The MMA world is buzzing after UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis appeared to inadvertently leak a blockbuster co-main event for UFC 319. In an informal moment captured on video, Du Plessis named Paddy Pimblett vs. Justin Gaethje because the penultimate bout for the August 16 PPV in Chicago, a fight with massive implications for the lightweight title picture.
Based on Du Plessis, the UFC 319 co-main event will see Paddy Pimblett square off against Justin Gaethje in what’s widely expected to be a No. 1 contender bout within the lightweight division. The winner would likely earn the following shot at newly crowned lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, who claimed the vacant belt with a knockout victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317.
“It’s going to be an enormous card, the co-main event is Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje. That’s an awesome fight. Awesome fight.”
While the UFC has yet to officially confirm the matchup, Du Plessis’ position atop the cardboard lends credibility to his comments. Each Pimblett and Gaethje have been tight-lipped about their next moves, fueling speculation that this high-stakes clash is indeed within the works.
Lightweight Title Picture
The timing of this rumored bout is critical. After Topuria’s title-winning performance, he and Pimblett engaged in a heated faceoff contained in the Octagon, hinting at a possible grudge match for the belt. Nonetheless, UFC President Dana White quickly poured cold water on those plans, stating that a Pimblett-Topuria title fight was not within the works and expressing frustration over the impromptu faceoff.
Ilia Topuria’s post-fight interview was electrifying! He dropped some X-rated words and wasn’t shy about calling out Paddy Pimblett for his first title defense! Are you able to imagine the intensity of a Paddy Pimblett vs. Topuria showdown? It’s shaping as much as be an incredible fight that… pic.twitter.com/e3EwGguDn1
— mandela.nelson21 (@mandelanelson21) June 29, 2025
Gaethje, meanwhile, has made it clear that he would only return for a title shot, and his manager has even floated the potential of retirement if he’s omitted. A win over Pimblett, nevertheless, would almost definitely cement Gaethje’s status because the division’s top contender.
Pimblett, fresh off a career-best TKO of Michael Chandler at UFC 314, has surged into the lightweight top six and is riding a wave of momentum. He’s also publicly stated that Gaethje is the most probably next opponent, though he stays open to facing Topuria if the chance arises.
UFC 319 Confirmed Fights
While the co-main event remains to be technically a rumor, the most important event for UFC 319 is about in stone: Dricus du Plessis will defend his middleweight title against the undefeated and fearsome Khamzat Chimaev. This matchup pits two of the division’s most dangerous finishers against one another in a bout that would redefine the 185-pound hierarchy.
Confirmed fights for UFC 319 include:
- Middleweight Title Fundamental Event: Dricus du Plessis (c) vs. Khamzat Chimaev
- Middleweight: Jared Cannonier vs. Michael ‘Venom’ Page
- Flyweight: Tim Elliott vs. Kai Asakura
- Middleweight: Bryan Battle vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
- Lightweight: King Green vs. Diego Ferreira
- Lightweight: Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber
- Lightweight: Edson Barboza vs. Drakkar Klose
- Middleweight: Gerald Meerschaert vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk
- Lightweight: Chase Hooper vs. Alexander Hernandez
- Women’s Strawweight: Jessica Andrade vs. Loopy Godinez
- Women’s Flyweight: Karine Silva vs. JJ Aldrich
The cardboard marks the UFC’s return to Chicago’s United Center for the primary time since 2019, promising a stacked night of motion for Midwest fight fans.
What’s at Stake for Pimblett and Gaethje?
If the Pimblett vs. Gaethje fight is made official, it would be some of the anticipated lightweight clashes in recent memory. For Gaethje, a win would silence any doubts about his place atop the division and certain guarantee him a shot at Topuria’s title. For Pimblett, victory wouldn’t only validate his rapid rise but in addition arrange a grudge match with Topuria, with whom he shares a well-documented rivalry dating back to a 2022 altercation in London.
The rumored matchup also leaves top contender Arman Tsarukyan on the skin looking in, as he stays unbooked following his withdrawal from UFC 311.
While fans should await official confirmation from the UFC, Dricus du Plessis’ leak has set the MMA community alight with anticipation. Paddy Pimblett vs. Justin Gaethje because the UFC 319 co-main event can be a seismic addition to an already loaded card, with the winner poised to challenge Ilia Topuria for lightweight gold.