Du Plessis to defend title against Chimaev at UFC 319

Middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis will put his title on the line against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev, the No 3 ranked contender in his fight title fight, in the main event at UFC 319 on 16 August in Chicago.

South Africa's Du Plessis (23-2), who claimed the title with a split-decision victory over Sean Strickland in January 2024 and has not lost since October 2018, will attempt to knock Chimaev from the ranks of the unbeaten.

In a unanimous decision in February, Du Plessis won the rematch against Strickland and also has victories over former titleholders Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker.

Chimaev (14-0) is coming off a first-round submission of Whittaker in October and has also taken down Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman.

Chimaev, who fights out of the United Arab Emirates by way of Chechnya, Russia, is a powerful wrestler and striker who has six submission victories under his belt.

Also on the bill is a middleweight bout pitting No 7 ranked contender Jared Cannonier (18-8) of Glendale, Arizona, against Michael "Venom" Page (23-3) of London, England.

Coming off an impressive TKO of Gregory Rodrigues in February, Cannonier is a perennial middleweight contender looking for a shot at the Top 5 and boasts wins over Strickland, Derek Brunson and Marvin Vettori.

Already holding wins over Paul Daley, Douglas Lima and Kevin Holland, Page notched an impressive victory over Shara Magomedov in February via unanimous decision, and looks to improve his chances to earn a title shot with a win over Cannonier.

UFC 312 MAIN CARD:

Dricus Du Plessis v Khamzat Chimaev, middleweight

Jared Cannonier v Michael "Venom" Page, middleweight

Gerald Meerschaert v Michal Oleksiejczuk, middleweight

Edson Barboza v Drakkar Klose, lightweight

King Green v Diego Ferreira, lightweight

Karine Silva v JJ Aldrich, women's flyweight

Bryan Battle v Nursulton Ruziboev, middleweight

Tim Elliott v Kai Asakura, flyweight

Chase Hooper v Alexander Hernandez, lightweight

Jessica Andrade v Loopy Godinez, women's strawweight