For months, Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev had been linked to a possible fight against each other. The reigning UFC Middleweight Champion had time and again traded barbs with Chimaev, and many in the MMA community predicted that their grudge match could come to fruition sometime in 2025.
Speaking of which, it’s been officially confirmed that du Plessis would defend his middleweight belt against Chimaev at UFC 319. The South African fighter’s partner, Vasti Spiller, subsequently chimed in with her response to the major announcement.
Dricus Du Plessis’ Fiancée Vasti Spiller Reacts to Announcement of Title Fight Against Khamzat Chimaev
UFC CEO Dana White put forth a few notable fight announcements this week, including the confirmation that Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev will clash for the middleweight title. Their fight is scheduled to headline the UFC 319 pay-per-view (PPV) event at the United Center in Chicago, IL., U.S.A., on Aug. 16, 2025.
South Africa’s du Plessis is known to have a close bond with his coaches at Team CIT MMA in Pretoria, as well as having a strong support system in the form of his friends and family. His partner, Vasti Spiller, is also known to be a prominent presence in his life and someone whom du Plessis often acknowledges for her help and belief in him.
In the aftermath of his high-stakes fight against Chimaev being confirmed by the UFC, Spiller posted an image of the UFC 319 poster to her Instagram Stories. Her caption in the post seemingly alluded to veteran Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer’s iconic pre-fight introduction catchphrase, “It’s time.”
Addressing the UFC 319 matchup, Spiller tagged du Plessis’ Instagram handle and gave the following two-word reaction, “It’s time.”
Dricus Du Plessis’ Concise Statement Concerning UFC 319 Fight
Dricus du Plessis’ most recent Octagon appearance witnessed him outpoint Sean Strickland in their rematch in Feb. 2025. It marked du Plessis’ second successful defense of his UFC middleweight championship. “Stillknocks” is unbeaten under the UFC banner, with the two defeats he’s suffered in his MMA career coming before he joined the UFC. He’s currently considered to be one of the most well-rounded fighters in the sport.
On the other hand, grappling phenom Khamzat Chimaev boasts an undefeated professional MMA record and has thrived as a force to be reckoned with since his UFC promotional debut in 2020. “Borz” is fresh off a first-round submission victory against ex-UFC middleweight kingpin Robert Whittaker in Oct. 2024.
Considering the variables at play, the upcoming UFC 319 showdown is being viewed as a potential legacy-defining fight for both du Plessis and Chimaev. In a post put forth via. his official Instagram handle, du Plessis has now seemingly made a concise statement about his upcoming fight. Alongside a picture of the fight’s poster, he wrote, “Prepare to be amazed.. Again!”
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