickname. If he can impose his range and keep Neal at the end of his shots, Prates could find himself right back in the win column. (Prediction: Prates)
Thomas Albano: This is going to be Carlos Prates’ first fight since his undefeated record was ended at the hands of Ian Machado Garry. Prates could have been undefeated if it wasn’t for not doing enough when he had Garry down in the fight’s last minute in a bad way. The fight showed that while Prates wasn’t the better man on that night, he can still be a dangerous fighter. And given the power we’ve seen from Geoff Neal, this makes this fight more intriguing. I expect Prates will use his reach advantage to keep distance and land a powerful blow that does damage, gaining back any momentum lost with a solid finish here. (Prediction: Prates)
Ryan Jarrell: Carlos Prates is one of the most exciting young fighters in the entire sport right now and has the fighting style to become your favorite fighter’s favorite fighter. He smokes heaters before weighing in and then throws heat come fight night. Geoff Neal is a dangerous veteran fighter who throws hard and likes a fire fight. I expect both men to have their moments early on before Prates lands a big shot that changes the trajectory of the fight from a fight of the night candidate to a violent and exciting TKO finish. (Prediction: Prates)
Consensus: 3-0 Prates
Featherweight: Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico
Images: UFC.com & Bellator MMA
Pranav Pandey: Murphy has been tearing through the featherweight division, riding a nine-fight unbeaten streak in the UFC, a run that speaks volumes about his skill and consistency. With wins over battle-tested names like Dan Ige, Josh Emmett, and Edson Barboza, “The Miracle” has proven to be a genuine problem for anyone at 145. That said, while he’s durable and experienced, I don’t quite see him as a complete fighter or a true knockout threat. His vulnerability in takedown defense could open the door for trouble, especially against someone like Pico.
Pico enters for his UFC debut carrying the pressure of high expectations, but also the confidence of being a reliable finisher. The real question is whether he can translate that finishing ability against an opponent of Murphy’s pedigree, a level he hasn’t faced before. In my opinion, if Pico leans on his strengths and executes with precision, he could turn some heads, but getting past Murphy won’t be easy. (Prediction: Pico)
Thomas Albano: Good on Aaron Pico to receive a major opportunity for his UFC debut after losing his initial opponent in Movsar Evloev. But let’s be clear; that’s a fight that shouldn’t have been made in the first place. Evloev should be getting a featherweight title shot next. But now that’s no longer an issue, and instead Pico must deal with another unbeaten featherweight in Lerone Murphy. Murphy’s coming into this fight off a win over Josh Emmett, and he’s going to be looking for a statement win here to give himself positioning in the title picture as well.
I think everyone riding Pico’s hype train needs to pump the breaks, however. Yes, he’s got knockout power and a strong wrestling background. But he was heavily hyped when he made his professional debut in Bellator, too, and that didn’t go well. Pico’s track record may have been OK for Bellator/PFL standards, but Murphy’s track record completely blows Pico’s out of the water. I believe in Murphy’s all-around game a lot more, and after the way fellow Bellator alums Patricio Pitbull and Patchy Mix have faired in their UFC debuts, I have a lot of doubts. This may be a dog walk. (Prediction: Murphy)
Ryan Jarrell: This is going to be an interesting fight because Lerone Murphy is extremely legit but fighting as the underdog against a debuting fighter in the UFC with a ton of hype behind him. Pico is very dangerous and has the capability of being a force in this division for a long time. We have seen hyped prospects underperform in their UFC debuts time and time again and I believe we will see it one more time at UFC 319. Murphy is too well rounded and has been fighting the better competition for quite some time now. I expect him to dictate where the fight takes place and fight intelligently throughout fifteen minutes en route to a safe decision victory. (Prediction: Murphy)
Consensus: 2-1 Murphy
Middleweight Title: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: This is the type of matchup that makes the entire MMA community hold its breath, and trust me, I’m just as hyped as you are. It’s the kind of clash shrouded in pure unpredictability. Chimaev has been an unstoppable wrecking ball since the moment he stepped into the Octagon, and I genuinely believe the danger he brings to Du Plessis is very real. But here’s where I disagree with the popular narrative: people are way too quick to write off “Stillknocks.” He’s not holding that belt by accident, and by the oddsmakers, he’s still not getting the credit a champion of his caliber deserves.
“Borz” thrives in one area above all, his relentless wrestling and takedown game. For Du Plessis, surviving that storm in the opening half of the fight will be absolutely critical, and in my opinion, if anyone has the grit to weather it, it’s DDP. Many see him as chaotic and unpredictable, but I’ve always believed there’s a method to that madness. I think the real turning point of this fight will reveal itself once we cross into the championship rounds. If Du Plessis can shut down Chimaev’s wrestling by that point, the momentum could swing violently in his favor. With Chimaev’s cardio still in question, the later rounds could be where DDP takes over and finishes the job. (Prediction: Du Plessis)
Thomas Albano: Those who know me know that I have been following Dricus Du Plessis since his days in EFC Africa in 2016. I’ve been a longtime member of the DDP hype train, but this is a fight I have been debating so much with myself about. And that’s because right now I think Khamzat Chimaev has the best shot out of anyone in the division to beat him. Plus, Chimaev has history on his side –the two other men who have beaten Robert Whittaker at 185 before him (Israel Adesanya and DDP [I said before Chimaev, so Reinier de Ridder doesn’t count here]) have gone on to become champion.
Chimaev has such an amazing wrestling game, and I expect him to take DDP down right away and try to put him out as quickly as possible. That’s certainly going to be a problem for DDP, but if DDP weathers that early storm, is that going to be a problem for Chimaev? DDP’s last few fights have shown us that if the bout goes to championship rounds, he’s now able to go the full 25 minutes. Can Chimaev? The longer this fight goes, the more it favors the defending champion.
And all the pre-fight media stuff I’ve seen this, there’s something in the air. Something weird. Normally I get this feeling when a fighter is overconfident and doesn’t take their opponent seriously; that’s not what I’m getting from DDP. It feels like DDP has just the right amount of confidence from the other times he was counted out. It’s convinced others here to go with DDP…so since I’ve been a longtime member of his hype train, I should as well, shouldn’t I? (Prediction: Du Plessis)
Ryan Jarrell: This title fight is easily one of my most highly anticipated fights of the year. I cannot wait to see the chess match that takes place in this fight between two of the very best fighters on the planet right now. I expect Khamzat to start aggressive like he usually does, but will he be able to overwhelm the Champ and keep him playing defense like so many of his previous foes? I don’t expect that to be the case, as Du Plessis has proven to have the style and skillset to adapt to whomever he is fighting and find ways to fight the way he wants to. Dricus Du Plessis continues to prove the doubters wrong each and every time he climbs into the octagon and I don’t expect this fight to be any different. Dricus will weather the early storm and start to take over as the fight progresses and gets to the championship rounds. Ultimately, I see the champ winning on the scorecards in a fairly straightforward unanimous fashion. (Prediction: Du Plessis)
Consensus: 3-0 Du Plessis
That’ll do it for our UFC 319 staff picks! What do you think? Do your predictions look similar? Let us know in the comments section!
Also, you can check out the full UFC 319 card below.
Main Card:
Middleweight Championship: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Featherweight: Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico
Welterweight: Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates
Middleweight: Jared Cannonier vs. Michael Page
Flyweight: Tim Elliott vs. Kai Asakura
Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Gerald Meerschaert vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk
Women’s Strawweight: Jessica Andrade vs. Loopy Godinez
Lightweight: Chase Hooper vs. Alexander Hernandez
Lightweight: Edson Barboza vs. Drakkar Klose
Early Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Bryan Battle vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
Women’s Flyweight: Karine Silva vs. Dione Barbosa
Welterweight: TUF Finale: Rodrigo Sezinando vs. Daniil Donchenko
Flyweight: TUF Finale: Alibi Idiris vs. Joseph Morales
