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Khamzat Chimaev dominates Dricus Du Plessis to become UFC middleweight champion (1:05)
Khamzat Chimaev completely controls the fight against Dricus Du Plessis and becomes middleweight champion at UFC 319. (1:05)
Brett OkamotoAug 17, 2025, 01:04 AM ET
- Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: "Chuck and Tito," which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
CHICAGO -- Khamzat Chimaev was essentially crowned a future UFC champ from the moment he made his promotional debut in 2020. Five years later, he finally made good on those early expectations.
Chimaev (15-0) claimed the middleweight championship at UFC 319 on Saturday night inside United Center, in a dominant showing over Dricus Du Plessis (23-3). Du Plessis denied Chimaev a finish but rarely offered any resistance otherwise.
The result was one of the most lopsided five-round fights in UFC history. According to UFC Stats, Chimaev outlanded Du Plessis in total strikes 510-56. All three judges scored it 50-44 for Chimaev.
"I am happy, always," Chimaev said. "I never have a game plan, just go in and work like I do in the gym. That guy is strong. I couldn't finish. I respect that guy. He is the only champion that would say my name. This guy has big heart."
Chimaev, of Chechnya, broke into the UFC in July 2020, winning his first two fights in an unprecedented 10 days. The UFC tried to put him on the fast track to a welterweight championship, but he contracted a severe case of Covid-19 in 2021 and has dealt with numerous medical and visa issues over the past four years.
When he has been active, however, he has been an unstoppable force, defeating the likes of former champions Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker. He converted 12 of 17 takedown attempts on Saturday and spent more than 21 minutes of the 25-minute fight in a position of control. He took Du Plessis down in the opening minute of every single round and put him in a completely defenseless crucifix twice in the first and third rounds.
Du Plessis, of South Africa, smiled in between rounds, but the wear of Chimaev's pressure was apparent. He did provide a late scare in the final round, as he scrambled to the top against a tiring Chimaev and went for a guillotine. The choke sunk in for a second, but Chimaev calmly worked out and finished the bout on top.
"The man has incredible control on top," Du Plessis said. "It wasn't a matter of strength, it wasn't physical, it was almost like he knew what your next move was. I could almost taste that victory [with the choke], but he beat me fair and square. He was the better man tonight. I'll be coming to get my belt back, but for now, it's his. He deserves it."
