Khamzat Chimaev dethroned Dricus Du Plessis to claim the middleweight title. Michael Bisping, former UFC middleweight champion and longtime analyst, offered his assessment of the division’s future in the aftermath of UFC 319.
Chimaev secured a unanimous decision victory, sweeping the judges 50–44 across all scorecards. The contest took place August 16, 2025, at the United Center in Chicago before an announced crowd of 20,023 fans.
Chimaev’s wrestling-dominant performance stood in stark contrast to the striking-heavy style that has characterized most middleweight title reigns. Du Plessis entered UFC 319 riding a three-fight defense streak and armed with a reputation for unorthodox striking, was unable to mount any meaningful offense against the grappling onslaught from ‘Borz’ Khamzat Chimaev.