By Penny Buffington | MMA Fight Coverage
CHICAGO, IL – UFC® returns to the Windy City with a monumental middleweight title clash as reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis puts his belt on the line against the undefeated wrecking force, No. 3-ranked Khamzat Chimaev. The title bout will headline UFC® 319: Du Plessis vs. Chimaev on Saturday, August 16 at the iconic United Center.
Also featured on the main card is a striker’s delight, as No. 7-ranked Jared Cannonier squares off with flashy British knockout artist Michael ‘Venom’ Page in what promises to be an electrifying middleweight battle.
Tickets On Sale This Week
Fight fans can secure their seats when tickets go on sale Friday, June 20 at 10 a.m. CT via Ticketmaster.com, with a limit of eight per customer. UFC Fight Club® members have early access beginning Wednesday, June 18, while UFC.com newsletter subscribers gain presale access Thursday, June 19.
Main Event: Champion vs. Undefeated Challenger
South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis (23-2) returns to the Octagon for his first title defense since an impressive run that includes victories over former champions Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker, and Sean Strickland. Known for his relentless pace and well-rounded game, Du Plessis enters the bout on a seven-year unbeaten streak.
His challenger, Khamzat Chimaev (14-0), is one of the most feared and polarizing athletes in the sport. Fighting out of the UAE by way of Chechnya, the unbeaten Chimaev has made short work of elite competition, including Robert Whittaker, Gilbert Burns, and Kamaru Usman. Now, he sets his sights on UFC gold for the first time in his career.
Co-Main: Cannonier vs. ‘MVP’
Veteran powerhouse Jared Cannonier (18-8) brings heavy artillery and experience, fresh off a TKO win over Gregory Rodrigues. The former title challenger holds wins over top-tier opponents such as Sean Strickland, Marvin Vettori, and Derek Brunson.
He’ll face off against highlight-reel finisher Michael ‘Venom’ Page (23-3), who dazzled in his UFC debut with a dominant showing against Shara Magomedov. Page’s unorthodox style and striking pedigree make him a dangerous threat to anyone at 185 pounds.
Additional Confirmed Bouts for UFC 319
- Gerald Meerschaert (37-19) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (20-9 1NC) – Middleweight
- Edson Barboza (24-12) vs. Drakkar Klose (15-3-1) – Lightweight
- Bobby ‘King’ Green (32-17-1 1NC) vs. Diego Ferreira (19-6) – Lightweight
- #12 Karine Silva (18-5) vs. #15 JJ Aldrich (14-7) – Women’s Flyweight
- Bryan Battle (13-2 1NC) vs. Nursulton Ruziboev (36-9-2 2NC) – Middleweight
- #11 Tim Elliott (21-13-1) vs. #15 Kai Asakura (21-5) – Flyweight
- Chase Hooper (16-3-1) vs. Alexander Hernandez (16-8) – Lightweight
- #5 Jessica Andrade (26-14) vs. #11 Loopy Godinez (13-5) – Women’s Strawweight
Broadcast Details
- Main Card: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on ESPN+ PPV
- Prelims: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, Disney+, and ESPN+
- Early Prelims: 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass
For up-to-the-minute fight card updates and event details, visit UFC.com. All bouts are subject to change.
