Khamzat Chimaev is the new UFC middleweight champion. He beat Dricus Du Plessis in a dominant fight at the United Center in Chicago.
The match was a clash between two undefeated middleweights. Du Plessis defended his belt for the third time, while Chimaev entered the cage as the number three contender. Many fans already considered Chimaev one of the most dangerous fighters in the sport.
From the very first round, Chimaev took control. He never allowed Du Plessis to settle. All three judges scored the fight 50-44 in favor of Chimaev, making it one of the most one-sided title fights in UFC history. The new champion, who holds citizenship in both Russia and the United Arab Emirates, showed why so many fear him.
After the fight, Chimaev shared his thoughts. “I am happy, always,” he said. “I never have a game plan. I just go in and work like I do in the gym. That guy is strong. I couldn’t finish him, and I respect him. He is the only champion who would say my name. He has a big heart.”
The win extended Chimaev’s unbeaten run in the UFC to 15 fights. Du Plessis, who had never lost in the promotion before, now holds a career record of 23 wins and 3 losses in mixed martial arts.
Chimaev made his UFC debut in 2020 and quickly built his reputation by defeating big names like Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker. Against Du Plessis, he remained in control throughout the fight. Although he could not finish the South African, he took him down early in almost every round.
Chimaev succeeded in 12 of his 17 takedown attempts. He spent more than four-fifths of the fight on top of Du Plessis, according to UFC statistics. The South African had one brief chance in the final round when he locked in a guillotine choke. For a moment, the crowd believed he might turn the fight around. But Chimaev calmly escaped and regained control until the final bell.
Du Plessis praised his opponent after the fight. “The man has incredible control on top,” he said. “It wasn’t about strength or power. It felt like he knew my next move before I made it. I almost tasted victory with that choke, but he beat me fair and square. He was the better man tonight. I will come back for my belt, but for now, it is his. He deserves it.”