UFC President Dana White has officially announced that Dricus Du Plessis will defend his middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev this August.
This highly anticipated clash has been brewing since Du Plessis captured the belt from Sean Strickland earlier this year. Now, the South African champion is slated to put his title on the line against Chimaev in a significant upcoming bout.
The fight is scheduled for August 16th at the United Center in Chicago, headlining UFC 319. Dana White made this and other significant announcements during a recent Instagram Live session.
Fight Details and Chimaev`s Return
This bout marks Khamzat Chimaev`s first fight in the United States since September 2022. His last appearance there was at UFC 279, notable for him missing weight significantly for a planned fight against Nate Diaz, leading to a major reshuffling of the event`s card.
Since UFC 279, Chimaev has competed exclusively in Abu Dhabi, securing victories over former champions Kamaru Usman (2023) and Robert Whittaker (2024).
Additional Announcements
The confirmation of Du Plessis vs. Chimaev was part of a series of announcements made by Dana White during his recent Instagram Live session, where he frequently reveals breaking fight news.
While updates on the heavyweight situation regarding Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall remain scarce, White did announce the main event for UFC 317: Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira.
Additionally, he confirmed that Shara Magomedov is set to fight at UFC Abu Dhabi on the undercard featuring Robert Whittaker vs Reinier De Ridder.
Percy Harlow