Khamzat Chimaev Defeats Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 to Win Middleweight Title, Extends Undefeated Streak with Dominant Performance in Chicago
Published Time: 08-17-2025, 14:30
Khamzat Chimaev claimed the UFC middleweight championship on Saturday night at UFC 319 in Chicago, defeating former champion Dricus Du Plessis by unanimous decision. The victory keeps Chimaev undefeated in his professional career and cements his status as one of the sport’s most dominant forces.
Chimaev’s Ground Game Defines the Fight
From the opening bell, Chimaev (15-0) displayed his trademark wrestling and relentless pace. Just seconds into the first round, he took Du Plessis (23-3) to the canvas, controlling nearly the entire frame from top position. Although Du Plessis managed to avoid heavy damage early, the tone was set: Chimaev was going to dictate the fight on the ground.
Through the second and third rounds, Chimaev continued to score takedowns and smother his opponent. By the third round, the champion-in-waiting was landing clean strikes from top control, slowly wearing Du Plessis down.
In the fourth, Chimaev once again executed his game plan flawlessly, maintaining positional dominance and preventing any momentum shift from the South African fighter.
Du Plessis Shows Heart but Falls Short
Despite being outclassed for most of the contest, Du Plessis showed flashes of resilience. In the final round, he managed a late takedown and attempted a guillotine choke, but Chimaev defended well and maintained composure until the closing horn.
After the fight, Chimaev praised his opponent’s toughness:
“That guy is tough to finish. Respect that guy. He was the only champion to say, ‘I’m in.’ This guy has a big heart,” Chimaev said in his post-fight interview.
Du Plessis accepted defeat with grace, acknowledging Chimaev’s superiority on the night:
“At the end, I went for it, had the back. I could almost taste the victory. He beat me fair and square tonight; he was the better man. I’ll be back,” Du Plessis said.
All three judges scored the contest 50-44 in favor of Chimaev, reflecting the challenger’s dominance.
Dana White on Chimaev’s Performance
UFC President Dana White did not mince words when assessing Chimaev’s performance:
“Nobody wants to be in a crucifix getting punched in the head like that. It’s got to be the most frustrating thing, to get dominated on the ground the way he did. It’s no fun for anybody,” White said.
The win gives Chimaev his first UFC title since joining the promotion in 2020, fulfilling years of speculation about his championship potential.
UFC 319: Chicago’s Historic Return
The event marked the UFC’s first return to Chicago in six years and became the highest-grossing card in United Center history, according to the promotion. The atmosphere matched the significance of the night, with fans witnessing multiple highlight-reel finishes across the main card.
Co-Main Event: Lerone Murphy’s Spinning Elbow Stuns Aaron Pico
In the featherweight co-main event, Lerone Murphy (17-0-1) stepped up on just three weeks’ notice and delivered one of the night’s most memorable knockouts. Facing UFC newcomer Aaron Pico (13-5), Murphy survived an early flurry before landing a perfectly timed spinning elbow that ended the fight in the first round.
With the win, Murphy positioned himself as a serious contender for a future title shot against featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski.
Carlos Prates Delivers Rare Knockout Finish
Welterweight contender Carlos Prates (22-7) also produced fireworks, landing the ninth spinning elbow knockout in UFC history against Geoff Neal (16-7). The spectacular finish came in the first round and marked the first time Neal had ever been knocked out.
The victory was especially important for Prates, who bounced back after a tough loss to Ian Machado Garry earlier this year. Dana White later confirmed that Prates would fight again in his home country of Brazil on October 11 in Rio de Janeiro.
Other Main Card Highlights
- Michael Page (24-3) scored a unanimous decision victory over Jared Cannonier (19-10), dropping his opponent with a right hand in the opening round before sealing the win with a second-round combination.
- Timothy Elliott (22-13-1) pulled off an upset in the flyweight division, submitting Kai Askura (21-6) with a guillotine choke in the second round. Askura had dominated early with striking but could not maintain control once Elliott shifted the fight to the ground.
What’s Next for the New Champion?
Chimaev’s win raises immediate questions about the future of the middleweight division. With Du Plessis defeated, potential challengers such as Sean Strickland, Israel Adesanya, and Jared Cannonier could line up for a shot at the newly crowned champion.
For now, however, Chimaev stands as the undefeated and undisputed UFC Middleweight Champion, fulfilling the promise he carried into the promotion five years ago.
Source: AP News – Chimaev wins UFC middleweight belt by unanimous decision
