Tom Aspinall will make his first defence as Undisputed Heavyweight Champion when he faces Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC 321, set for the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night/

Aspinall (15-3) became the Interim Heavyweight Champion in November 2023 when he defeated Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295, and then defended the belt at UFC 304 in July last year with a triumph over Curtis Blaydes.

The 32-year-old Englishman was hoping to have a bout with Jon Jones to become Undisputed Champion, but was promoted to that status without a fight when the latter’s retirement was announced back in June.

Aspinall will therefore make his first defence as Undisputed Champion against Ciryl Gane (13-2), who comes into the fight on a two-match winning streak, having beaten Serhei Spivac and Alexander Volkov in his last two trips to the Octagon.

However, the 35-year-old Frenchman is seen as something of an underwhelming challenger, having twice fallen short in title matches to Francis Ngannou (in January 2022) and Jones (March 2023).

Aspinall, though, is not underestimating Gane: “It’s heavyweight MMA, anybody can beat anybody, so you just never know. As far as name value, yeah, it’s probably not as good now as it’s been before.

“But I think the level of the guys is really good, actually. There’s a few new signings coming in, and I think it’s gonna be an exciting few years for the heavyweight division.”

In the co-main event, Virna Jandiroba (22-3) and Mackenzie Dern (15-5) will fight for the vacant Women’s Strawweight Championship.

The belt was vacated by Zhang Weili (who is expected to move up to the flyweight category), allowing Jandiroba and Dern to rematch with the title on the line. They first faced off at UFC 256 in late 2020, with Dern claiming a unanimous decision win.

The rest of the main card features Alexander Volkov v Jailton Almeida in the heavyweight division; Umar Nurmagomedov faces Mario Bautista in a bantamweight clash; and a light heavyweight bout pits Aleksandar Rakic against Azamat Murzakanov.

UFC 321 – Main card

- Main event: Heavyweight Championship: Tom Aspinall v Ciryl Gane

- Co-main event: Vacant Women’s Strawweight Championship: Virna Jandiroba v Mackenzie Dern

- Heavyweight: Alexander Volkov v Jailton Almeida

- Bantamweight: Umar Nurmagomedov v Mario Bautista

- Light heavyweight: Aleksandar Rakic v Azamat Murzakanov

After putting pen-to-paper less than four weeks ago, Brendan Allen stole the show at UFC Fight Night this weekend as Reinier de Ridder quit in his corner.

De Ridder was initially scheduled to face Anthony Hernandez in the main event; however, the latter withdrew owing to injury.

Stepping in on short notice, Allen looked impressive across the four rounds, particularly as he survived an early blitz by De Ridder. The Dutchman went for the take down early on, which was initially well defended by Allen.

However, De Ridder eventually managed to get Allen to the ground in search of a submission.

Following the second round, which saw de Ridder targeting more submissions, it was Allen’s turn to wrestle with De Ridder stuck on his back. De Ridder continued to take heavy blows by Allen in the third and was visibly exhausted in the fourth.

As De Ridder sat down in his corner at the end of the round, his coaches agreed to stop the fight, while Allen celebrated one of his most impressive wins of his career so far.

"It feels good to do exactly what I said I would do," Allen said after the fight.

"This was me 3.5 weeks off the couch. I told you I'm a different monster, when my head is clear and we're on, I'm the best in the world."

Full of confidence, Allen then called out numerous Middleweight stars, including the champion Khamzat Chimaev.

"Chimaev, if you want a good grappler, someone young and hungry, you got it baby,” Allen added.

"Dricus, where you at? I've been trying to get at you for a minute. If not, Sean [Strickland], it's time to run it back."

UFC Fight Night main card results

Main event: Brendan Allen defeats Reinier de Ridder via fourth round TKO

Co-main event: Mike Malott defeats Kevin Holland via third round decision

Aiemann Zahabi defeats Marlon Vera via third round decision

Manon Fiorot defeats Jasmin Jasudavicius via first round KO

Charles Jourdain defeats Davey Grant via first round submission

Kyle Nelson defeats Matt Frevola via third round decision

Reinier de Ridder will look to move closer to a title fight when he takes on Brendan Allen in the middleweight main event of a UFC Fight Night, set for the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada, on the morning of 19 October 2025.

De Ridder (21-2) has racked up five successive wins, most recently claiming a split decision win over former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in July to further underline his status as a threat for the belt.

The 35-year-old “Dutch Knight” knows that he will need to make a statement this weekend if he is to jump to the front of the queue for a chance at dethroning Khamzat Chimaev, who won the title off Dricus du Plessis in August.

“The most important thing this fight is, I need to finish [Allen],” he said. “To have a chance to fight for the title, I need to finish him, so that's what I'm coming for.”

De Ridder was supposed to have faced Anthony Hernandez in this Fight Night, but “Fluffy” was forced to withdraw due to injury, allowing Allen (25-7) to step in as a replacement.

The 29-year-old, nicknamed “All In”, was last in action at UFC 318 in July, claiming a unanimous decision triumph over Marvin Vettori to return to winning ways, having been beaten by both Nassourdine Imavov and Hernandez in his two previous matches.

Allen is confident that he has an edge over De Ridder in terms of his all-round abilities: “I think I'll break him because I'm better everywhere. I don't think he can strike better than me. I don't think he's tougher than me. I don't think his grappling's better than me. A lot of guys are scared of his grappling. I'm not scared at all.”

The rest of the main card features another welterweight banger, pitting Kevin Holland against Mike Malott; Marlon Vera takes on Aiemann Zahabi, and Cody Gibson faces Aori Qileng, both in the bantamweight division; a women’s flyweight battle sees Manon Fiorot tackle Jasmine Jasudavicius; and a lightweight match pits Kyle Nelson against Matt Frevola.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT: DE RIDDER VS. ALLEN – MAIN CARD

- Main event: Middleweight: Reinier de Ridder v Brendan Allen

- Welterweight: Kevin Holland v Mike Malott

- Bantamweight: Marlon Vera v Aiemann Zahabi

- Women’s flyweight: Manon Fiorot v Jasmine Jasudavicius

- Bantamweight: Cody Gibson v Aori Qileng

- Lightweight: Kyle Nelson v Matt Frevola

Popular UFC lightweight star Charles Oliveira added his name to the winning column again after securing an impressive victory over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Fight Night which was held in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday night.

Do Bronx went into his latest match on the back of a dramatic knockout defeat against reigning UFC Lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, with many fans and pundits surprised by his quick turnaround, given that he fought just 105 days ago.

THE LION DOESN'T CARE IF HIS OPPONENT CHANGES‼️@CharlesDoBronxs add another submission to his resume at #UFCRio! pic.twitter.com/ifmEmX5IdT

— UFC (@ufc) October 12, 2025

Nonetheless, it didn’t take long for the submission specialist to work his magic on home soil as he found his way to a second-round rear-naked-choke submission win over Gamrot.

The Brazilian star increased his record for most submission wins in UFC History with 17, while he also has an impressive 21 finishes in his career so far.

"CHARLES OLIVEIRA VS MAX HOLLOWAY. BMF. LET'S MAKE THAT HAPPEN"@CharlesDoBronxs calls out Max and the BMF Belt! #UFCRio pic.twitter.com/6B9TGZBZ2q

— UFC (@ufc) October 12, 2025

“I'm trying to hold back tears right now," Oliveira said after the fight.

“This is all for you guys [the Brazilian fans]. This is not about money, fame or status. This is for Brazil.”

UFC RIO MAIN CARD RESULTS

Main event: Charles Oliveira defeats Mateusz Gamrot via second round submission

Co-main event: Deiveson Figueiredo defeats Montel Jackson via split decision

Joel Alvarez defeats Vicente Luque via unanimous decision

Mario Pinto defeats Jhonata Diniz via second-round TKO

Kaan Ofli defeats Ricardo Ramos via submission

Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira climbed back to the top of the UFC Light Heavyweight ranks this weekend following a dominant victory over Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320.

UFC 320 showcased a stacked card of superstars that included the likes of Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, and former Light Heavyweight contenders Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Rountree.

In the co-main event, Dvalishvili retained his title via a Unanimous Decision over Cory Sandhagen. The Georgian secured numerous takedowns across the five-rounder following a good start by the contender.

However, it was Dvalishvili's grappling and ground game that ultimately won him the fight as Sandhagen struggled to contend with the champion’s relentless pressure.

In the main event, Pereira once proved why he is considered among the best of his generation with a statement win over the former LHW kingpin.

Nicknamed ‘Poatan’, meaning ‘Hands of stone’, Pereira made his intentions known and started the fight with a stiff one-two combination that immediately put Ankalaev on the back-foot.

The Brazilian kick-boxer took no backward step since the first bell, as an overhand right sent Ankaleav to the ground. While the former champion attempted a leg hook on his way down, Pereira positioned himself on his opponent before ending the fight with vicious elbows to the head.

Speaking after the fight Pereria expressed that vengeance was not foremost on his mind and revealed that he was not in shape in their first bout.

“Vengeance is never a good thing, it’s kind of a poison sometimes,” said Pereira.

“I told everyone I was not in good condition last time. Everyone saw it tonight.”

UFC 320 MAIN CARD RESULTS

Main event: Magomed Ankalaev v Alex Pereira (Pereira wins by first round KO/TKO)

Co-main event: Merab Dvalishvili v Cory Sandhagen (Dvalishvili wins by decision)

Jiri Prochazka v Khalil Rountree (Prochazka wins by third round KO/TKO)

Josh Emmett v Youssef Zalal (Zalal wins by first round submission)

Abusupiyan Magomedov v Joe Pyfer (Pyfer wins by second round submission)

New Zealand's Carlos Ulberg made short work of UFC light heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes on Saturday night with an effortless first-round stoppage at 4:27 at UFC Fight Night in Perth, Australia.

Ulberg (13-1 MMA) kept his messaging simple following his ninth consecutive UFC win, confirming his attendance for next Saturday's UFC 320 title fight rematch in Las Vegas between Russian Magomed Ankalaev (21-1, 1 NC) and ex-light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira (12-3) of Brazil.

"I'm coming (for the belt)," Ulberg said following the fight.

American Reyes (15-4 MMA) had a three-fight winning streak snapped, suffering his first KO/TKO loss since November 2022 to Ryan Spann.

The co-headliner at light heavyweight saw the home country's Jimmy Crute (14-4-2) win back-to-back fights, this time beating Croatia's Ivan Erslan (14-6) by rear-naked-choke at 3:19 of the first round. Erslan is still without a UFC win through three appearances, last coming away with a victory in February 2024. Meanwhile, Crute's submission was his sixth of his career.

Featherweight Jack Jenkins of Australia used his volume striking and forward movement to overcome the always durable Ramon Taveras of the United States by unanimous decision: 30-27, 30-27, 29-28. Jenkins (14-4) has won five of his last seven, while Taveras (10-4) has lost three of his last five and has gone just over 20 months without a win.

For the second straight fight, UFC welterweight veteran Neil Magny of the United States kept the submission trend rolling with a d'arce choke against Australian fan favourite Jake Matthews at 3:08 of the third round. Magny (31-14) survived an early onslaught from Matthews (22-8) before rallying to secure his 24th UFC win and improve his winning streak to two.

The UFC Fight Night main card began with lightweight Tom Nolan of Australia securing a rear-naked choke over American Charlie Campbell at 4:08 of the first round. Nolan (10-1) halted a three-fight winning streak from Campbell (9-3), who had not lost since August 2022.

Carlos Ulberg will look to continue his strong run in the UFC whe he faces Dominick Reyes in the light heavyweight main event of a Fight Night set for the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, on the morning of Sunday 28 September 2025.

Ulberg (12-1) has racked up eight straight wins, most recently defeating former Light Heavyweight World Champion Jan Blachowicz via unanimous decision in March to underline his seriousness as a future title contender.

The 34-year-old New Zealander will main event for the first time at a UFC event – with the potential to be lined up as the next opponent for the winner of the Light Heavyweight title rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira at UFC 320 the following weekend.

“This sets us up for the title for sure,” said the fighter nicknamed ‘Black Jag’.

“We’ve still got a bit of time. If this fight goes ahead with the rematch with Ankalaev and Pereira, it’ll be a while. But either way I see myself fighting for the title next after this fight here.”

Reyes (15-4) has put together a three-match winning streak, stopping Dustin Jacoby, Anthony Smith and Nikita Krylov within the past 15 months to bring himself back into the title picture – having previously lost title bouts against Jon Jones and Blachowicz in 2020.

The 35-year-old American, nicknamed ‘The Devastator’, is keen to derail Ulberg’s rise in the division: “Obviously they (UFC) have built him, put him against lower competition.

“But what I make of Carlos, he’s an incredible athlete, man. And he’s going to be the best athlete I’ve ever fought in my career. He’s also really technical, excellent footwork.

“But it’s almost like, I dunno … he doesn’t want to lose. Carlos fights safe. He fights really safe. And that’s off putting to a lot of fans because a fighter fights, he doesn’t go out there and try to score points and sneak by.”

Reyes added, “The reason why he’s not fighting for a title right now, his last performance was very lacklustre.

“You’re not getting a title shot off leg kicks and running away the whole time.”

The rest of the main card features Jimmy Crute v Ivan Erslan, and Junior Tafa v Ibo Aslan, both in the light heavyweight division; Tom Nolan tackles Evan Elder in a lightweight clash; a lightweight match pits Tom Nolan against Charlie Campbell; and Jack Jenkins faces Ramon Taveras in the featherweight category.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT: ULBERG VS. REYES – MAIN CARD

Main event: Light heavyweight: Carlos Ulberg v Dominick Reyes

Light heavyweight: Junior Tafa v Ibo Aslan

Featherweight: Jack Jenkins v Ramon Taveras

Light heavyweight: Jimmy Crute v Ivan Erslan

Welterweight: Jake Matthews v Neil Magny

Lightweight: Tom Nolan v Charlie Campbell

Nassourdine ‘The Sniper’ Imavov has put himself forward as the next contender for the UFC Middleweight Championship after securing a unanimous decision win over Caio Borralho in the main event of a Fight Night at the Accor Arena in Paris, France, on the evening of Saturday, 6 September 2025.

The 29-year-old Frenchman became the first man in a decade to defeat ‘The Natural’ and looks set to be the first test for Khamzat Chimaev, who won the division championship off Dricus du Plessis last month.

After a cagey opening round, Imavov took control in the second with razor-sharp striking, including a spinning back-fist which caught Borralho on the neck and could have been a knock-out blow had it been just a touch higher.

The Brazilian enjoyed a better third round on the back of advice to make the fight “dirty” from his corner, but ultimately Imavov’s accurate striking regained the ascendancy through rounds four and five, earning the Frenchman a popular decision victory – 50-45 49-46 49-46 on the judges’ score cards.

'I AM NEXT'

“Considering the circumstances, I’m happy with my performance,” said Imavov, who admitted that he felt some degree of discomfort in his right foot through the fight.

“I am next,” Imavov responded when asked if he felt he should have his first title match. “Absolutely, I need to be the next one [to fight for the belt].”

The rest of the main card featured William Gomis out-pointing Robert Ruchala in the featherweight opener; Axel Sola stopped Rhys McKee in the third round of their welterweight fight; Mason Jones got the better of Bolaji Oki with a second-round TKO in their lightweight battle; Modestas Bukauskas knocked out fellow light heavyweight Paul Craig with a brutal elbow right at the end of round one; and home favourite Benoit Saint Denis submitted Mauricio Ruffy in the second round of their lightweight co-main event for the biggest win of his career to date.

The UFC continues next weekend with UFC Noche at the Frost bank Centre in San Antonio, Texas, headlined by a featherweight clash between Diego Lopes and Jean Silva.

UFC Fight Night: Imavov v Borralho – Main card results

- Main event: Middleweight: Nassourdine Imavov def. Caio Borralho via unanimous decision (50-45 49-46 49-46), R5, 5:00

- Lightweight: Benoit Saint Denis def. Mauricio Ruffy via submission (rear-naked choke), R2, 2:56

- Light heavyweight: Modestas Bukauskas def. Paul Craig via KO (elbows), R1, 5:00

- Lightweight: Mason Jones def. Bolaji Oki via TKO (elbows), R2, 3:18

- Welterweight: Axel Sola def. Rhys McKee via TKO (punches), R3, 2:02

- Featherweight: William Gomis def. Robert Ruchala via unanimous decision (30-27 29-28 29-28), R3, 5:00

By day Shi Ming heals patients as a traditional Chinese medicine doctor. By night she trains to deliver brutal knockouts in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Shi shot to fame in November when she won a contract with UFC with a devastating kick that saw Chinese compatriot Feng Xiaocan carried out of the octagon on a stretcher.

There was no trace of that ferocity in the demure, softly spoken figure AFP met last week ahead of her UFC debut.

Dressed in baby pink with large, round glasses resting gently on her nose, Shi said she has to "brainwash" herself before each fight to overcome her instinct to avoid causing harm.

"I do hold back a little," the 30-year-old said.

"In several past matches, I didn't finish someone off when I had the chance, which allowed my opponents to recover and nearly reverse the outcome."

"I need to adjust myself for every match, not overthinking things. Before each competition, I always brainwash myself to stay focused on the match," she added.

The ruthless victory over Feng in Macau propelled her into the mixed martial arts (MMA) spotlight, in the process also revealing her other life to her parents, who had been unaware she was involved in the sport at all.

On Friday thousands of Chinese fans packed a Shanghai arena to rally behind her, cheering loudly every time she landed a strike.

Shi ultimately lost by decision, but still received a huge ovation, with fans screaming "Go Dr Shi!" as she bowed gratefully.

'UNDER PRESSURE'

The diminutive fighter still works fulltime in her home city of Kunming, in southwest Yunnan province.

"I still prioritise my medical work and only focus on training after I finish all my duties," she said.

Her days typically begin at the hospital, where she consults patients, prescribes medicine and performs acupuncture.

Once work is finished, she spends hours training at a wrestling club alongside amateurs from all walks of life.

As a child she practised taekwondo and the Chinese fighting system sanda, only starting MMA as a young adult.

Physically, Shi does not fit the image of a professional fighter.

She describes herself as near-sighted, without a long reach and short – her opponent on Friday, Bruna Brasil, was four inches taller than her.

"People used to assume I would lose," she said.

"I'm under a lot of pressure these days. I feel like if I lose now, I might disappoint a lot of people."

Despite still not fully understanding the sport and worrying about injury her parents support her unconditionally.

In a recent UFC interview, her mother tearfully recalled Shi's teenage training years.

"It hasn't been easy for her to persist until now," she said. "I'm incredibly proud and comforted by how far she's come."

DUAL PATHS

Shi told AFP she would not be giving up her day job anytime soon.

The reliable income allows her to fund her MMA training and coaching.

"I never put all my eggs in one basket," she said.

"I find joy in both practising medicine and fighting."

Healing runs in her family – both her grandparents were doctors – and she often treats her own fight injuries with acupuncture.

"When I was young... I helped in (my grandparents') clinic every holiday and I wanted to be a doctor from then on," she said.

"I think it's a job that is very respected and can help my friends and family."

But she said she might consider focusing more on MMA if she climbs up the UFC rankings.

After her loss on Friday she said she felt she had "let the whole of China down".

But fans on social media were undeterred.

"Dr Shi squeezes in training between giving injections. Reaching this level as a part-timer is already top-tier," read one comment.

"She's only going to get stronger!"

Johnny Walker ended the winning streak of Zhang Mingyang with a TKO triumph in the light heavyweight main event of a UFC Fight Night at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium on the afternoon of Saturday 23 August 2025.

Zhang, who had racked up 12 straight wins in his professional career heading into this fight, was in control through the first round on the back of his striking and superior strength in the clinch.

However, Walker had laid the groundwork for a comeback victory with a number of calf kicks, and midway through the second round another such strike effectively cripped Zhang, who was unable to keep his feet and found himself on his back trying to defend blows raining down from above – ultimately the referee stepped in to stop the fight when it was clear that the home favourite had no way out of his position.

“I took some punches in the face today, but I was tough and kept coming. This is great, this is MMA, right?” said Walker in his post-fight interview, having also called out former champion Jan Blachowicz.

In the rest of the main card, Taiyilake Nueraji stopped Kiefer Crosbie in the first round of their welterweight opener; Su Mudaerji got the better of Kevin Borjas via unanimous decision in flyweight thriller; Sergei Pavlovich outpointed Waldo Cortes-Acosta in a heavyweight bout; and Aljamain Sterling took an emphatic unanimous decision win over Brian Ortega in a catchweight (153 lb) match.

The UFC will resume on the evening of Saturday 6 September with a Fight Night in Paris, headlined by a middleweight clash between Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT: WALKER VS. ZHANG – MAIN CARD RESULTS

- Main event: Light heavyweight: Johnny Walker def. Zhang Mingyang via TKO (punches), R2, 2:37

- Catchweight (153 lb): Aljamain Sterling def. Brian Ortega via unanimous decision (50-45 50-45 50-45), R5, 5:00

- Heavyweight: Sergei Pavlovich def. Waldo Cortes-Acosta via unanimous decision (30-27 39-38 39-380, R3, 5:00

- Flyweight: Su Mudaerji def. Kevin Borjas via unanimous decision (30-37 30-37 30-37), R3, 5:00

- Welterweight: Taiyilake Nueraji def. Kiefer Crosbie via TKO (elbows), R1, 3:33

The ‘Mountain Tiger’ Zhang Mingyang will aim to continue his epic winning run when he faces Johnny Walker in the light heavyweight main event of a UFC Fight Night, set for the Shanghai Indoor Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Zhang (19-6) has put together a 12-match winning streak which started back in early 2020 when he was still part of the Wu Lin Feng (WLF) series. The 26-year-old Chinese most recently claimed a statement first-round TKO win over highly-regarded veteran Anthony Smith to signal his rise to prominence in the division.

The Mountain Tiger’s 19 wins have all been first-round finishes, as he reveals that his in-depth preparation helps him identify weaknesses in his opponents.

“What I found out is you need to study more about your opponent, and then you can find the holes in their game,” Zhang explained. “Then, when you get into the fight against him, you can read and find where the opening is and catch it and finish him.”

Walker (21-9, 1 NC) is looking to bounce back from successive KO defeats at the hands of Magomed Ankalaev and Volkan Oezdemir in 2024.

The 33-year-old Brazilian is looking forward to getting back to action after a rib injury forced him to withdraw from a fight against Bogdan Guskov at UFC 311 back in January.

“I haven’t fought since early 2024 due to injury and fight delays, but I’m ready now. I’m hungry. Nothing compares to the feeling of stepping into that cage,” said Walker.

“Being in the UFC means everything to me. It’s not just a career. It’s my purpose, my way to provide for my family and the life I was meant to live.”

The rest of the main card features a high-class featherweight fight between former championship contender Brian Ortega and former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling; Sergei Pavlovich v Waldo Cortes-Acosta in the heavyweight division; a flyweight fight pitting Su Mudaerji against Kevin Borjas; and Taiyilake Nueraji v Kiefer Crosbie in the welterweight opener.

UFC Fight Night: Walker v Zhang – Main card

- Main event: Light heavyweight: Johnny Walker v Zhang Mingyang

- Featherweight: Brian Ortega v Aljamain Sterling

- Heavyweight: Sergei Pavlovich v Waldo Cortes-Acosta

- Flyweight: Su Mudaerji v Kevin Borjas

- Welterweight: Taiyilake Nueraji v Kiefer Crosbie

A record number of strikes and several submission attempts were enough for Khamzat Chimaev to win the UFC Middleweight Championship over Dricus du Plessis by unanimous decision at UFC 319 on Saturday night.

By taking all three cards by 50-44 scores, the 31-year-old Russian remained unbeaten at 15-0 despite what was a largely supportive sold-out United Center crowd turning to jeers as the fight went on.

Chimaev also landed 529 strikes in the match, breaking Max Holloway's UFC record of 447 set in 2021, according to ESPN. His plus-484 striking differential also set a record, breaking Holloway's mark of plus-312 in that same 2021 match against Calvin Klatter.

The South African du Plessis (20-3) was on the canvas within the match's first 10 seconds and he was on the defensive throughout the match.

"All credit to Khamzat," du Plessis said after the fight. "He beat me fair and square."

With a crowded middleweight title-contender pool in front of him, Chimaev said he was spending at least one night enjoying his breakthrough win.

"I'm going to go back to the hotel, joke with my friends, and enjoy this victory," Chimaev said.

The rest of the main card saw Lerone Murphy and Carlos Prates deliver respective spinning back elbow knockouts of Aaron Pico and Geoff Neal, respectively. Murphy stayed unbeaten in the featherweight division while Prates ended his fight with one second remaining in the opening round.

Middleweight Michael Page's two knockdowns were enough to secure a unanimous decision win over Jared Cannonier, and flyweight Tim Elliott secured a guillotine choke submission win over Kai Asakura.

UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis will battle his opponent as well as what figures to be a hostile crowd when he defends his title against Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of UFC 319 on Saturday.

At the pre-match promotion on Thursday, Du Plessis was faced with a gathering of mostly Chimaev supporters. The 31-year-old South African champion will be fighting on US soil for the first time since 2023, a year after his 31-year-old Russian challenger last competed in the United States.

Du Plessis (23-2 MMA), the betting underdog against the undefeated Chimaev (14-0 MMA), kept a rather calm demeanor on Thursday and did his best to drown out the boos, even though it wasn't an easy task.

UFC is returning to Chicago for the first time since June 2019 and this will be the third middleweight title fight hosted in Illinois since 2008.

Du Plessis is making his third title defense since becoming the champ by defeating Sean Strickland on a split decision in January 2024. He subsequently won by submission over Israel Adesanya in UFC 3015 last August, then beat Strickland again by decision in February at UFC 312.

"I think it's the fact that I want to go out there and fight the best," du Plessis said. "Remember when you're cheering Saturday night."

Although Chimaev kept his composure while letting the crowd express itself on its behalf, he did offer one bold prediction for fight night.

"Africa never gonna see the belt again. Sorry guys," Chimaev said.

The middleweight bout headlines a 13-fight card, with the ESPN+ pay-per-view portion beginning at 10pm ET.

UFC 319 MAIN CARD BOUT ORDER, SUBJECT TO CHANGE:

Dricus du Plessis (c) v Khamzat Chimaev, for du Plessis' UFC middleweight title

Lerone Murphy v Aaron Pico, featherweight

Geoff Neal v Carlos Prates, welterweight

Jared Cannonier v Michael Page, middleweight

Tim Elliott v Kai Asakura, flyweight

Following Thursday’s official weigh-ins, the finals of the 2025 PFL World Tournament continue on Friday evening at Bojangles Coliseum, Charlotte, with the Lightweights, Bantamweights, and Women’s Flyweights, making their walk to the SmartCage.

Headlined by three Tournament Championship bouts, the event promises a thrilling night of elite MMA action for fans in Charlotte and around the world.

Lightweights headline the card as England's Alfie Davis (19-5) stands across the SmartCage to face 2024 PFL Lightweight Champion Gadzhi Rabadanov (26-4-2).

The co-main event will see Women’s Flyweights go head-to-head as Jena Bishop (9-2) faces former Bellator Champion Liz Carmouche (24-8) for World Tournament gold.

In the Bantamweight division, Brazil's Marcirley Alves (14-4) takes on American Justin Wetzell (12-2). All finals are scheduled for five, five-minute rounds, with the winners crowned as PFL Tournament Champions and earning their share of over $20 million in prize money.

Also on the main card, fan-favourite Mads Burnell (20-7) faces American Robert Watley (15-3) in a Lightweight Showcase bout.

The main card will air live in Africa from 00:30am on Saturday morning, only on SuperSport on DStv.

South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis will put his UFC middleweight championship title on the line when he faces Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319.

This highly anticipated bout is being billed as one of the biggest matchups of the year, with both fighters undefeated in their UFC careers.

🥊 FIGHT DETAILS:

Event: UFC 319

Main Event: Dricus Du Plessis v Khamzat Chimaev

Title: UFC Middleweight Championship

Date: Sunday, August 17

Location: United Centre, Chicago

Start Time: 4am (main card)

Broadcast details: SS Action and Maximo 1

🧠 BACKGROUND:

Du Plessis (23-2), who claimed the title with a split-decision victory over Sean Strickland in January 2024 and has not lost since October 2018, will attempt to knock Chimaev from the ranks of the unbeaten.

In a unanimous decision in February, Du Plessis won the rematch against Strickland and also has victories over former titleholders Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker.

Chimaev (14-0) is coming off a first-round submission of Whittaker in October and has also taken down Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman.

Chimaev, who fights out of the United Arab Emirates by way of Chechnya, Russia, is a powerful wrestler and striker who has six submission victories under his belt.

FIGHTING STYLES

🦁 DRICUS "STILLKNOCKS" DU PLESSIS

Style: Unorthodox striker with strong grappling

Base: Kickboxing & Judo

🔹 Strengths:

Pressure Fighter: Du Plessis thrives on forward pressure, often overwhelming opponents with volume and aggression.

Unorthodox movement: His striking is awkward but effective, throwing off opponents’ timing.

Durability & Cardio: Known for pushing a relentless pace deep into fights.

Grappling: Underrated ground game with solid takedown defense and submission skills (multiple wins by guillotine choke).

🔹 Weaknesses:

Defensive Gaps: His wild style can leave him open to counters.

Striking Accuracy: Sometimes sacrifices precision for volume.

🐺 KHAMZAT "BORZ" CHIMAEV

Style: Elite Wrestler with Explosive Striking

Base: Freestyle Wrestling

Record: 14-0 (as of July 2025)

🔹 Strengths:

World-Class Wrestling: Dominates opponents with takedowns and top control.

Explosive Starts: Known for blitzing opponents early with overwhelming pressure.

Ground-and-Pound: Vicious elbows and punches from top position.

Submission Threat: Strong rear-naked choke and D’Arce choke game.

🔹 Weaknesses:

Cardio Concerns: Has shown signs of fatigue in longer fights.

Striking Defense: Can be hit when overcommitting to offense.

🧠 TACTICAL MATCH UP INSIGHT

If it stays standing: Du Plessis has the edge in volume and awkward striking, especially in later rounds.

If it goes to the ground: Chimaev’s wrestling is likely superior, but Du Plessis is dangerous off his back.

Cardio Battle: Du Plessis may have the advantage if the fight goes past round 3.

Dricus du Plessis will put his Middleweight Championship on the line when he faces the threat of Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of UFC 319, set for the United Centre in Chicago, Illinois, on Sunday morning.

Du Plessis (23-2) won the title off Sean Strickland in early 2024 and has made two successful defences, submitting Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in August of last year, and outpointing Strickland in a rematch in February of 2025.

“Stillknocks” is on an 11-fight win streak and comes into this match full of confidence that he can make it a hat-trick of successful title defences.

“With my style, that is a very controversial style in the UFC, unlike anything that most people have ever seen,” said the South African.

"But it's only a benefit because it's proven to be effective. But then again, how do you prepare for that? How do you find somebody to mimic that?

"And at the end of the day, that's almost my niche. It's impossible to prepare for me because I have this unique style that... where do you find somebody to mimic it?"

Du Plessis added, “I'm the underdog. I've been the underdog for most of my career, yet I am the champion. So, odds don't make fights and for me, I 100 per cent believe this is the best opponent that I have faced to date.

"But so was the previous one. Every time you step in there, you're going to face the next most dangerous guy – especially as the champion.

"So for me, yes, this is the best opponent I've ever come up against, but once again, I'll show my improvements and why I am the champion.”

Chimaev (14-0) is undefeated as a professional and he has claimed notable scalps in his last four fights, putting away Gilbert Burns (via unanimous decision), Kevin Holland (submission), Kamaru Usman (majority decision) and Robert Whittaker (submission) to earn a shot at the belt.

The rest of the main card features the UFC debut of former wrestler Aaron Pico, as he takes on Lerone Murphy in the featherweight division; Geoff Neal takes on Carlos Prates in the welterweight division; a middleweight match pits Jared Cannonier against Michael Page; and Tim Elliott battles Kai Asakura in a flyweight fight.

UFC 319: DU PLESSIS VS. CHIMAEV – MAIN CARD

- Main event: Middleweight Championship: Dricus du Plessis v Khamzat Chimaev

- Featherweight: Lerone Murphy v Aaron Pico

- Welterweight: Geoff Neal v Carlos Prates

- Middleweight: Jared Cannonier v Michael Page

- Flyweight: Tim Elliott v Kai Asakura

Anthony Hernandez claimed a statement win over Roman Dolidze in the middleweight main event of a UFC Fight Night at the Apex Facility in Las Vegas on Saturday night (Sunday morning SA time).

Hernandez, who moves to 15-2 (1 NC) and is on an eight-fight win streak, bossed this clash from the buzzer, bullying Dolidze and exerting relentless pressure, before ultimately sealing the win in Round 4 with a rear-naked choke.

‘Fluffy’ became the first man to stop Dolidze in nearly 20 fights, a feat that not even Nassourdine Imavov (the No 1-ranked middleweight) managed.

"I want a title shot. What the f*** do I have to do?" Hernandez said in his post-fight interview. "Give me the title shot and I promise I'll be the next champ.”

He added, "I want a belt. I want something to prove I'm the best fighter in the world."

The rest of the main card saw Steve Erceg overcome Ode’ Osbourne in a reshuffled bantamweight co-main event; Isamin Lucindo defeated Angela Hill via unanimous decision in the women’s strawweight division; a featherweight fight saw Andre Fili edge Christian Rodriguez via split decision; Jean Matsumoto also won via split decision against Miles Johns in the bantamweight division; and the middleweight opener saw Christian Leroy Duncan stop Eryk Anders in the first round.

The UFC continues next weekend with UFC 319 from the United Centre in Chicago, Illinois, as Dricus du Plessis defends his Middleweight Championship against Khamzat Chimaev.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS

- Main event: Middleweight: Anthony Hernandez def. Roman Dolidze via submission (rear-naked choke), R4, 2:45

- Bantamweight: Steve Erceg def. Ode’ Osbourne via unanimous decision (29-28 29-28 29-28), R3, 5:00

- Women’s strawweight: Isamin Lucindo def. Angela Hill via unanimous decision (30-27 30-27 29-28), R3, 5:00

- Featherweight: Andre Fili def. Christian Rodriguez via split decision (29-28 28-29 30-27), R3, 5:00

- Bantamweight: Jean Matsumoto def. Miles Johns via split decision (29-28 28-29 29-28), R3, 5:00

- Middleweight: Christian Leroy Duncan def. Eryk Anders via TKO (back elbow and punches), R1, 3:53

It was a night of nail-biting action as a packed-to-capacity Johannesburg crowd witnessed eight more fighters punching their tickets to the PFL Africa semifinals on Saturday.

The series’ African debut continued tonight at the Big Top Arena in Carnival City, with Africa’s best featherweights and welterweights stepping into the spotlight and thrilling the Johannesburg crowd with explosive finishes.

PFL Africa general manager, Elias Schulze, says, “This was electric, it was aspirational. From the first fight to the very end, you saw heart and soul on display that even globally is rare, and that’s what I’m hearing from my friends and family around the world tonight, what we saw tonight was the heart of the fighter come out”.

OCHEME TOO MUCH FOR CAMARA

In the main event, Patrick Ocheme (7-1) capped off the night with a strong performance, defeating Mohamed Camara (5-3-1) by unanimous decision to clinch his spot in the PFL Africa featherweight semifinals.

Ocheme overcame a slow start in the first round and turned the tide in the second after dropping Camara with a big shot. He remained in control in the final round to secure the victory and a place in the Featherweight final four.

Ocheme admitted his determination to win was boosted by the cage-side presence of South Africa’s Springbok rugby captain Siya Kolisi.

“It played such a big part in a positive way for me. Seeing guys like that, doing so well and being so well respected, making the time to come and enjoy the show like this is truly inspiring to me”.

In the night’s co-main event, Shido Boris Esperanca (10-1) took just 34 seconds to submit Ibrahima Mané (13-6) and secure his place in the PFL Africa Welterweight Semifinals. At the opening bell, Esperanca blitzed Mané, immediately took his back, locked in the choke, and forced the tap in seconds.

The Angolan striker says his involvement in PFL Africa is about more than competing, as he hopes he can inspire the next generation of fighters. “I see myself as an ambassador for PFL Africa and for MMA across the continent. I want to support African fighters and help younger athletes grow. PFL Africa is huge and I can see myself being part of it for many years.”

Also in the Welterweight Division, Octave Ayinda (6-0) made quick work of British Boloyoang (3-2), winning by TKO and advancing to the PFL Africa Welterweight Semifinals. Ayinda escaped an early guillotine choke attempt from Boloyoang and managed to wind up on top. From there, he punished Boloyoang with heavy shots, forcing the referee to stop the bout at the 1:55 mark of the first round.

Yabna N’tchala (12-2-1) turned in an impressive all-around performance, outstriking and outgrappling Sanon Sadeck (7-3) over three rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory and a place in the PFL Africa Welterweight Semifinals. N’tchala picked his shots and set up his takedowns effectively to cruise past Sadeck and claim the important win.

Following tonight’s action, the PFL Africa Featherweight and Welterweight Finals are now set. In the Featherweight Division, Patrick Ocheme will face Abdoul Razac Sankara, while Wasi Adeshina meets Dwight Joseph. Meanwhile, in the Welterweight Division, Shido Boris Esperanca will take on Octave Ayinda, and Yabna N’tchala will go up against Emilios Dassi.

RESULTS

Patrick Ocheme (7-1) def. Mohamed Camara (5-3-1) via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)

Shido Boris Esperanca (10-1) def. Ibrahima Mané (13-6) by submission (rear naked choke) at 0:34 of round one

Octave Ayinda (6-0) def. British Boloyoang (3-2) by TKO () at 1:55 of round one

Yabna N’tchala (12-2-1) def. Sanon Sadeck (7-3) by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

Emilios Dassi (5-1) def. Osvaldo Benedito (3-2) by KO (punches) at 2:12 of round one

Wasi Adeshina (8-3) def. Jean Jacques Lubaya (9-2) via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:14 of round two

Dwight Joseph (15-2) def. Wilker Nsamo (7-1) via KO (knee) at 4:57 of round two

Abderahman Errachidy (5-1) def. Elbert Steyn (3-1) via TKO (knee) at 0:14 of round two

Abdoul Razac Sankara (7-3) def. Shadrack Yemba (4-1) via KO (head kick) at 2:01 of round one

Kunle Lawal (3-1) def. Desmond Tamungang (5-1) via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

As the world’s fastest growing MMA tournament lands in the City of Gold, Pretoria local Elbert “Pikachu” Steyn is ready to make history in front of a sold-out home crowd on Saturday.

PFL Africa will host its second ever event in Johannesburg, following a sold-out debut in Cape Town in July.

This will see Steyn step into the PFL SmartCage for a first-round featherweight bout against Morocco’s Abderrahman Errachidy in the Big Top Arena at Carnival City, Brakpan.

The 25-year-old fighter is the only South African on the card, which features 20 of the best featherweights and welterweights on the continent. Steyn will be looking to extend his unbeaten professional record (3-0) against Errachidy and secure his place in the PFL Africa semifinals in the process.

Speaking at the official PFL Africa: Johannesburg Media Event hosted at Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, Steyn highlighted the importance the crowd will play in his fight.

“PFL Africa is definitely a history making event and everyone there on Saturday is going to be part of history. I am super excited to be there and I know the crowd is going to absolutely bring it. \

"I have also got a lot of supporters, and I am going to carry them on my back. That pressure helps shape and motivate me, so I love to have that support and deal with the pressure it brings.”

Nigeria’s Patrick Ocheme, who will take on Mohamed Camara from Guinea in the main event, emphasised the importance of PFL Africa in providing a platform to local fighters.

“There are a lot of guys who are constantly training, just waiting for the opportunity to show the world what they can actually do. PFL Africa provides that opportunity to showcase our talents on a global stage.”

Steyn described taking part in an event of the magnitude of the PFL in South Africa as “a dream come true”, saying “I never thought I would do PFL in South Africa. I always knew I’d make it to the big stage eventually, but I didn’t think that would be locally, so that’s a shocker for me.”

In total, 32 fighters representing 15 African nations will compete across the four PFL Africa divisions in 2025, as the league embarks on a continent wide journey to crown the first-ever PFL Africa Champions.

Fight fans can catch the action live on Saturday night. Tickets can be purchased from TicketPro

Roman Dolidze will look to end the rise of Anthony Hernandez in the UFC’s middleweight division when the pair meet for the main event match of a Fight Night at the Apex Facility in Las Vegas on the morning of Sunday 9 August 2025.

Dolidze (15-3) has established himself as one of the fringe title contenders at 185 lbs (84 kg), having claimed three successive wins over Anthony Smith, Kevin Holland and Marvin Vettori since June of 2024 to rise to eighth in the rankings.

The 36-year-old Georgian remains humble and focused as he continues in his ambition of winning the middleweight championship: “No statement. I'm just stepping forward to the title,” he said.

“Nothing goes through my head [on the walk to the cage]. I’m just glad to be there. I worked a lot for that, and I just need to do what I was training to do, and so I'm ready to go.”

Hernandez (14-2, 1 NC) has been on a tear since early 2021, racking up seven straight wins to rise to ninth in the rankings. His last fight saw him overcome the highly-regarded Brendan Allen via unanimous decision in February of this year.

The 31-year-old American, nicknamed ‘Fluffy’, plans to continue his winning streak and is targeting a fight with middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis (who will put his title on the line later this month against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319).

“I think [what] would be a great fight realistically and who mixes it up really well would be Du Plessis,” Hernandez explained. “He mixes it very f***ing well, and that’s why he’s champion right now. He’s just a tough motherf***er, and he goes.

“He looks like he’s gassed, and he keeps pushing,” Hernandez continued. “I’d love to fight him. I’m just going to keep climbing the ladder so I can get to him. Great job to him. Keep up the great work, man.”

The rest of the main card features a high-class bantamweight battle between Alex Perez and Steve Erceg; Isamin Lucindo v Angela Hill in the women’s strawweight division; a featherweight fight pits Andre Fili against Christian Rodriguez; Miles Johns and Jean Matsumoto will meet in another bantamweight clash; and a middleweight match will see Eryk Anders throw down with Christian Leroy Duncan.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT: DOLIDZE VS. HERNANDEZ – MAIN CARD

- Main event: Middleweight: Roman Dolidze v Anthony Hernandez

- Bantamweight: Alex Perez v Steve Erceg

- Women’s strawweight: Isamin Lucindo v Angela Hill

- Featherweight: Andre Fili v Christian Rodriguez

- Bantamweight: Miles Johns v Jean Matsumoto

- Middleweight: Eryk Anders v Christian Leroy Duncan