Dricus Du Plessis Next Fight: ‘Stillknocks’ Set For UFC Middleweight Title Defence Against Khamzat Chimaev At UFC 319

The Dricus du Plessis next fight is a hot topic of conversation, with the South African set to defend his UFC Middleweight Title for the third time in his next contest.

‘Stillknocks’ is putting his 185-pound crown on the line against #1 contender Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC 319 main event this summer.

Dricus du Plessis Next Fight: Reigning UFC 185-Pound King Faces Khamzat Chimaev At UFC 319

Dricus du Plessis is one of the biggest names in the UFC right now. The reigning UFC Middleweight Champion has never tasted defeat inside the UFC octagon, winning the 185-pound title in just his seventh fight in the organisation.

As well as being an elite fighter, ‘Stillknocks’ is also one of the most followed UFC fighters in the world. As a current UFC belt holder and unbeaten fighter in the organisation, it comes as no surprise to learn the South African’s popularity has grown at a rapid rate.

Dricus du Plessis’ record is an impressive 23-2, which consists of nine knockout victories, 11 submissions and just three decision wins. The 31-year-old is also widely regarded as the best middleweights in the world right now, and hasn’t lost a single fight in the UFC, winning all nine of them so far.

MMA fans last saw the South African fighter in action at UFC 312 in February, where he defeated Sean Strickland for the second time in their rematch with relative ease.

This was du Plessis’ second defence of his title, having originally won the belt off Strickland in their first fight before defending it against former long-reigning champion Israel Adesanya.

Now, the Dricus du Plessis next fight has been officially confirmed for UFC 319 as he takes on the unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev. The 185-pound king will face ‘Borz’ on August 16th at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Chimaev’s record is a perfect 14-0, and he will likely be the favourite, despite being the challenger, to add a 15th win to his resumé against du Plessis at UFC 319.

Outside of Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall, Du Plessis vs Chimaev is one of the biggest fights in all of MMA.

Who Else Could Du Plessis Defend His UFC Middleweight Title Against In 2025?

UFC President Dana White will be excited to see Dricus du Plessis back inside the octagon on August 16th in his next UFC Middleweight Title defence against Khamzat Chimaev.

He mightn’t be one of the biggest draws just yet, but the South African hasn’t put a foot wrong since signing for the UFC just four years ago. Should du Plessis’ next fight go to plan against Chimaev, who’s net worth has surpassed $3m, he would have plenty more options for future fights.

There are a few other names at middleweight who are close to a title shot and could be on the cards as potential opponents for du Plessis in the not so distant future. The likes of Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho could be next for du Plessis, if he does get through the Chimaev fight unscathed.

The South African would like be a favourite in all of these fights, but they are certainly all competitive match-ups. Robert Whittaker’s next fight could have title implications too, with a rematch between ‘The Reaper’ and ‘Stillknocks’ possible for 2026 as well.

After beating Israel Adesanya in emphatic style, Imavov will be hopeful of a title shot before the end of the year. Perhaps he will fight Borralho in a final eliminator for the title, whilst du Plessis and Chimaev battle it out for the 185-pound belt. Time will tell what happens next.

Dricus du Plessis’ next fight against Khamzat Chimaev is set to be the toughest of his career to date. If he wins, he will continue to climb the UFC pound-for-pound rankings and perhaps even break into the top three.