UFC 319 live fight updates, results, highlights from Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev

The United Center will be the place to be when the unorthodox Dricus du Plessis defends the UFC middleweight title against the dangerous Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319. The fight on August 16 airs on ESPN+.

du Plessis (23-2) has beaten a who’s who in the UFC’s middleweight division, including Darren Till, Robert Whittaker, and Israel Adesanya. He won the belt against Sean Strickland. The first South African to become UFC champion has won eleven straight contests.

Unconventional in his approach to fighting and backed by intense cardio, the former kickboxing champion has proven doubters wrong in the octagon. Facing Chimaev, he now aims to stop an immovable object.

“I think my power gets overlooked a lot of times,” Du Plessis told the UFC. “Physical strength and punch power. Even with him, maybe he punches really hard. The one thing that sets me apart from every single person on the roster and definitely at my weight is the will to win and refusal to give up.

“There’s no man that can break me. Mentally, I will never break. That is what sets me apart, and that’s what makes me a world champion.”

Though a COVID-19 infection affected his career following a dominant 2020 campaign, Chimaev (14-0), when motivated, is as dangerous as they come. The freestyle wrestling champion beat former champions Kamaru Usman and Whittaker to reach contender status.

Many have envisioned the Chechen as the Golden Boy of the UFC. Fully healthy, a win would put everyone, regardless of division, on notice.

The Sporting News will provide results, analysis, and highlights from UFC 319.

UFC 319 results, highlights

9 p.m. ET: Andrade starting throwing haymakers. Godinez continued to press forward, but was losing some gas. They both traded shots until the end of the fight. Godinez won via unanimous decision and has now won two straight. 

8:52 p.m. ET: Both fighters exchanged punches to start. Andrade seemed afraid of takedown attempts from Godinez. She countered with a few flurries. Godinez landed a takedown in the second and took control. On the feet, Godinez landed sharp strikes. Andrade tried to land hard blows, but Godinez is much more calculating. A counter shot by Godinez followed by a takedown attempt. 

8:40 p.m. ET: Former strawweight champion Jessica Andrade is back in action, facing Loopy Godinez. 

8:24 p.m. ET: Alexander Hernandez with a buzzer-beater counter to end Chase Hooper’s win streak. Literally seconds before the round ended. Hooper back to the drawing board. Massive win for Hernandez. 

Just before the round one buzzer 👀@TheGreat155 shows off the power to get the round one stoppage! #UFC319 pic.twitter.com/sPHT29mxEJ

— UFC (@ufc) August 17, 2025

8:16 p.m. ET: Chase Hooper vs. Alexander Hernandez opens up the prelims. 

8:04 p.m. ET: Drakkar Klose defeated Edson Barboza via unanimous decision. The prelims have now begun. 

7:40 p.m. ET: The last fight of the early prelims is next: Edson Barboza vs. Drakkar Klose

7:32 p.m. ET: Karine Silva defeated Dione Barbosa via unanimous decision following an entertaining affair. The second round could have gone either way. 

7:10 p.m. ET: Karine Silva vs. Dione Barbosa is up next. More flyweight action. 

6:54 p.m. ET: Joseph Morales is YOUR Ultimate Fighter. Flyweights forever! 

JOSEPH MORALES GETS THE SUBMISSION WIN AND IS THE #TUF33 FLYWEIGHT CHAMPION 🏆 #UFC319 pic.twitter.com/cAhh80Lewq

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) August 16, 2025

6:44 p.m. ET: Oh Chicago is already loud and it’s the first fight of the night. First event since 2019. Theo Von won’t be alone in the crowd tonight.

6:41 p.m. ET: Alibi Idiris vs. Joseph Morales in the finals of The Ultimate Fighter flyweight tournament opens the early prelims for UFC 319.

6:30 p.m. ET: The early prelims have begun. Chicago is ready for a fight night for the first time since 2019. 

Hello everyone, and welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of UFC 319!

Where to watch UFC 319 prelims

The UFC 319 preliminaries, starting at 8 p.m. ET, will be available on Disney+. The early preliminaries at 6:30 p.m. ET will also be available via Disney+.

Where to watch UFC 319

The UFC 319 main card is available via pay-per-view on ESPN+. The PPV price for UFC 319 is $79.99 for current subscribers. 

In Australia, the event will air on Kayo.

UFC 319 start time

• Date: Saturday, August 16
• Time: 10 p.m. ET (8 p.m. ET for prelims) | 7 p.m. PT | 3 a.m. BST | 12 p.m. AEST
• Location: United Center – Chicago, Illinois

UFC 319 is in the United Center in Chicago, Illinois on August 16. The early prelims start at 6:30 p.m. ET, while the prelims are at 8 p.m. ET. The main card starts at 10 p.m. ET, and du Plessis and Chimaev should make their way to the octagon around 12:30 a.m. ET, depending on how long the undercard fights last.

UFC 319 results

Main Card

• Dricus du Plessis (c) vs. Khamzat Chimaev for the UFC middleweight title
• Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico; Featherweights
• Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates; Welterweights
• Jared Cannonier vs. Michael “Venom” Page; Middleweights
• Tim Elliott vs. Kai Asakura; Flyweights

Prelims

• Gerald Meerschaert vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk; Middleweights
• Baysangur Susurkaev vs. Eric Nolan; Middleweights
• Loopy Godinez def. Jessica Andrade via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Alexander Hernandez def. Chase Hooper via TKO (4:58 into round one)

Early Prelims

• Drakkar Klose def. Edson Barboza via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Karine Silva def. Dione Barbosa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Joseph Morales def. Alibi Idiris via triangle choke (3:04 into round two) – Ultimate Fighter flyweight tournament final