Overview

• Dricus du Plessis issued a lengthy Instagram statement accepting his UFC 319 loss, congratulating Khamzat Chimaev and promising a determined comeback.
• Paulo Costa says he prefers facing du Plessis over Israel Adesanya, claims positive talks with Dana White and Hunter Campbell, and targets a November or December matchup.
• Costa criticized Chimaev’s control-heavy style as bad for viewers, while insisting his own wrestling defense would prevent a similar fight if they ever meet.
• Khabib Nurmagomedov defended Chimaev’s decision not to chase a finish, calling it a calculated choice to conserve energy and protect dominant positions in a title fight.
• Analyst Dominick Cruz argued the bout exposed a major grappling gap and said six months likely won’t be enough for du Plessis to close it, as the UFC eyes Imavov–Borralho on Sept. 6 and de Ridder–Hernandez on Oct. 11 for contender stakes.