Du Plessis has defied expectations since joining the UFC, proving himself against the best 185 pounds has to offer. He defeated former champ Robert Whittaker in a title eliminator, defeated Sean Strickland to win the title and successfully defended the title against another former champ in Israel Adesanya.

This Saturday, the highly anticipated UFC middleweight championship bout takes place in Chicago in the main event of UFC 319. Dricus du Plessis puts his championship on the line for the third time against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev.