Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev was never going to be a technical chess match. We knew that. It was always going to be a collision of two very different brands of chaos. Honestly, most fans expected Chimaev to either steamroll the champion early or fade into a shell by the third round. What we actually got at UFC 319 in Chicago was far more methodical and, frankly, a bit terrifying for anyone else in the 185-pound division.
The atmosphere inside the United Center on August 16, 2025, felt different. It was the UFC's first trip back to the Windy City since 2019. The gate hit over $11 million. People weren't just there for a fight; they were there to see if the "Borz" hype was finally going to be validated with undisputed gold.
The Reality of UFC 319: Why Du Plessis Couldn't Get Started
If you look at the scorecards, they tell a grim story for the former champ. 50-44 across the board. That is a rare level of dominance in a title fight. Usually, a 50-44 means someone got dropped multiple times or spent twenty minutes being a human backpack. For Dricus du Plessis, it was the latter.
Chimaev didn't just win; he suffocated the life out of the South African's game. Within ten seconds of the first round, Du Plessis was already fighting off his back. You've probably seen the highlights of Chimaev’s wrestling before, but this was different. It wasn't the frantic, high-paced scrambling we saw in the Gilbert Burns fight. It was heavy. It was punishing.
Dricus is known for his "awkward" style and incredible cardio. He usually finds a way to make fights ugly and then wins through sheer grit. But you can't be awkward when you're stapled to the canvas. Chimaev converted 12 of 17 takedowns. That is an insane clip for a five-round championship fight. Every time Dricus managed to stand up, he was immediately greeted by another double-leg or a mat return that looked like it hurt.
The Fifth Round "Hail Mary" That Almost Changed Everything
Even in a blowout, Du Plessis showed why he was the champion. By the fifth round, Chimaev was visibly slowing down. His breath was heavy. His movements were a step slower than they were in the first.
With about two minutes left, Dricus found a opening. He scrambled on top and locked in a guillotine choke. For a second, the United Center went silent. You could almost feel the collective intake of breath from 20,000 people. It looked tight. Chimaev’s face was turning a shade of purple that didn't look healthy. But then, as quickly as the hope arrived, it vanished. Chimaev kept his composure, hand-fought the grip, and slid his head out.
"I could almost taste that victory," Du Plessis admitted afterward. He wasn't lying. That one moment was the only time in twenty-five minutes that the belt wasn't firmly in Chimaev's hands.
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Breaking Down the Rest of the UFC 319 Card
While the main event was a grappling clinic, the rest of the night was basically a highlight reel for "Performance of the Night" bonuses.
- Lerone Murphy cemented himself as a serious featherweight threat. He flatlined Aaron Pico with a spinning back elbow in the first round. It was surgical.
- Carlos Prates did the exact same thing to Geoff Neal. Seriously. Two spinning back elbow KOs on one main card? That doesn't happen.
- Michael "Venom" Page actually outpointed Jared Cannonier. A lot of people thought Cannonier’s pressure would be too much, but MVP’s movement was just too elusive. He took a unanimous decision that puts him right in the mix for a big name next.
- Tim Elliott reminded everyone why he's a veteran mainstay. He submitted Kai Asakura with a guillotine in the second round, spoiling the highly anticipated debut of the Japanese star.
It wasn't all smooth sailing for the event organizers, though. The card lost a few fights during the week. King Green vs. Diego Ferreira fell through due to a Green injury. Then there was the Bryan Battle situation. He missed weight by four pounds for his fight against Nursulton Ruziboev, leading to the bout being scrapped and, surprisingly, Battle being released from the promotion.
What This Means for the Middleweight Division in 2026
Now that we’re sitting in January 2026, the landscape has shifted. Chimaev is the king, and he's already acting like he owns the place. He's been calling out Alex Pereira for a "super-fight" at the rumored White House card in June.
Is he ignoring the contenders? Sorta.
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Nassourdine Imavov is the name most people want to see him face. Imavov was the backup for UFC 319 until he decided to chase a fight with Caio Borralho instead. Now, Chimaev seems more interested in chasing a second belt than defending his first.
For Du Plessis, the road back is tough but not impossible. He’s still one of the most physically imposing guys in the division. He just ran into a wrestling buzzsaw that he couldn't figure out. A win over someone like Sean Strickland or Anthony Hernandez probably puts him right back in the conversation.
Actionable Insights for the Next Fight Cycle
If you're following the middleweight title picture heading into the rest of 2026, keep these three things in mind:
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- Watch the Grappling Stats: Chimaev's control time at UFC 319 was 84%. Anyone who wants to beat him needs to be able to get off the fence within the first 60 seconds of a round.
- The "Slow Starter" Myth: People say Chimaev gasses. He does slow down, but his "slow" pace is still more dominant than most fighters' "fast" pace. The 50-44 scorecards prove he can win rounds even when he's tired.
- Venue Matters: Chicago proved to be a massive market for the UFC again. Expect more Midwest cards as the promotion looks to diversify away from just the Apex and T-Mobile Arena in Vegas.
The era of Chimaev is officially here. Whether he defends the belt or jumps up to 205, the middleweight division hasn't felt this shaken up since the days of Anderson Silva. UFC 319 wasn't just a pay-per-view; it was a statement. Dricus du Plessis is a warrior, but on that night in Chicago, he was just a spectator to his own title loss.