The UFC 319 pre-fight press conference turned into a tense spectacle Thursday when middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis and challenger Khamzat Chimaev faced off in Chicago — and it ended with Dana White personally stepping in as things took an unexpected turn.
The two fighters locked eyes in a long, heated staredown following the press conference, with the Chicago crowd loudly backing Chimaev and booing du Plessis every chance they got. UFC CEO Dana White inserted himself between the fighters to make sure the main event didn’t start two days early.
Just as the staredown was breaking up, Chimaev embraced the roaring crowd and began repeatedly shouting “Allahu Akbar” — Arabic for “God is the greatest” — before leaving the stage. The crowd erupted, with Chimaev clearly enjoying the reaction.
Watch Dana White’s reaction closely:
“I’m just going to go and f*** him up,” Chimaev told fans earlier. “That’s it. Africa is never going to see the belt again.”
Du Plessis, unfazed, played the villain role and invited the crowd to boo even louder whenever he spoke. “We all have our motivations,” he said. “The outcome will be the same. I’m walking out there champion.”
The fighters will meet again during Friday’s official weigh-ins before clashing in the highly anticipated five-round main event on Saturday night — and if Thursday was any indication, this showdown is going to be explosive.
