Middleweight champ Dricus Du Plessis puts belt on the line against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319
Middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis will put his belt on the line for the third time against one of the most feared pound-for-pound fighters on the UFC roster.
Article content
Du Plessis (23-2) will face Khamzat Chimaev (14-0) at a sold-out United Center on Saturday night at UFC 319 as the event returns to Chicago for the first time in more than six years.
Article content
Article content
The blockbuster main event features Du Plessis, who defeated Sean Strickland in a split decision at UFC 297, and defended the belt by beating Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 with a fourth-round submission. The South African beat Strickland in a rematch by unanimous decision at UFC 312 to extend his win streak to 11.
Article content
Article content
Chimaev quickly gained UFC lore when he joined the organization in 2020 and secured three finishes in 66 days. However, Chimaev struggled with illness and became less active. Despite this, he continues to instill fear in his opponents with his violent finishes, including shattering middleweight contender Robert Whittaker's jaw with a face crank submission in his last fight at UFC 308 in October 2024.
Article content
'This fight is massive and Khamzat is an incredibly good fighter, but what people are going to be saying is the same thing they said after every single one of my fights: He did it again,' Du Plessis said. 'I will not doubt him again, same old, same old.'
Article content
Chimaev has a simple plan for Saturday and is done with all of the pre-fight talk.
Article content
'Whatever he says, I don't care about. All of the fighters talk, but nothing is going to change,' Chimaev said. 'Everyone has to fight in the cage anyway. Whatever he says, I don't care about. I come here to beat him up and take my money and go home.'
Article content
Article content
Even with the middleweight championship on the line for the two 31-year-old fighters, the bout serves as a legacy for both men and the UFC.
Article content
'You have two of the best in the world right now, in their prime, for the title. This is one of the best fights we've had in a long time,' UFC president Dana White said Thursday at a raucous news conference attended by fight fans, who heavily booed Du Plessis.
Article content
Chimaev had to pull out of a fight with Leon Edwards in December 2020. It was first rescheduled in 2021 and then rescheduled for March 2021, but Chimaev was not healthy enough to fight. He was unable to make weight for a welterweight fight against Nate Diaz at UFC 279 in September 2022 and was rescheduled to a 180 catchweight fight against Kevin Holland on the same night.
Article content
'It's good to see that my opponent is healthy. All of the questions are about whether he is going to show up. It never bothered me, but I know it was a question for everyone,' Du Plessis said. 'I think it is the hype of this fight. People want to see the two best fighters in the world go at it. And that's why this fight is so big. A lot of times it's just not possible to get the two best guys right now because one is injured, and sometimes the two best guys in the world don't want to fight each other.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler on injured list with blood clot in right arm
The Philadelphia Phillies placed ace Zack Wheeler on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a blood clot in his right arm. Dave Dombrowski, the team's president of baseball operations, said following Saturday's 2-0 loss to the hometown Washington Nationals that Wheeler had been diagnosed with a "right upper extremity blood clot." "There's not a lot that we can say on it at this time," said Dombrowski, who commended doctors for finding the clot. "It could have been a much more trying situation than it is." Phillies head athletic trainer Paul Buchheit said Wheeler had been feeling better after some right shoulder soreness caused him to push back a start earlier this month. But that changed Friday. "He felt a little heaviness," Buchheit said. "So, the doctors here were great in helping to diagnose and expedite that diagnosis this morning." Buchheit said he didn't think Wheeler's present condition had anything to do with his previous stiffness. He said there is a wide variety of treatments available but declined to get into specifics. Dombrowski said Wheeler would be evaluated further in Philadelphia. Wheeler pitched for the National League East leaders on Friday and was limited to five innings for the second consecutive start. The right-hander allowed two runs and four hits at Washington. 'Scary situation' The 35-year-old Wheeler, who made his third all-star team last month, is 10-5 with a 2.71 earned-run average in 24 starts this season. He has a major league-high 195 strikeouts in 149 2/3 innings. He has thrown at least 192 innings in three of the previous four seasons. Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber said it was most important to get Wheeler back healthy. "It's a scary situation, right? … Just want to get him back in here and hear from him," Schwarber said. "Hopefully it's not going to be too serious. Get him in here and get him healthy. "You know, baseball is baseball, and when it comes to someone's health like that, we need him healthy first. You know, he's got a family, so we want to get him feeling good for them and get him back to speed whenever we can." The Phillies will activate right-hander Aaron Nola from the injured list to start Sunday against the Nationals. Philadelphia planned to go to a six-man rotation with Nola's return, but instead will stick with a conventional five-man approach. "Because we're adding Nola tomorrow, everybody's getting sort of getting an extra day," manager Rob Thomson said. "Then we have an off day [Thursday], and we get another extra day. We're in good shape and that's why you have depth." "We don't know the timeline," Thomson said. "I'm thinking a lot about Zack and his family, because it's not a hamstring injury or something like that. But I feel good about the depth that we have. If we have to go to a sixth, it could be [prospect Andrew] Painter. It could be somebody else. We just have to carry on."
Toronto Sun
2 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
Chimaev wins UFC middleweight belt by unanimous decision
Published Aug 17, 2025 • 3 minute read Joe Rogan talks to Khamzat Chimaev of the United Arab Emirates after his middleweight title bout victory in UFC 319 at the United Center on August 16, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Photo by Geoff Stellfox / Getty Images CHICAGO (AP) — Khamzat Chimaev continued his dominance in the UFC, capturing the middleweight belt on Saturday night by defeating Dricus Du Plessis by unanimous decision at UFC 319. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account With a smile on his face, Chimaev (15-0) shot out of his corner in the first round with a takedown of Du Plessis (23-3) in the opening seconds and had Du Plessis on his back for almost the entire first round. Despite the ground control by Chimaev, Du Plessis avoided significant damage in the first round. Chimaev continued with takedowns in the second and third rounds, and Chimaev's grappling skills took their toll on Du Plessis in the third round, where Chimaev landed a series of blows while Du Plessis was on his back. Chimaev continued the ground game on Du Plessis in the fourth round. Chimaev, who has alluded a championship fight since joining the UFC in 2020, gave credit to Du Plessis for challenging him. 'That guy is tough to finish. Respect that guy. (Du Plessis) was the only champion to say 'I'm in.' This guy has a big heart,' said Chimaev. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Du Plessis showed life late in the fifth round with a takedown and attempted a guillotine, but it was too little too late. For most of the fight, it was a complete domination of the former champ. 'Nobody wants to be in a crucifix getting punched in the head like that. It's got to be the most frustrating, suck the heart and soul out of you. Just getting dominated on the ground like the way he did is no fun for everybody,' UFC president Dana White said. All three judges scored the fight 50-44. 'At the end, I went for it, had the back. I can almost taste the victory. He beat me fair and square tonight; he was the better man tonight. I'll be back,' said Du Plessis. The UFC returned to Chicago for the first time in six years, making it the highest-grossing event at the United Center. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The main card featured two spinning elbow first-round finishes by Carlos Prates and Lerone Murphy. In the co-main event, Murphy (17-0-1), who took the fight on three weeks' notice, held off an early rush from Aaron Pico (13-5) with a right spinning elbow to end Pico's night with a loss in his UFC debut in the featherweight division. Murphy, with his brilliant finish, put himself in a position to face Alex Volkanovski for the featherweight belt. Prates (22-7) won spectacularly in the first round with the ninth spinning elbow finish in UFC history by knocking out Geoff Neal (16-7), rebounding from his loss to Ian Machado Garry in April. It was the first time Neal suffered a knockout loss. White promised Prates a fight in his home country on Oct. 11 in Rio de Janeiro. Michael Page (24-3) dropped Jared Cannonier (19-10) by knocking him down with a right hand in the first round and sent him back to the ground in the second round with a combination to win by unanimous decision in the middleweight fight. Timothy Elliott (22-13-1) opened the five-fight main card with a guillotine finish in the second round over Kai Askura (21-6). Askura had his way with Elliott most of the first round by outstriking the veteran, but a late takedown in the first round changed the momentum, leading to an upset win for Elliott in the flyweight division. Columnists Sunshine Girls CFL Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA
National Post
2 hours ago
- National Post
Chimaev wins UFC middleweight belt by unanimous decision
CHICAGO (AP) — Khamzat Chimaev continued his dominance in the UFC, capturing the middleweight belt on Saturday night by defeating Dricus Du Plessis by unanimous decision at UFC 319. Article content With a smile on his face, Chimaev (15-0) shot out of his corner in the first round with a takedown of Du Plessis (23-3) in the opening seconds and had Du Plessis on his back for almost the entire first round. Article content Article content Article content Despite the ground control by Chimaev, Du Plessis avoided significant damage in the first round. Article content Chimaev continued with takedowns in the second and third rounds, and Chimaev's grappling skills took their toll on Du Plessis in the third round, where Chimaev landed a series of blows while Du Plessis was on his back. Article content Chimaev continued the ground game on Du Plessis in the fourth round. Article content Chimaev, who has alluded a championship fight since joining the UFC in 2020, gave credit to Du Plessis for challenging him. Article content 'That guy is tough to finish. Respect that guy. (Du Plessis) was the only champion to say 'I'm in.' This guy has a big heart,' said Chimaev. Article content Du Plessis showed life late in the fifth round with a takedown and attempted a guillotine, but it was too little too late. Article content For most of the fight, it was a complete domination of the former champ. Article content 'Nobody wants to be in a crucifix getting punched in the head like that. It's got to be the most frustrating, suck the heart and soul out of you. Just getting dominated on the ground like the way he did is no fun for everybody,' UFC president Dana White said. Article content Article content All three judges scored the fight 50-44. Article content 'At the end, I went for it, had the back. I can almost taste the victory. He beat me fair and square tonight; he was the better man tonight. I'll be back,' said Du Plessis. Article content The UFC returned to Chicago for the first time in six years, making it the highest-grossing event at the United Center. Article content The main card featured two spinning elbow first-round finishes by Carlos Prates and Lerone Murphy. Article content In the co-main event, Murphy (17-0-1), who took the fight on three weeks' notice, held off an early rush from Aaron Pico (13-5) with a right spinning elbow to end Pico's night with a loss in his UFC debut in the featherweight division. Murphy, with his brilliant finish, put himself in a position to face Alex Volkanovski for the featherweight belt. Article content Prates (22-7) won spectacularly in the first round with the ninth spinning elbow finish in UFC history by knocking out Geoff Neal (16-7), rebounding from his loss to Ian Machado Garry in April.
