UFC President Dana White has officially announced the highly anticipated middleweight championship fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev, scheduled for August. This clash has been expected since Du Plessis claimed the title from Sean Strickland last year. Following two successful defenses, the South African champion is now set to face Chimaev in one of the most eagerly awaited matchups of the year.
The title fight will headline UFC 319 on August 16, taking place at the United Center in Chicago. White revealed this and several other significant fight bookings during a recent Instagram live session, which also included confirming the main event for UFC 317 during International Fight Week.
Recent rumors suggesting a potential injury to Du Plessis that might delay his next fight, possibly impacting International Fight Week, have been put to rest. The confirmation of the Chicago date indicates that those concerns were resolved, allowing the pair to sign on as headliners.
For Khamzat Chimaev, this fight marks his return to competition in the United States for the first time since September 2022. His last US appearance was against Kevin Holland at UFC 279, an event notably altered when Chimaev failed to make weight for his scheduled bout against Nate Diaz. Since that time, Chimaev has competed annually in Abu Dhabi, securing notable victories over former world champions Kamaru Usman in 2023 and Robert Whittaker in 2024.
Other Fight Announcements from Dana White
The announcement of the UFC 319 main event wasn`t the only news shared by Dana White during his latest appearance on Instagram Live. Known for making surprise announcements to his substantial social media following, White delivered updates on several other divisions.
While the heavyweight picture involving Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall remains uncertain, White did provide clarity on the lightweight title scene, confirming that Ilia Topuria will face Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 317.
Additionally, White announced that Shara Magomedov is slated to return to action on the undercard of the Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier De Ridder bout set for UFC Abu Dhabi.
Jack Thornley