Overview

• Dricus Du Plessis makes his third middleweight title defense against undefeated challenger Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 on August 16 in Chicago’s sold-out United Center.
• The champion insists he can sustain a high pace for all five rounds, setting up a tactical battle against Chimaev’s early wrestling and finishing prowess.
• Chimaev, a -220 betting favorite versus Du Plessis’s +180, has dismissed retirement rumors and signaled intentions to defend the title rapidly.
• UFC president Dana White has predicted the main event will earn Fight of the Night honors, underscoring expectations for an instant classic.
• A tense press-conference face-off required White to physically separate the fighters, amplifying the bout’s personal stakes.