UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis has embraced his underdog status against undefeated challenger Khamzat Chimaev, agreeing he’s become the championship-caliber fighter many predicted Chimaev would be. Ahead of their UFC 319 title clash in Chicago, the South African champion dismissed betting odds and emphasized his unique fighting style while framing the bout as essential for his legacy goals.
Dricus ‘Stillknocks’ du Plessis (21-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC), the reigning middleweight champion, faces Khamzat ‘Borz’ Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in what marks du Plessis’ third title defense. Both fighters enter with perfect UFC records, creating one of 2025’s most anticipated matchups. The champion has previously defeated elite opponents like Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker as an underdog.
The core development centers on du Plessis’ pre-fight media comments where he directly addressed the narrative that he’s fulfilled Chimaev’s prophesied championship destiny. ‘Saying that I became everything people thought Khamzat would be, I agree with that,’ du Plessis stated. He attributes this to being ‘built differently’ and sees the fight as validation of his unconventional path to the top.
This championship bout headlines UFC 319 at Chicago’s United Center on Saturday, August 16, 2025. The fighters’ confrontation occurred during pre-event media activities in Chicago on August 12, with du Plessis’ comments published across major sports outlets within 24 hours. The event marks UFC’s return to Chicago after a six-year absence.
Du Plessis actively pursued this matchup, bypassing an immediate Sean Strickland rematch to face Chimaev. He frames it as essential for his ‘greatest of all time’ aspirations: ‘To be the greatest, it’s about who you beat while you were there.’ The champion also highlighted their resume disparity, noting his nine UFC wins (including four former champions) versus Chimaev’s eight (two former champions).
The champion plans to counter Chimaev’s wrestling prowess with his signature unorthodox pressure fighting style, which he describes as uniquely effective in MMA contexts. ‘It’s not wrestling and it’s not grappling. It’s MMA,’ du Plessis explained, emphasizing his ability to sense and exploit opponents’ breaking points. His strategy involves weathering early storms to capitalize on Chimaev’s untested late-round endurance.
This matchup significantly impacts the middleweight division’s future, potentially elevating the winner to pound-for-pound elite status. For du Plessis, victory solidifies his championship legitimacy against a hyped contender; for Chimaev, it fulfills long-delayed title expectations. The bout also represents a style clash between du Plessis’ chaotic pressure and Chimaev’s systematic dominance.
The winner will likely face top contender Robert Whittaker or Paulo Costa later in 2025. Beyond immediate title implications, a dominant performance could position either fighter for crossover stardom. Du Plessis specifically aims to leverage a win toward his ‘GOAT’ objectives, while Chimaev seeks to validate years of championship hype surrounding his undefeated record.