Khamzat Chimaev Crushes Dricus du Plessis, New UFC Middleweight Champ
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA – August 17, 2025:Khamzat Borz Chimaev is now calling the shots in the UFC Middleweight Division after straight-up dominating champ Dricus Stillknocks du Plessis at UFC 319 this past Saturday night. It was pretty much a one-way beatdown. Chimaev just used his crazy wrestling and nonstop pressure to beat the South African champ by decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-44), keeping his perfect record at 15-0. The win, in front of a crazy crowd at the United Center in Chicago, kicks off something new for the middleweight division.
A Wrestling Clinic
Right when the fight started, Chimaev’s plan was obvious: get him down and keep him there. He did just that, scoring a takedown super early in the first round. From there, he shut down du Plessis’s striking and any chance of submissions, controlling him on the ground for a crazy 84% of the 25-minute fight.
The stats paint the same picture. Chimaev landed 12 of 17 takedowns and way out-struck du Plessis, 529 to 45. The champ just couldn’t deal with Chimaev’s wrestling, getting taken down over and over and stuck in bad spots.
A Glimmer of Hope for the Champ
Chimaev only got into trouble in the last minutes of the fifth. Looking tired, du Plessis got a takedown and even went for a choke. But Chimaev got out of it and took back control until the end, winning the fight.
Afterward, a tired but stoked Chimaev kept it humble, saying, “I don’t have a plan; I just go in and bang like training.” That guy is strong. Respect that guy. He is the only champ that would say my name. This guy has a big heart.
Du Plessis kept it classy and showed respect too. That man has crazy control on top, he said. He was the better man tonight. I’ll be back for my belt, but for now, it’s his. He earned it.
The New Middleweight Boss
Chimaev’s performance shows he’s a top dog in the UFC. Beating du Plessis, a champ who defended the belt twice, puts Borz on top as the new middleweight champ.
In the co-main event, Lerone Murphy knocked out Aaron Pico with a sweet spinning back elbow in the first round. Carlos Prates also won by knockout with a spinning back elbow, making the event more exciting.
Now with the belt around his waist, Chimaev has to defend against a bunch of tough guys all wanting a shot at the title. The middleweight division wants to take the title from the new champ.
