''UFC 319: du Plessis vs. Chimaev'' is an upcoming

mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...

event produced by the

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor ( ...

that will take place on August 16, 2025, at the

United Center The United Center is an indoor arena on the Near West Side, Chicago, Near West Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is home to the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL) ...

Chicago, Illinois Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

Background

The event will mark the promotion's eighth visit to Chicago and first since

UFC 238 ''UFC 238: Cejudo vs. Moraes'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that was held on June 8, 2019 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Background The event was headlined by a UFC Bantamweight Champi ...

in June 2019. A

UFC Middleweight Championship Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champions are fighters who have won UFC championships. Historical notes At the time of the UFC's inception in 1993, mixed martial arts was not sanctioned in the United States, and did not include weight class ...

bout between current champion (also former KSW Welterweight Champion)

Dricus du Plessis Dricus du Plessis (born 14 January 1994), also known by his initials DDP, is a South African professional mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Middleweight (MMA), Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting ...

and undefeated contender

Khamzat Chimaev Khamzat Khizarovich Chimaev (born 1 May 1994) is an Emirati professional mixed martial artist and freestyle wrestler who currently competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). In freestyle wrestling, Chima ...

is scheduled to headline the event.

Nassourdine Imavov Nassourdine Abdoulazimovich Imavov (; born 1 March 1995) is a French professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of 11 February 2025, he is #1 in the UFC ...

was expected to serve as backup and potential replacement for this fight, but he announced a month later that it would not be the case anymore as he was angling for a fight against Caio Borralho. A welterweight bout between

Geoff Neal Geoffrey Charles Neal (born August 28, 1990) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of May 20, 2025, he is #11 in the UFC welterweight ...

and

Carlos Prates Carlos Augusto Monteiro Prates (born August 17, 1993) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai fighter. He currently competes in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of November 12, ...

is scheduled for this event. They were originally scheduled to meet at

UFC 314 ''UFC 314: Volkanovski vs. Lopes'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on April 12, 2025, at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, United States. Background The event marked the promotion' ...

in April, but Neal had to withdraw from the fight due to an injury.

Fight card

Announced bouts

* Welterweight bout:

vs.

References

{{2025 in mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship flagship events 2025 in UFC 2025 in mixed martial arts August 2025 sports events in the United States Scheduled mixed martial arts events Mixed martial arts events in Chicago 2025 in sports in Illinois Events at United Center

Background

Fight card

Announced bouts

See also

References