UFC 319 at the United Center in Chicago delivered one of the most memorable cards of the year, with Khamzat Chimaev defeating Dricus Du Plessis to capture the UFC middleweight championship. The stacked card also featured highlight-reel finishes, shocking upsets, and the continued rise of several contenders.
Main Event: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dricus Du Plessis
- Result: Khamzat Chimaev def. Dricus Du Plessis via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-44)
- Fight Recap:
Chimaev controlled nearly every minute of the fight with relentless takedowns, suffocating top pressure, and heavy ground strikes. He landed more than 10 takedowns, leaving Du Plessis with little room to mount offense. The South African had a brief moment in the fifth round with a tight guillotine choke attempt, but Chimaev escaped and dominated until the final horn. - Aftermath:
Chimaev improves to 15-0, becoming the new UFC middleweight champion. Du Plessis, who entered the fight as champion, falls to 23-3 and suffers his first loss at 185 pounds.
Co-Main Event: Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico
- Result: Lerone Murphy def. Aaron Pico via KO (spinning elbow), Round 1 (3:21)
- Fight Recap:
In one of the most spectacular knockouts of 2025, Murphy caught Pico with a perfectly timed spinning elbow midway through the first round. The shot landed flush, knocking Pico out cold in his UFC debut. - Significance:
Murphy remains undefeated and immediately inserted himself into the featherweight title conversation.
Other Main Card Results
- Carlos Prates def. Geoff Neal — KO (spinning elbow), Round 1 (4:59)
- A jaw-dropping finish just one second before the bell.
- Michael Page def. Jared Cannonier — Unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Page used slick striking and footwork to outpoint Cannonier over three rounds.
- Tim Elliott def. Kai Asakura — Submission (guillotine choke), Round 2 (4:39)
- A veteran performance as Elliott weathered early pressure before locking in a guillotine.
Preliminary Card Highlights
- Baisangur Susurkaev def. Eric Nolan — Submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2 (2:42)
- Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Gerald Meerschaert — TKO (punches), Round 1 (1:18)
- Loopy Godinez def. Jessica Andrade — Unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- A bloody battle where Godinez outlasted the former strawweight champion.
- Alexander Hernandez def. Chase Hooper — TKO (punches), Round 1 (4:58)
UFC 319 Performance Bonuses
The UFC handed out $50,000 performance bonuses to:
- Khamzat Chimaev — Dominant championship victory
- Lerone Murphy — Knockout of the night
- Carlos Prates — Stunning last-second KO
- Tim Elliott — Veteran submission finish
What’s Next After UFC 319?
- Khamzat Chimaev has cemented himself as the new face of the middleweight division. Fans are already speculating about potential title defenses against Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland, or a Du Plessis rematch.
- Lerone Murphy’s knockout win puts him in prime position for a top-five featherweight matchup.
- Carlos Prates continues his meteoric rise in the welterweight division.
UFC 319 not only crowned a new middleweight king but also highlighted the depth of talent across multiple divisions, setting up exciting matchups for the rest of 2025.
