UFC 319 results: Khamzat Chimaev defeats Dricus du Plessis by unanimous decision (50–44) to win the middleweight title. Full card results, highlights, and takeaways.
Headline result — who won UFC 319?
Khamzat Chimaev defeated Dricus du Plessis by unanimous decision (50–44, 50–44, 50–44) to capture the UFC middleweight title in the main event of UFC 319 at the United Center in Chicago. Chimaev dominated on the mat, repeatedly taking Du Plessis down and controlling position across five rounds to claim the belt.
Quick card snapshot (main card highlights)
- Main event: Khamzat Chimaev def. Dricus du Plessis — UD (50–44 x3) — Middleweight title.
- Co-main / big moments:
- Lerone Murphy def. Aaron Pico — KO (spinning back elbow) — highlight-reel finish.
- Carlos Prates def. Geoff Neal — KO (spinning elbow) — another first-round elbow highlight.
- Michael “Venom” Page def. Jared Cannonier — UD (29-28 across cards), an entertaining striker-vs-striker chess match.
- Tim Elliott def. Kai Asakura — Submission (guillotine choke) in Round 2.
Complete official results and round-by-round scoring are posted on the UFC’s event page.
What happened in the main event — DDP vs Chimaev (round-by-round summary)
Khamzat Chimaev’s victory was textbook dominance from a wrestler with world-class control. Rather than trading on the feet, Chimaev’s game plan was relentless pressure, takedowns and top control — neutralizing Du Plessis’ striking and slowly building big winning margins on every scorecard.
- Rounds 1–2: Chimaev secured early takedowns and maintained top control, racking up significant ground time. Du Plessis attempted to scramble but paid the price defending.
- Middle rounds: Chimaev repeatedly returned to dominant positions, stole back control after Du Plessis’ attempted rallies, and landed heavy ground-and-pound to sway the judges. Du Plessis found moments but rarely sustained offense.
- Championship rounds: With clear control of wrestling and octagon positioning, Chimaev closed emphatically, leaving no doubt on the scorecards and earning unanimous 50–44 tallies.
That dominant pattern explains the lopsided official scoring and the post-fight narrative that Chimaev’s grappling was simply at another level on the night.
Key undercard takeaways — two insane spinning-elbow KOs
UFC 319 also delivered jaw-dropping finishes early on: two spinning back-elbow KOs in the undercard that immediately trended across social platforms.
- Lerone Murphy vs Aaron Pico: Murphy landed a spinning back elbow that ended the fight in the first round — a candidate for KO of the year and a claim to a featherweight title push.
- Carlos Prates vs Geoff Neal: Prates also scored a first-round spinning elbow KO against a durable opponent in Neal — a brutal finish that added to a rare night of elbow highlights.
The UFC awarded performance bonuses for these electrifying finishes (see bonuses section below).
Pivotal moments & why the fight played out that way
- Chimaev’s wrestling supremacy: The fight was decided on takedowns and top control. Chimaev’s ability to chain takedowns and maintain position prevented Du Plessis from getting comfortable on the feet. Judges rewarded consistent control.
- Du Plessis’ defensive gaps: While Dricus is a talented, heavy-hitting champion, tonight he was out-grappled and unable to consistently threaten off his back — the core problem that cost him rounds.
- Cardio & positioning: Chimaev’s energy over five rounds and positional dominance minimized risk and maximized scoring — a clear championship blueprint for a wrestler-forward stylist.
Post-fight reaction & stakes: What this means for the division
- New middleweight champion: Chimaev ascending to champion status reshuffles the middleweight pecking order and creates immediate blockbuster matchup possibilities (rematches, superfights, or a run of defenses). The division now centers around Chimaev’s grappling-centric style.
- Du Plessis’ outlook: Dricus likely needs to reassess striking defense vs takedown entries and decide whether to rematch quickly or rebuild against top contenders. His stock falls from the elite but a high-profile rematch could loom.
- Fan & media reaction: The lopsided scorecards drew both praise for Chimaev’s approach and controversy from fans who hoped for more fireworks—but in MMA, dominance is a form of statement. Major outlets (ESPN, CBS, MMAFighting) framed it as a career-defining night.
Bonus payouts & awards
The UFC handed out post-event bonuses for standout performances; the back-to-back spinning elbow KOs and Chimaev’s title win were prime candidates for Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night distinctions. MMA outlets confirmed Chimaev and the undercard finishers received bonuses.
Alhamdulilah ☝🏼 pic.twitter.com/WJTMhRjKg0
— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) August 17, 2025
Complete (select) results — UFC 319 Results fight card results
(Official order: main card first — confirm full list on the UFC event page.)
Main card
- Khamzat Chimaev def. Dricus du Plessis — UD (50–44 x3).
- Lerone Murphy def. Aaron Pico — KO (spinning back elbow), R1.
- Carlos Prates def. Geoff Neal — KO (spinning back elbow), R1.
- Michael Page def. Jared Cannonier — UD.
- Tim Elliott def. Kai Asakura — Submission (guillotine), R2.
Notable prelims / early highlights
- Baisangur Susurkaev def. Eric Nolan — Submission, R2.
- Loopy Godinez def. Jessica Andrade — UD (women’s bout).
For the full fight list and official, minute-by-minute scoring, consult the UFC’s official event page and round-by-round play-by-play.
How to watch & where to stream / tickets
- PPV & streaming: UFC 319 was available on the UFC PPV platform and ESPN+/Disney+ in applicable regions for prelims and fight coverage; check local listings for replay windows and highlights.
- Tickets: The event was sold out at the United Center (Chicago). Future UFC events and ticketing are handled through Ticketmaster and the UFC’s ticketing portal.
Quick FAQ (search-friendly snippets)
- Who won UFC 319? Khamzat Chimaev beat Dricus du Plessis by unanimous decision to win the middleweight title.
- How did Chimaev win? Dominant wrestling, takedowns and top control over five rounds led to a unanimous decision.
- Were there any crazy KOs? Yes — Lerone Murphy and Carlos Prates each scored first-round spinning elbow KOs.
- Where was UFC 319 held? United Center, Chicago, IL.