Du Plessis enters UFC 319 as the defending champion, looking to complete a third defense. He won the belt from Sean Strickland in early 2024, and has since defended it twice – submitting Israel Adesanya, and outpointing Strickland again in a rematch.

That must be what most MMA fans are thinking with Khamzat Chimaev getting his first title shot. Having burst onto the scene early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Chimaev benefited from the strange dynamics that affected global sports at that time.

The UFC middleweight championship wasn't built for Dricus du Plessis, he took it by force. That honor seemed reserved for Khamzat Chimaev, whom many deemed a future champion early on. Maybe that's why Du Plessis is a betting underdog at UFC 319 in Chicago.