Tensions are already rising ahead of UFC 319 as Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev prepare for a blockbuster middleweight title clash set for August 16. The event will take place at the United Center in Chicago, marking Chimaev’s return to American soil for the first time in nearly three years.
Dricus Du Plessis Fires Shot Amid Backup Fighter News
Dana White confirmed the long-awaited bout between du Plessis and Chimaev during a surprise Instagram Live announcement. While anticipation is building, reports of a backup fighter have stirred the pot further.
RMC Sport Combat claimed that No. 1-ranked middleweight Nassourdine Imavov would be the official backup fighter for the contest. Du Plessis reacted to the report with a pointed jab at Chimaev.
Sharing the announcement on his Instagram Story, the South African quipped, “Guess I’m fighting Nassourdine Imavov,” implying he doubts Chimaev will make it to the Octagon on fight night.
The remark refers to Chimaev’s unpredictable fight history and multiple pullouts, including his dramatic weight miss at UFC 279, which reshuffled the entire main card. Though he has since put together back-to-back wins over Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker, concerns remain about his reliability in big-fight situations.
Meanwhile, Imavov’s reported inclusion as a backup comes just months after his upset win over former champion Israel Adesanya, which vaulted him into title contention.
Darren Till Weighs In with Brutal Dricus du Plessis Prediction
Former title challenger Darren Till, who once competed against du Plessis, didn’t mince words when asked for his take on the matchup. Speaking on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Till threw criticism as well as reluctant praise toward the reigning champ.
“Tell Dricus I said, ‘f*** him,’ by the way,” Till began. “I can’t stand his guts because he’s so s*** that he’s so good. With respect, I’m never going to look past Dricus because he trains hard. He’s super dedicated.”
“I think Khamzat will beat him inside two rounds, I really do believe that. Khamzat knows it’s a tough fight, but Khamzat trains like a beast. I do think Khamzat gets it in 2 rounds done.”
"Tell Dricus I said, fuck him, by the way… I can't stand his guts because he's so shit that he's so good.
With respect, I'm never going to look past Dricus… I think Khamzat is to beat him inside two rounds, I really do believe that. Khamzat knows it's a tough fight, but… pic.twitter.com/ub31x1H3Vx
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani)
Till’s prediction is rooted in his close ties to Chimaev, with whom he has trained extensively. He highlighted Chimaev’s relentless pace and work ethic, noting that while du Plessis is gritty and awkward, Khamzat has the tools to finish the job early.
Chimaev’s performance at UFC 308, where he submitted Robert Whittaker in the first round, reinforced his reputation as one of the division’s most dangerous and explosive fighters. Still, du Plessis has proven doubters wrong before, especially when he dethroned Sean Strickland to capture the middleweight belt.
With UFC 319 shaping up to be one of the year’s biggest cards, all eyes will be on Chicago to see whether Chimaev finally captures UFC gold—or if du Plessis silences another challenger and keeps his reign alive.