UFC 319: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev - Fight Breakdown
Full details and highlights from the epic middleweight title clash at UFC 319 on August 16, 2025, in Chicago
UFC 319 Main Event Overview
UFC 319, held on August 16, 2025, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, featured a highly anticipated middleweight championship bout between defending champion Dricus Du Plessis (23-2) and undefeated challenger Khamzat Chimaev (15-0). This marked the first UFC event in Chicago since 2019, drawing massive attention due to both fighters entering with win streaks of at least eight fights, a rare occurrence in UFC history. Below is a detailed breakdown of the main event, key moments, and other notable fights from the card.
Main Event: Khamzat Chimaev def. Dricus Du Plessis
Middleweight Championship Result
Result: Unanimous Decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-44) - Chimaev wins the UFC Middleweight Title
Khamzat Chimaev delivered a dominant performance, outclassing Dricus Du Plessis over five rounds to claim the UFC middleweight championship. Chimaev landed 12 of 17 takedown attempts, securing the second-most takedowns in a UFC middleweight fight since 2015. He controlled the fight for 21:40 of the 25-minute bout, outstriking Du Plessis 529-45. Despite Du Plessis' resilience and a late rally in the fifth round, Chimaev’s relentless grappling and pressure earned him a unanimous decision victory, marking Du Plessis’ first UFC loss.
Fans had mixed reactions, with some praising Chimaev’s technical mastery while others criticized the fight as “boring” due to its wrestling-heavy nature. Social media posts reflected frustration over the lack of a finish, with one fan stating, “Chimaev is a beast, but this was a miserable watch” (@ImCAntonio, August 17, 2025). Du Plessis later remarked, “He was just like a blanket,” acknowledging Chimaev’s suffocating control.
Fight Background and Build-Up
Dricus Du Plessis entered UFC 319 with a 9-0 UFC record, having captured the middleweight title from Sean Strickland in 2024 and defending it against Israel Adesanya and Strickland in a rematch. Known for his awkward striking and relentless pressure, Du Plessis was confident, dismissing Chimaev’s wrestling dominance by stating, “This is MMA, not a wrestling match” (@ChampRDS, August 6, 2025). His coach at Xtreme Couture, Eric Nicksick, boldly claimed they would “f*** him up in his game,” criticizing Chimaev’s stand-up as unworthy of a pro license (@ChampRDS, August 9, 2025).
Khamzat Chimaev, ESPN’s No. 2 middleweight, was undefeated at 14-0, with notable wins over Robert Whittaker (submission) and Kamaru Usman (decision). Despite health setbacks, Chimaev’s aggressive style and finishing ability made him a heavy favorite at -180 odds, compared to Du Plessis at +150. The pre-fight tension was palpable, with UFC CEO Dana White mediating the press conference due to the electric atmosphere in Chicago.
Notable Main Card Fights
Featherweight: Lerone Murphy def. Aaron Pico
Result: KO (Spinning Back Elbow) at 3:21 of Round 1
Lerone Murphy welcomed Aaron Pico to the UFC with a spectacular spinning back elbow KO, earning a $50,000 bonus. Murphy, undefeated, called out featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski post-fight.
Welterweight: Carlos Prates def. Geoff Neal
Result: KO (Spinning Back Elbow) at 4:59 of Round 1
Carlos Prates stunned Geoff Neal with a spinning back elbow KO in the final second of Round 1, also earning a $50,000 bonus. This marked the first UFC event with two spinning back elbow KOs on the same card.
Middleweight: Michael Page def. Jared Cannonier
Result: Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Michael “Venom” Page used his speed and striking variety to outpoint Jared Cannonier, dropping him twice to secure a unanimous decision victory.
Flyweight: Tim Elliott def. Kai Asakura
Result: Submission (Guillotine) at 4:39 of Round 2
Veteran Tim Elliott upset Kai Asakura with a mounted guillotine submission, marking a significant moment in his career after a year-long layoff.
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Analysis and Fan Reactions
Chimaev’s performance was technically brilliant, with 12 takedowns and over 21 minutes of control time, but it drew criticism for lacking entertainment value. Fans on X expressed disappointment, with comments like, “Chimaev is boring, fighters like him are ruining UFC” (@ElB707, August 17, 2025) and “If you wrestle for 25 minutes and can’t submit, you should lose” (@BarstoolBigCat, August 17, 2025). Despite the backlash, Chimaev’s victory solidified his status as a dominant force, becoming the third undefeated UFC middleweight champion.
Du Plessis, despite the loss, showed heart, particularly in the fifth round, but couldn’t counter Chimaev’s grappling. The event also highlighted the rise of Lerone Murphy and Carlos Prates, whose KOs stole the show. UFC 319 set the stage for future title challenges, with Chimaev likely facing top contenders like Sean Strickland or Israel Adesanya next.
How to Watch UFC 319
UFC 319 was broadcast live on ESPN+ PPV for the main card at 10 p.m. ET, with prelims on ESPN and ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, and early prelims on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass at 6 p.m. ET. The PPV cost $79.99 for ESPN+ subscribers. Fans in the UK could watch via TNT Sports and Discovery+, while global audiences accessed the event through UFC Fight Pass.
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