Khamzat Chimaev fought Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 on August 16, 2025, in Chicago. Chimaev dominated the fight thoroughly, winning by unanimous decision with all three judges scoring it 50-44 in his favor. He set a UFC middleweight record by landing 529 strikes and controlled du Plessis on the ground for 21 minutes and 40 seconds, which is the second highest control time in UFC history. Despite multiple takedowns and near finishes, Chimaev couldn't secure a finish but maintained dominant grappling and ground control throughout the five-round fight. Du Plessis struggled to counter Chimaev's grappling and had only one notable moment late in the fight with a guillotine choke attempt, which Chimaev escaped. This victory made Chimaev the new undisputed UFC middleweight champion, extending his undefeated UFC streak to 15-0, while du Plessis suffered his first UFC loss with a 23-3 MMA record.
Fight Highlights
- Chimaev took du Plessis down within the first minute of each round.
- He landed 529 total strikes versus 45 by du Plessis.
- Chimaev displayed grinding wrestling and grappling skills reminiscent of Khabib Nurmagomedov.
- Du Plessis’s only significant action was a late guillotine choke attempt.
- Chimaev was praised for incredible control and endurance by commentators and experts.
Significance
- The fight was one of the most one-sided UFC title bouts in history.
- Chimaev is now the Middleweight Champion and considered extremely difficult to beat.
- Du Plessis, despite losing, showed heart and vowed to come back for the title.
This fight cemented Khamzat Chimaev as a dominant force in the UFC middleweight division.
