
Dricus Du Plessis will face Khamzat Chimaev in the headlining event of UFC 319 in Chicago on August 17, with the middleweight title on the line. Their fight was supposed to take place two months earlier, making it even more anticipated. Will Du Plessis be able to retain the gold, or will we see a new champion announced? Let's find out.


Said Nurmagomedov and Bryce Mitchell were given a chance to rehabilitate themselves after losses by meeting at the UFC on ABC 9 tournament, which is scheduled for July 26. Both are outside the TOP-15 rating, so a victory for both is an opportunity to get a ranked opponent in the future. So who will be better?


After an unsuccessful comeback, Nikita Krylov does not intend to stand idle for long, so he agreed to a fight with Bogdan Guskov at the UFC on ABC 9 tournament on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. For Bogdan, this is a chance to enter the TOP-10, but Shakhtar intends to secure its position by winning. It is time to assess the chances of both of them to triumph in this fight.


Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has an intriguing showdown looming against top prospect Rainier De Ridder. They have been lined up to headline UFC on ABC 9 on July 26 at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The Etihad Arena will be the venue for the fight for a spot in the top 5 of the 84kg division.


No matter how much Derrick Lewis begs the UFC not to give him 5-round fights, his star status inevitably leads to the need to headline tournaments. One of them will be held in Nashville, at Bridgestone Arena, on June 13, where the "Black Beast" will meet the new heavyweight talent - Tallison Teixeira. The guys will definitely decorate the anniversary UFC on ESPN 70, since there will be no knockout here.


The featherweight champion on paper, Iliya Topuria, has earned a title shot with his move up to 70 kg, where he will fight for gold against Charles Oliveira. The vacant Makhachev belt will go to one of them at UFC 317, June 29 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It will be International Fight Week, and it is a spectacle not to be missed.


Rafael Fiziev's career is noticeably sagging in terms of winnings, and he is returning to fix it. "Ataman" will perform at the first tournament in Baku - UFC on ABC 8, in the co-main fight, in the last minutes on June 21. There are rumors that this fight may even become the headliner, but we will talk about something completely different.


The UFC is planning to conduct a test: is Gilbert Burns ready to compete with young prospects, and is Michael Morales capable of confronting former top welterweights? Who can do what – we will find out on May 18, at the UFC Fight Night 256 tournament, where in the main fight these guys will determine the best in a five-round duel.

