Long-Awaited Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev Banger Confirmed for UFC’s Chicago Return

The highly anticipated PPV title bout between champion Dricus Du Plessis and dangerous Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 has been scheduled.

Long-Awaited Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev Banger Confirmed for UFC’s Chicago Return

Dricus Du Plessis Vs. Khamzat Chimaev PPV title barnburner at UFC 319 gets date and location (Source: X)

A banger matchup between Dricus Du Plessis Vs. Khamzat Chimaev has been on the MMA wish list for a long time now. Those in the fan clique waiting for it to happen have good news and a fixed date and location; UFC 319: “Du Plessis vs. Chimaev” is confirmed as a PPV title booking, taking shape this August 16, United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Veteran journo for @Sportsnet Canada, Aaron Bronsteter, reported the matter on his socials. SBNation Network and others also picked up the chatter later on Tuesday. The UFC middleweight title shot was long-time coming as Khamzat Chimaev has had top seed promise thrice now. Having cleared out ex-champs in title bookings, the champ has wanted the Chimaev matchup.

Stylistically, this was also the skills test to make for both fighters and quite the security option for guaranteed PPV banger; UFC 185-pound champ Dricus Du Plessis has a weird head-first charge in a berserker style of striking. The Afrikaner mixes up K-1 style kickboxing with bits and pieces of anti-wrestling. DDP also used to be WAKO World Championships medalist as well.

Meanwhile, the “Borz” touts a similar berserker style of freestyle wrestling, coupled with frantic but apt striking outputs. Those, like perennial contender Robert Whittaker (Borz blew him out at the UFC 308 via face-crack), often warn about his tricky and monstrous force and style.

This one at UFC 319 is to excite fans for sure; recently, the duo has been going at each other, bantering at full force. Du Plessis, specifically, is well known and infamous for making it interesting with his unhinged pre-fight tactics. Another thing amping up the stakes is that the UFC 319 PPV has a backup fighter no more!

UFC 319 has ‘no backup anymore’ as top contender dumps championship bout for Caio Borralho challenge

Dricus Du Plessis initially also kept his eye out for No.1-ranked backup fighter Nassourdine Imavov. The French middleweight earned his PPV backup spot with a high and heavy KO of former champ Israel Adesanya at UFC Saudi Arabia.

Top contender drops Dricus Du Plessis Vs. Khamzat Chimaev for personal rivalry
Top contender drops Dricus Du Plessis Vs. Khamzat Chimaev for personal rivalry (Source: X)

Adesanya perches at #3 in Significant Strikes in active 185-pound competition and is a bona fide name with a 5-0 title defense in his first reign. While DDP momentarily swayed towards the exciting Khamzat Chimaev option, this was always a potent name, and Imavov meant to prove that if the Chechen fighter pulled out again.

With Borz having multiple failed bookings and camp illness, UFC execs were forced to slate the No. 1-ranked middleweight as a backup, early on. However, now that the match has a fixed date and locale, Imavov has other plans; he wants #6 middleweight Caio Borralho, who lambasted him for turning away from a 185-pound title eliminator before UFC 319.

Brazil’s Fighting Nerd product Borralho was a 2024 season standout and meant to keep the momentum going, climbing the contention ladder. Hence, he ripped “French Spy” Imavov, born out of Khasavyurt, Dagestan originally, for not maintaining his Dagestan rigor and honor. Seemingly, said Frenchman is fed up, and this is the way to go.

There is a chance that Imavov vs. Borralho gets made for the UFC 319 fight card as it would likely determine the next title challenger for the main event winner. So far, the lineup consists of some big names.

— Champ Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev, topping off a PPV title scrapper
— Tim Elliott vs. Kai Asakura in his sophomore match
— Jared Cannonier vs. Michael “Venom” Page

— King Green vs. Diego Ferreira
— Edson Barboza vs. Drakkar Klose
— Karine Silva vs. JJ Aldrich
— Alexander Hernandez vs. Chase Hooper
— Nursulton Ruziboev vs. Bryan Battle
— Jessica Andrade vs. Loopy Godinez
— Gerald Meerschaert vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk

So, when the title fighters make their walk at 10 p.m. ET for UFC 319 PPV main card, it would once again run the risk of a Borz pullout. Khmazat Chimaev has had a long strain of those over the years. For now, the lineup is subjected to change, just like every UFC cards.

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