Khamzat Chimaev tore the middleweight title away from Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319, dominating the South African for a decision win on Saturday.
The unbeaten Chimaev had been touted as one of the scariest prospects in mixed martial arts since his emphatic UFC debut in 2020, but illness and travel issues slowed the Russian’s march towards a title fight. On Saturday (16 August), however, Chimaev finally got his shot, and his wrestling prowess was far too much for Du Plessis, who spent the vast majority of the five rounds – 25 minutes in all – on the canvas, trying to survive.
Chimaev, 31, scored a takedown within the first 10 seconds of the fight and succeeded with almost every subsequent takedown he tried. He secured crucifix position multiple times at Chicago’s United Center and fired off short punches, while in other moments he sought chokes and submissions.
Before almost every round, Du Plessis told his corner team, “I feel great,” and he even told them before the final round: “I’ve got this.” The spirited champion in fact ended the fight in an advantageous position, having stuffed a takedown and almost sealed a rear naked choke, but it was his only moment of success in the contest.
All three scorecards ultimately read 50-44 in Chimaev’s favour, as he ended Du Plessis’s title reign after two successful defences. Re-live all the action from the UFC 319 prelims and main card, below.
UFC 319 live
- Dominant Khamzat Chimaev tears middleweight title away from Dricus Du Plessis
- Unbeaten Russian wins 50-44 on all three scorecards, handing ‘DDP’ his first UFC loss
- Britain’s Lerone Murphy KOs Aaron Pico with hellacious spinning back elbow
- Carlos Prates also scores spinning back elbow KO against Geoff Neal
- Briton Michael ‘Venom’ Page outpoints Jared Cannonier
- Tim Elliott submits Kai Asakura in main-card opener
UFC 319 live: Khamzat Chimaev dethrones Dricus Du Plessis
06:42 , Alex Pattle
UFC 319 live: Khamzat Chimaev dethrones Dricus Du Plessis
06:27 , Alex PattleFull main-event report:
Khamzat Chimaev utterly dominates Dricus Du Plessis to usher in new era at UFC 319
UFC 319 live: Khamzat Chimaev dethrones Dricus Du Plessis
06:12 , Alex Pattle
UFC 319 live: Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev
05:56 , Alex PattleChimaev doesn’t have much of note to say, but he thanks his resident nation – the UAE – and dons a Palestinian flag.
Du Plessis: “The man has incredible control on the top, he’s just like a banket. It wasn’t a matter of strength, it was almost as if he knew what yor next move would be.
“I had to decide: am I gonna be on my back, or have him on my back? At the end, I went for it. I could almost taste victory.
“I’m coming to get my belt back, but for now it’s his, he’s got to enjoy it. I’ll be back stronger, better than ever.
“Everyone in South Africa, you know what this flag means to me.”
UFC 319 live: Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev
05:51 , Alex PattleKhamzat Chimaev def. Dricus Du Plessis via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-44)
There you have it. Every round to Chimev, and a 10-8 in there for all three judges. And new!
UFC 319 live: Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev
05:48 , Alex PattleRound five
“I’ve got this,” Du Plessis tells his team, before hyping up the crowd. He’s got a moral victory tonight, no matter what.
DDP blocks a head kick. He flies at Chimaev with a knee. Chimaev shoots for a double-leg, slips to the back, then almost German suplexes the champ from low down.
He moves into crucifix again. He tries an Americana, but Du Plessis twists free. Chimaev has his back, and a kneeling DDP tries to stand.
And eventually he does! But he’s up for about one second.
Remarkably, a scramble ends with Du Plessis on top in half-guard! He tries a guillotine, but it’s not there! He has Chimaev in his closed guard now.
Eventually, Goddard stands the fighters up. Ninety seconds to go. Du Plessis with a flurry of punches, but he eats a switch jab.
He stuffs a takedown and strikes a turtled-up Chimaev, who soon stands. He tries to drip Du Plessis, who ends up on top and seeking a rear naked choke...
He nearly has it, but can’t quite finish it! What a spirited finish by DDP, but the buzzer sounds – and the title will be Chimaev’s!
UFC 319 live: Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev
05:42 , Alex PattleRound four
Into the championship rounds, where DDP needs a miracle. He STILL tells his coaches that he feels “great”. He even taunts the pro-Chimaev crowd.
Body kick and jab upstairs by Chimaev, who then chases after Du Plessis with a single-leg. Du Plessis evades and spins, but eventually he’s caught near the fence.
He’s kneeling, and Chimaev has one hook in. DDP does well to stand, but he’s shrugged down with ease.
Again, DDP stands; again, he’s floored. Chimaev gets side mount once more and seeks the crucifix yet again.
Referee Goddard actually separates them and stands them up, with one minute left in the round, due to perceived inactivity by Chimaev, who was kneeing the body of the champ.
Chimaev catches a kick and takes down DDP again, and he throws more knees to the backside.
Boos at the buzzer. I thought this crowd like Chimaev? All well and good until the wrestling clinic, eh?
UFC 319 live: Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev
05:36 , Alex PattleRound three
Again, DDP tells his team that he feels “great”. They acknowledge that he’s two rounds down and say the fight starts now.
Another takedown shot by Chimaev, who gets Du Plessis to the fence and dumps him down with a double-leg. The South African stands, but he’s quickly dragged down again.
Chimaev has side mount and is throwing punches but also considering an arm-triangle.
Again, Chimaev gets into crucifix position and fires off short punches and a few elbows. DDP is cut now, it seems...
The strikes are doing more damage here, and ref Marc Goddard may have to think about stepping in...
One minute to go. Chimaev moves into mount. Du Plessis gives up the back and now has to defend a rear naked choke...
Du Plessis survives again.
UFC 319 live: Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev
05:29 , Alex PattleRound two
Between rounds, DDP tells his corner that he feels fine.
A high kick nearly gets through for Chimaev, who then sees a double-leg takedown thwarted. But he’s able to force DDP to the fence and take the back of the kneeling champ.
Du Plessis crawls along the cage wall. He shrugs as Chimaev knees him in the backside several times.
Chimaev goes for the rear naked choke now, but the champion does well to fight the hands for now...
Chimaev mixes in some punches, which is how he created an opening for the choke / face crank against Robert Whittaker.
One minute to go. DDP still staving off the choke well, but the threat is always there.
Du Plessis makes it to the buzzer.
UFC 319 live: Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev
05:24 , Alex PattleRound one
How long until Chimaev shoots his first takedown? Front kick first, then a double-leg inside the first five seconds or so.
DDP tries to use Chimaev’s momentum to flip him over, but Chimaev gets top position. He’s seeking a crucifix position, gets it, and fires off punches...
DDP turns his head into Chimaev to hide it. More short punches by Chimaev, though.
Now Chimaev eyes an arm-triangle choke, but DDP holds on tight to limit the Russian’s range of motion.
Chimaev moves into side control. DDP is still trying to bridge with his hips and buck off the challenger.
Eventually DDP is able to scramble, and Chimaev nearly takes the back, but Du Plessis gets free! Only for a moment, then he tries a guillotine to no avail.
The buzzer sounds. Dominant by Chimaev.
UFC 319 live: Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev
05:15 , Alex PattleBoth men are in the cage. They’re smiling at each other, as Bruce Buffer makes the introductions.
DDP looks relaxed, Chimaev intense. Chimaev walks into DDP as the champ strides to the centre of the cage during his introduction.
HERE, WE, GO! Five rounds scheduled, how many needed?
Middleweight gold on the line.
UFC 319 live: Forget everything else, this is the true fight of the year
05:10 , Alex PattleIn a few minutes, there will be more than a gale blustering through the Windy City. Chicago’s United Center will do its best to contain a hurricane of a fight – a contender for fight of the year, in fact.
In the main event of UFC 319, Dricus Du Plessis defends the middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev, in a contest that promises chaos.
It may not prove the peak of technicality inside the Octagon, but if your taste tends towards the turbulent, then savour this.
Main-event preview:
Forget everything else, Du Plessis vs Chimaev is the true fight of the year
UFC 319 live: Meet Khamzat Chimaev, the scariest fighter in UFC history
05:05 , Alex PattleIt was immediately clear that something had gone badly wrong for Robert Whittaker. Scarily wrong. Fighters do not tap quickly to face cranks, but Whittaker submitted within milliseconds of a forearm sliding across his jaw. Later, Khamzat Chimaev revealed he heard a “click” as soon as he applied the crank. Yet a “click” does not convey the gruesome reality of the injury inflicted.
Soon, a photo circulated, showing the bloody cave of Whittaker’s mouth. It looked like a mouth, anyway; it definitely contained teeth. But they were awash with crimson, and three in the bottom row were completely detached from their neighbours. These teeth were bent back at almost 90 degrees, facing the roof of the cavern.
This was not a jaw-dropping performance from Chimaev, it was a jaw-shattering one. The Russian’s career has been turbulent, with weight issues, sickness, and travel limitations thwarting him from competing regularly. Yet when he does make it to the cage, these volatilities vanish, and Chimaev becomes a frightening, single-minded beast.
Khamzat Chimaev in profile:
UFC 319 live: Lerone Murphy vs Aaron Pico
04:58 , Alex PattleLerone Murphy def. Aaron Pico via first-round KO (spinning back elbow, 3:21)
“This sport’s all about moments, and I just created one. I needed something like this.
“I said in my pre-fight interview, I will use his aggression against him.
“I’m next in line, let’s go [Alex] Volkanovski!”
Title shot next? Murphy might have sealed it with that finish.
See you in December @LeroneMurphy congrats #ufc319
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) August 17, 2025
UFC 319 live: Lerone Murphy vs Aaron Pico
04:54 , Alex PattleRound one
Pico stalks Murphy early, digs a left hook to the body, then grabs Murphy against the fence.
Murphy eventually gets free and eats another couple of body hooks, but he responds with a nice elbow up top!
Pico shoots for a takedown, seemingly partly from desperation, and Murphy tries a ninja choke... No luck.
Pico finishes a takedown, Murphy battles to his feet, then Pico completes another takedown. AGAIN Murphy stands. Spinning back kick to the body, then he blocks a high kick.
Good knee by Murphy! He lands to the body as Pico tries to grab him. This fight is being fought at 100mph.
OH, MY GOD! Murphy puts Pico out cold with a spinning back elbow!
It’s the second fight in a row tonight that’s ended with that shot, what are the chances?! A HELLACIOUS KO.
UFC 319 live: Lerone Murphy vs Aaron Pico
04:43 , Alex PattleCo-main event next!
After Aaron Pico’s planned UFC debut against Movsar Evloev fell through – with the Russian getting injured – Lerone Murphy steps in.
Mancunian Murphy is possibly one win away from a featherweight title shot, given he’s on a fine run at the moment.
But ex-Bellator star Pico could catapult himself into the title picture with a victory on his UFC debut.
Read Will Castle’s interview with Murphy:
Lerone Murphy’s mission to become Britain’s next UFC champion by the end of 2025
UFC 319 live: Carlos Prates vs Geoff Neal
04:31 , Alex PattleRound one
The heavy-handed Neal stands southpaw. Prates, the taller man, does as well.
A few low kicks by Neal early, but Prates fires back in kind. Neal catches a body kick and lets go with a few clean punches to a stuck Prates.
Neal has Prates going backwards, but the Brazilian is still kicking low on the American.
Right hook gets through for Neal! Prates rips to the body with a left uppercut.
Hard knee to the body by Prates as well! Now a left hook up top. Some good work and varied offence by Prates late in this round.
OH!! And he knocks out Neal in the final second! A spinning back elbow folds Neal – what, a, shot. Good God.
Carlos Prates def. Geoff Neal via first-round knockout (spinning back elbow, 4:59)
UFC 319 live: Jared Cannonier vs Michael ‘Venom’ Page
04:10 , Alex PattleMichael “Venom” Page def. Jared Cannonier via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
The right call.
MVP (a former Bellator welterweight) moves to 2-0 at middleweight after his 1-1 welterweight venture in the UFC.
He and Cannonier show plenty of mutual respect, before Joe Rogan interviews Page, who says he could still return to 170lb.
Stay up at 185lb, Michael!
UFC 319 live: Jared Cannonier vs Michael ‘Venom’ Page
04:06 , Alex PattleRound three
Final round. Decent counter uppercut by Cannonier, as Page comes forward with a flurry.
Now Page overcommits to a cross, and Cannonier is able to time a takedown!
The American is straight into half-guard. He’s able to move into mount and land a big right hand. Back into half-guard, though, as Page recovers the position.
Now Cannonier is trying a Kimura... but Page is able to free his arm. Ninety seconds left. It’s an arm-triangle effort by Cannonier this time... No joy there, either.
Elbow from Cannonier, though! The buzzer sounds atfer another one.
That was a dominant round for Cannonier, while MVP clearly won the first; will that flash knockdown in round two be enough to seal the win for Page?
UFC 319 live: Jared Cannonier vs Michael ‘Venom’ Page
03:59 , Alex PattleRound two
Hard low kick by Cannonier. Page switches stances back and forth.
Cannonier backs him up to the fence, but Page blitzes his way off the wall and drops the American again! A few short punches landed, then there was a semi-shove.
Again, Cannonier is quickly back up; the two knockdowns have been flash ones.
Cannonier is able to clinch MVP against the fence again, then trip him! Cannonier is a big, strong guy, but I think he’s been surprised by how strong the tall, lanky Page is – but the trip was a nice switch-up.
Page stands, and he gets free in the final seconds of the round.
UFC 319 live: Jared Cannonier vs Michael ‘Venom’ Page
03:53 , Alex PattleRound one
In the simplest terms: it’s the power of Cannonier, a former heavyweight and light-heavyweight, against the speed and range management of “MVP”, a former kickboxer. That said, Cannonier might mix in some wrestling tonight.
Lots of taunts from Page early on, as he pretends to dribble a basketball between his legs. Cannonier pushes forward undeterred.
The American catches a side kick from Page but can’t complete a takedown. He does force the Briton to the cage wall, though. Page eventually shakes off Cannonier.
OH! Page drops Cannonier with a wicked right hand! Cannonier pops back up, but he’s taunted by MVP, who’s motioning for the American to calm down...
Cannonier ducks under a cross and clinches Page, forcing him to the fence. MVP with a right overhook, while he uses his left hand to neutralise Cannonier’s right.
MVP creates space in the final seconds of the round.
UFC 319 live: Jared Cannonier vs Michael ‘Venom’ Page
03:44 , Alex PattleA middleweight appetiser next, with former title challenger Jared Cannonier taking on Britain’s Michael “Venom” Page.
Here’s our interview with “MVP” from this week:
‘MVP’ on the frustrations that led to his surprising UFC 319 decision
UFC 319 live: Kai Asakura vs Tim Elliott
03:31 , Alex PattleRound two
Left hook gets through for Asakura. Elliott responds with one of his own.
Asakura with a leaping knee attempt, but Elliott evades. He stalks the Japanese star now. Oh! Counter right hand lands for Asakura.
Elliott shoots for a takedown from range, and he manages to complete it with a bit of improvisation! He quickly tries to take the back, but Asakura stands and is able to shake him off.
But now, out in the open, a well-timed double-leg by Elliott! Asakura closes his guard at once.
Elliott is able to pass to mount and work on a guillotine... Forty-five seconds left in the round...
And Asakura taps!!
Tim Elliott def. Kai Asakura via second-round submission (guillotine choke, 4:39)
UFC 319 live: Kai Asakura vs Tim Elliott
03:25 , Alex PattleRound one
Asakura stands orthodox. Elliott bounces from orthodox to southpaw and back, early on. He feints a spinning back kick, then flicks out a front kick.
Asakura times a left hook around a kick, but he’s out of range with a cross. Lots of awkward movement from Elliott, who was a title challenger nine years ago, when Demetrious Johnson reigned.
Asakura testing Elliott’s chin in the opening minutes. He steps back to neutralise an instinctive single-leg attempt, then lands a right cross.
Every now and then, Elliott is dipping, risking getting caught with one of Asakura’s signature knees. Slapping right hook from Elliott from a southpaw stance.
Now somewhat of a cartwheel kick from Elliott, who then catches a high kick by Asakura and dumps him to the mat! A couple of elbows from side mount.
Asakura actually throws a series of punches from below, before standing just before the buzzer. Likely his round.
UFC 319 live: Susurkaev vs Nolan
02:45 , Alex PattleRound two
Oh! Early in round two, Nolan is hurt by a high kick, but he fires back quickly!
Now a low kick by Susurkaev, and Nolan clutches his own knee... He’s then taken down!
Susurkaev is working on an arm-triangle, but Nolan manages to free himself... only to be flattened out on his stomach. Susurkaev has submission options AND ground and pound opportunities.
And he gets a rear naked choke!!
Baysangur Susurkaev def. Eric Nolan via second-round submission (rear naked choke, 2:01)
UFC 319 live: Meerschaert vs Oleksiejczuk
02:16 , Alex PattleRound one
Meerschaert was unfortunately the victim of Chimaev’s 17-second knockout in 2020.
Both men stand southpaw. Oleksiejczuk with a grazing one-two early. He backs up Meerschaert, who tries a single-leg but backs out. Meerschaert shoots again but is denied.
Another takedown denied by Oleksiejczuk, who then tags Meerschaert with a left hook, and “GM3” is dazed! He stumbles to his back, on the mat, and half-hopes Oleksie will follow him to the canvas.
No dice, and Meerschaert stands.
Oh! But he’s soon dropped again – this time by a cross – and he’s finished by heavy hammer fists!
Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Gerald Meerschaert via first-round TKO (punches and hammer fists, 3:03)
UFC 319 live: Prelim results so far tonight
02:09 , Alex PattleLoopy Godinez def. Jessica Andrade via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Alexander Hernandez def. Chase Hooper via first-round TKO (4:58)
Drakkar Klose def. Edson Barboza via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Karine Silva def. Dione Barbosa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Joseph Morales def. Alibi Idris via second-round submission (triangle choke, 3:04)
