UFC 319, Du Plessis vs Chimaev: fight card, schedule, how to watch

The UFC middleweight throne is once again up for grabs this Saturday. South African champion Dricus du Plessis returns to the Octagon for the second time this year to defend his title - this time against undefeated phenom Khamzat Chimaev, who has made it clear he’s chasing history as the UFC’s first-ever triple champion.

Du Plessis, who already turned back former titleholders Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland, is looking to cement his legacy in one of the UFC’s most storied divisions - once ruled by legends like Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre. Chimaev, now past the health issues that previously stalled his rise, promises a different kind of fight, boldly claiming: “I don’t know how to lose.”

UFC 319, Aug. 16 - fight card, start times:

Main card: Starts at 10:00 p.m. ET

• Dricus Du Plessis vsKhamzat Chimaev – UFC middleweight title bout
• Lerone Murphy vs Aaron Pico – Featherweight
• Geoff Neal vs Carlos Prates – Welterweight
• Jared Cannonier vs Michael Page – Middleweight
• Tim Elliott vs Kai Asakura – Flyweight

Preliminary card: Starts at 8:00 p.m. ET

• Bobby Green vs Diego Ferreira – Lightweight
• Gerald Meerschaert vs Michal Oleksiejczuk – Middleweight
• Jessica Andrade vs Loopy Godínez – Strawweight
• Chase Hooper vs Alexander Hernandez – Lightweight

Early prelims: Starts at 6:00 p.m. ET

• Edson Barboza vs Drakkar Klose – Lightweight
• Bryan Battle vs Nursulton Ruziboev – Middleweight
• Karine Silva vs JJ Aldrich*– Flyweight

How to watch UFC 319

The main card at UFC 319 - an event held at United Center in Chicago, Illinois - will be available on ESPN+ PPV. The preliminary card will be on ESPN and ESPN+, and the early prelims will be shown on UFC Fight Pass.

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