Dricus Du Plessis talks Chimaev matchup, Elijah Smith discusses viral slam KO, UFC 319 picks!

On today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered, we break down the massive Paramount + TKO deal — a jaw-dropping 7-year, $7.7 BILLION U.S. rights agreement starting in 2026. First, Jim and Matt catch up with middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis — gearing up for his fourth straight title fight and third defense. Dricus weighs in on Saturday’s epic UFC 319 title showdown against Khamzat Chimaev and shares whether he thinks his unique style is finally getting the respect it deserves. Next, the guys chat with viral slam KO artist Elijah Smith. Now $50K richer after sending a message to the bantamweight division, the 22-year-old talks about his journey from football to MMA. In the back half of the interview, Elijah’s ex-UFC fighter dad joins in to share his perspective as Elijah’s trainer and mentor. Listen in as the guys break down the wild action from last weekend’s UFC Fight Night and make their picks for Saturday’s UFC 319 card!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.