Khamzat Chimaev left no room for doubt at UFC 319, overwhelming former champion Dricus du Plessis with a performance that was as dominant as it was relentless. The undefeated Chechen-Swedish star captured the UFC Middleweight Championship in Las Vegas, showcasing a mix of raw strength, suffocating grappling, and unrelenting pace.
From the opening bell, Chimaev imposed his will, slamming du Plessis to the canvas repeatedly and keeping him pinned under heavy pressure. The new champion landed 12 takedowns and held control for more than 21 minutes, an astonishing stat in a 25-minute contest. Along the way, he racked up a record-breaking 529 total strikes, compared to just 45 from du Plessis.
The scorecards told the story—50-44 across the board—marking one of the most one-sided five-round decisions in recent UFC history.
To his credit, du Plessis never folded. In the final round, the South African rallied, briefly threatening with a guillotine choke before being dragged back down. His resilience drew respect, but the gap in skill and power was impossible to ignore.
With this victory, Chimaev moves to 15-0 and establishes himself as the new king of the middleweights. His dominance has already sparked discussions of potential super-fights across multiple divisions, as he continues his march toward UFC stardom.
