UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus du Plessis faces considerable pressure and high expectations as he prepares for his next title defense.
The reigning champion is scheduled to fight the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of UFC 319 on August 16 in Chicago. This highly anticipated matchup was confirmed by UFC CEO Dana White on Tuesday. For du Plessis, this will be his first defense since claiming the title from Sean Strickland at UFC 297.
Du Plessis has solidified his position as one of the premier pound-for-pound fighters globally. His impressive resume includes capturing the title from Sean Strickland, a notable fight against middleweight icon Israel Adesanya, and finishes against seasoned veterans such as Robert Whittaker, Derek Brunson, and Darren Till. He is currently riding an impressive 11-fight winning streak that dates back to 2018.
However, Khamzat Chimaev presents potentially his toughest challenge yet. Holding a perfect professional record of 14-0, Chimaev boasts significant victories over former UFC champions Robert Whittaker and Kamaru Usman. He has finished all but two of his professional opponents. Many observers believe that only periods of inactivity have prevented Chimaev from already competing for a UFC title. He finally gets his opportunity this August.
The prospect of Chimaev finally competing for UFC gold has generated significant excitement among fans. Should du Plessis succeed in defeating him, it would undoubtedly elevate the South African star`s standing among the greatest middleweights of all time.
