Undefeated and heavily hyped challenger Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) did his part on the scale at official weigh-ins from the UFC host hotel, locking in his championship showdown with reigning titleholder Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC). The fight headlines the event at United Center ( ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).

Khamzat Chimaev has positioned himself as a top star in the promotion, with fighters queuing up to try to end his undefeated streak on PPV before they switch to TV only in 2026 with UFC’s $7.7 billion Paramount deal.