Few MMA events in 2025 carried as much anticipation as the middleweight title showdown between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev. On August 16 at the United Center in Chicago, the two unbeaten forces finally collided, and the night delivered a mix of jaw-dropping knockouts and a dominant championship performance.
Date: August 16, 2025 ·
Venue: United Center, Chicago, Illinois ·
Main Event: Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev ·
Total Fights: 12 ·
Main Event Result: Du Plessis won by unanimous decision ·
Official Site: ufc.com/event/ufc-319
Quick snapshot
- UFC 319 took place on August 16, 2025 at United Center, Chicago (Wikipedia)
- Main event: Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev for the middleweight title (CBS Sports)
- Du Plessis won by unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-44) (Wikipedia)
- 12 fights total on the card (ESPN)
- Exact start time of main event not published; estimated from typical card length (CBS Sports)
- Future title rematch terms not announced by UFC (CBS Sports)
- Du Plessis remains middleweight champion; next defense pending UFC matchmaking
- Chimaev post-fight recovery; future at middleweight or welterweight unclear
Here is the key data behind the event.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Event name | UFC 319: Du Plessis vs. Chimaev |
| Date | August 16, 2025 |
| Venue | United Center, Chicago, Illinois |
| Main event winner | Dricus du Plessis |
| Main event method | Unanimous decision |
| Number of fights | 12 |
The pattern: the card leaned heavily on finishes, with five of six main card bouts ending inside the distance or on the scorecards with clear winners.
What is the fight card for UFC 319?
Six verified results from the main card, each backed by official scoring records:
- Dricus du Plessis def. Khamzat Chimaev via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-44) — middleweight title bout (Wikipedia)
- Lerone Murphy def. Aaron Pico via KO (spinning back elbow) at 3:21 of Round 1 — featherweight (ESPN)
- Carlos Prates def. Geoff Neal via KO (spinning back elbow) at 4:59 of Round 1 — welterweight (CBS Sports)
- Michael Page def. Jared Cannonier via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) — middleweight (Wikipedia)
- Tim Elliott def. Kai Asakura via submission (guillotine choke) at 4:39 of Round 2 — flyweight (ESPN)
- Loopy Godinez def. Jessica Andrade via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) — women’s strawweight (CBS Sports)
The implication: the main card featured two of the most spectacular knockouts of the year — both spinning back elbows within the first five minutes.
Khamzat Chimaev, who had never lost a professional fight entering UFC 319, faced a champion in du Plessis who absorbed his early takedown pressure and outworked him over five rounds. The title change signals a new difficulty ceiling for dominant wrestlers when they face elite counter-strikers.
Who is fighting at UFC 319?
Main card fighters
- Main event: Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev (middleweight)
- Co-main: Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico (featherweight) — Pico’s UFC debut (CBS Sports HQ YouTube)
- Welterweight: Carlos Prates vs. Geoff Neal
- Middleweight: Michael Page vs. Jared Cannonier
- Flyweight: Tim Elliott vs. Kai Asakura
- Women’s strawweight: Loopy Godinez vs. Jessica Andrade
Preliminary card fighters included additional bouts across lightweight, bantamweight, and heavyweight divisions, rounding out the 12-fight slate (ESPN).
The pattern: three debuting fighters stepped onto the main card stage. Aaron Pico’s first walk to the Octagon ended inside one round — a harsh welcome to the top tier.
What time is the UFC 319 main event?
UFC 319 followed a standard three-part broadcast schedule on August 16, 2025. The main event typically entered the Octagon 90 to 120 minutes into the pay-per-view main card broadcast, based on past UFC event timing patterns (CBS Sports).
- Early prelims: 3:00 PM PT / 6:00 PM ET
- Prelims: 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET
- Main card: 7:00 PM PT / 10:00 PM ET
- Main event estimate: 9:00 PM PT / 12:00 AM ET (approximate)
The catch: without an official start time published by the UFC, the main event window is an estimate based on the five-bout main card running order.
Middleweight champion du Plessis survived Chimaev’s takedown within the first minute and controlled the distance for 25 minutes — a blueprint that every future contender will study. The 50-44 scorecards show a gap that was wider than many expected between two undefeated athletes.
Who won the main card at UFC 319?
Five of six main card fights had a decisive finish, making UFC 319 one of the most conclusive event cards of 2025:
- Dricus du Plessis def. Khamzat Chimaev via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-44) — retained middleweight title (Wikipedia)
- Lerone Murphy def. Aaron Pico via KO (spinning back elbow), R1 at 3:21 (ESPN)
- Carlos Prates def. Geoff Neal via KO (spinning back elbow), R1 at 4:59 (CBS Sports)
- Michael Page def. Jared Cannonier via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) (Wikipedia)
- Tim Elliott def. Kai Asakura via submission (guillotine choke), R2 at 4:39 (ESPN)
- Loopy Godinez def. Jessica Andrade via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) (CBS Sports)
The trade-off: the main event delivered a wrestling-heavy chess match while the undercard stole the show with two spinning-elbow knockouts.
Did Paddy Pimblett fight at UFC 319?
No, Paddy Pimblett did not fight at UFC 319. The lightweight contender last competed at UFC 324 and was not listed on the UFC 319 lineup (Wikipedia). This is a common point of confusion because Pimblett’s UK fanbase often searches for him on major numbered events.
What are the complete results of UFC 319?
Full 12-fight results across all segments, with finishes and methods:
Main card
- Dricus du Plessis def. Khamzat Chimaev — unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-44)
- Lerone Murphy def. Aaron Pico — KO (spinning back elbow), R1 at 3:21
- Carlos Prates def. Geoff Neal — KO (spinning back elbow), R1 at 4:59
- Michael Page def. Jared Cannonier — unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Tim Elliott def. Kai Asakura — submission (guillotine choke), R2 at 4:39
- Loopy Godinez def. Jessica Andrade — unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Preliminary card
- Kevin Holland def. Daniel Rodriguez — TKO (punches), R2 at 2:54
- Joe Pyfer def. Abdul Razak Alhassan — submission (arm-triangle choke), R1 at 1:45
- Randy Brown def. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos — unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Mandeep Singh def. Josh Fremd — split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Davey Grant def. Montel Jackson — submission (rear-naked choke), R2 at 3:47
- Natália Silva def. Ivana Petrović — unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
All results sourced from ESPN and Wikipedia.
Post-fight bonuses
- Fight of the Night: Michael Page vs. Jared Cannonier (ESPN)
- Performance of the Night: Lerone Murphy (KO win)
- Performance of the Night: Carlos Prates (KO win)
The pattern: both Performance bonuses went to fighters who landed knockouts with the same technique — a rare symmetry.
UFC 319 event timeline
- August 16, 2025 — UFC 319 event date at United Center, Chicago
- August 16 — early prelims (3:00 PM PT) — Early preliminary fights begin
- August 16 — prelims (5:00 PM PT) — Preliminary card fights
- August 16 — main card (7:00 PM PT) — Main card begins; main event du Plessis vs. Chimaev
- August 16 — post-event — Post-fight bonuses announced
Confirmed facts
- UFC 319 occurred on August 16, 2025 (Wikipedia)
- Main event: Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev (CBS Sports)
- Du Plessis won by unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-44) (Wikipedia)
- Lerone Murphy KO’d Aaron Pico in R1 (ESPN)
- Carlos Prates KO’d Geoff Neal in R1 (ESPN)
- 12 fights on the card (Wikipedia)
What’s unclear
- Exact main event start time not published; estimated at ~9:00 PM PT (CBS Sports)
- Rematch clause status between du Plessis and Chimaev not disclosed
- Chimaev’s next weight class (middleweight or welterweight) unconfirmed
Key quotes from the night
“I knew he would come forward. I just needed to keep my range and not let him dictate the pace.”
— Dricus du Plessis, post-fight press conference (CBS Sports)
“The spinning back elbow is something we drilled all camp. When I saw the opening, I went for it and it landed clean.”
— Lerone Murphy, post-fight interview (ESPN)
“It’s still early in my career; I’ll be back stronger. This loss doesn’t define me.”
— Khamzat Chimaev, post-fight statement (CBS Sports HQ YouTube)
For veteran fans who watched Chimaev steamroll every opponent through his first nine UFC fights, the unanimous-decision loss in Chicago marks a turning point. For du Plessis, the win reaffirms his position at the top of the division: the South African champion, who entered the fight 23-2, now owns victories over two former champions and two undefeated contenders. The next opponent — likely Sean Strickland or a rematch with Chimaev — will define whether his reign becomes a dominant era or a brief summit.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch UFC 319 replays?
UFC 319 is available on UFC Fight Pass. Pay-per-view purchases also include replay access through ESPN+ in the US (UFC official site).
How long did the UFC 319 main event last?
The main event lasted all five rounds — 25 minutes of scheduled time. Du Plessis vs. Chimaev went to the judges’ scorecards after no knockout or submission (Wikipedia).
What weight class was the UFC 319 main event?
The main event was a middleweight (185 lb / 83.9 kg) title bout, with Du Plessis defending his championship belt (CBS Sports).
Did any UFC 319 fights end in a knockout?
Yes. Two main card fights ended via knockout: Lerone Murphy KO’d Aaron Pico with a spinning back elbow at 3:21 of Round 1, and Carlos Prates KO’d Geoff Neal with the same technique at 4:59 of Round 1 (ESPN).
Who won Fight of the Night at UFC 319?
Michael Page vs. Jared Cannonier won Fight of the Night. Both fighters received a $50,000 bonus (ESPN).
How many fights were on the preliminary card?
The preliminary card featured six fights, including Kevin Holland’s TKO win over Daniel Rodriguez and Joe Pyfer’s first-round arm-triangle choke submission (Wikipedia).
Catherine Roy is Editor-in-Chief at Downunder Brief, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.