UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis will fight with his unbeaten challenger Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 on Saturday night.
The United Center is likely to be packed, with Chimaev supporters already making their presence felt during fight week.
Du Plessis, the 31-year-old South African champion, faced a wave of boos during the pre-fight promotion on Thursday. Fighting on U.S. soil for the first time since 2023, he remained calm despite the hostile atmosphere. “I think it’s the fact that I want to go out there and fight the best,” du Plessis said. “Remember when you’re cheering Saturday night.”
Chimaev, also 31, has not competed in the United States since 2022. The Russian remains undefeated at 14-0 overall and 8-0 in the UFC, and he enters the fight as the favorite. At the promotion, he gave fans a bold statement: “Africa never gonna see the belt again. Sorry guys.”
Odds makers agree with the public sentiment. Chimaev opened at -190 but has since shortened to -250 as betting support has surged, with 77 percent of the money backing him to dethrone the champion. Du Plessis, who sits at +200, has drawn 65 percent of the total bets despite being the underdog. The most-backed prop bet so far is du Plessis to win by knockout, TKO, or disqualification at +525, followed by a Chimaev victory via submission at +125.
For du Plessis, this will be his third title defense since becoming champion with a split-decision win over Sean Strickland in January 2024. He went on to submit Israel Adesanya in August 2024 at UFC 305 before once again edging Strickland by decision at UFC 312 in February. Now, his reign faces perhaps its toughest test in the relentless Chimaev.
Other Main Card Highlights
The night’s action features a 13-fight lineup, with five compelling matchups making up the pay-per-view card.
In the featherweight division, Lerone Murphy (16-0-1) looks to protect his unbeaten UFC record against promotional newcomer Aaron Pico (13-4). Despite his experience, Murphy is the underdog, while Pico enters as the -170 favorite backed by 62 percent of the money.
Welterweight veteran Geoff Neal (16-6) returns from a knee injury to face Carlos Prates (21-7). Prates, who recently saw his 11-fight win streak snapped, is heavily favored at -235 with 86 percent of the betting money on his side.
A crucial middleweight bout sees Jared Cannonier (18-8) take on Michael Page (23-3). Cannonier is coming off a stoppage win, while Page made headlines by handing Shara Magomedov his first UFC defeat. Page has climbed to a -210 favorite, but Cannonier has drawn strong betting support as a live underdog.
The main card opens with a flyweight clash between Tim Elliott (20-13-1) and Kai Asakura (21-5). Asakura, transitioning from RIZIN, is the biggest favorite on the card at -325 despite losing his UFC debut. Elliott, however, has the experience to make it a dangerous fight.
A Night of High Stakes
With a middleweight title on the line and a stacked undercard, UFC 319 promises fireworks. Whether du Plessis can silence the doubters or Chimaev continues his march of dominance, the fans in Chicago are set for a night to remember.
