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

The post Khamzat Chimaev Captures UFC Middleweight Title with Dominant Win Over Dricus Du Plessis appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

It’s official: Jon Jones is out, and Tom Aspinall is in.

UFC president Dana White confirmed Saturday night that Jones has retired from mixed martial arts, finally bringing an end to one of the most dragged-out standoffs in recent UFC history. The announcement came after the promotion’s card in Baku, where White told reporters, “Jon Jones called us last night and retired. Jon Jones is officially retired. Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champion of the UFC.”

And just like that, the interim label is gone. Aspinall is now the undisputed heavyweight champion — but the road to get here was anything but straightforward.

A Retirement Months in the Making

In reality, Jones had one foot out the door for months. After dominating the UFC light heavyweight scene for over a decade, “Bones” made the move to heavyweight in 2023, winning the vacant title against Ciryl Gane after Francis Ngannou left the promotion. That victory was supposed to launch a new chapter in his storied career.

The UFC immediately lined up a legacy matchup between Jones and former champ Stipe Miocic — a clash of titans on paper. But when Miocic got injured, the bout was postponed again and again. Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall was tearing through the rest of the division, clearly earning his shot at the title.

Instead, Jones eventually fought Miocic in November 2024 and dispatched him with ease. Aspinall, sidelined from the title picture despite winning and defending an interim belt — something rarely done — had already beaten Sergei Pavlovich and Curtis Blaydes. Fans and pundits alike agreed: Jones vs. Aspinall was the fight to make.

A Championship Game of Hide-and-Seek

But Jones never seemed eager to make that fight happen. Months passed. No contract. No training updates. Just social media posts of Jones enjoying life, while Aspinall waited — and waited — growing more vocal and frustrated.

Jones dismissed talk that he was dodging the younger, hungrier contender. But let’s call it what it was: ducking. The UFC enabled it, with Dana White repeatedly backing Jones and allowing the division to stall. Even earlier this month, White teased that a fight might finally be coming together.

Instead, Jones disappeared from the title picture with a quiet phone call — the MMA equivalent of an Irish goodbye.

So, What’s Next for Aspinall?

Now officially the champion, Aspinall is expected to get his first true title defense lined up quickly. The 31-year-old Brit has already taken out most of the top contenders — including Pavlovich, Blaydes, and Alexander Volkov — which makes Ciryl Gane the most logical opponent on paper.

However the matchmaking plays out, this moment marks the beginning of a new era in the UFC heavyweight division. Aspinall has all the tools to be a dominant, long-reigning champ — but his rise will always be marked by a frustrating, awkward handoff of the crown.

And for Jon Jones? For all the greatness he achieved inside the cage, his final chapter may be remembered not for a triumphant send-off, but for the fight he never took.

Source: Yahoo Sports – Jon Jones retires, making Tom Aspinall new UFC heavyweight champion as drawn-out saga finally ends

The post After Months of Delays, Tom Aspinall Officially Becomes UFC Heavyweight Champ appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.