Overview

• Dricus du Plessis and undefeated challenger Khamzat Chimaev will collide for the UFC middleweight title at UFC 319 in Chicago’s United Center on August 16
• Reinier de Ridder, a top-ranked contender and UFC 319 backup fighter, said he views Chimaev as an “easier fight to prepare for” compared to du Plessis’s unorthodox style
• Brendan Schaub projected that the winner could chase titles in up to three divisions, pointing to du Plessis’s size as suited for light heavyweight and potentially heavyweight
• Sean O’Malley backed Chimaev based on his dominant UFC wins, while fellow backup fighter Caio Borralho argued that du Plessis would gain the upper hand if the bout goes into the later rounds
• Chimaev enters on a perfect 14-0 record with notable victories over Robert Whittaker and Kamaru Usman, while du Plessis aims for his third middleweight defense following wins over Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland