At UFC 319 in Chicago on Saturday night, Khamzat Chimaev secured the UFC Middleweight Championship by defeating Dricus du Plessis via unanimous decision. The 31-year-old Russian fighter, maintaining his undefeated record at 15-0, delivered a dominant performance highlighted by a record-breaking number of strikes and multiple submission attempts.
Records Broken with Unmatched Striking and Control
Chimaev landed an unprecedented 529 strikes during the match, eclipsing the previous UFC record of 447 set by Max Holloway in 2021. Additionally, his striking differential of plus-484 surpassed Holloway’s mark of plus-312 from that same year. Despite a largely supportive crowd at the United Center, disappointment grew toward the end as Chimaev controlled the fight from start to finish.
Du Plessis Struggles from the Opening Seconds
Dricus du Plessis, representing South Africa with a 20-3 record, was taken down within the first 10 seconds and spent much of the match defending against Chimaev’s relentless offense. After the fight, du Plessis acknowledged his opponent’s superiority.
He beat me fair and square.
—Dricus du Plessis, UFC Middleweight Challenger
Chimaev Plans to Celebrate Before Facing Top Contenders
With a competitive lineup of middleweight challengers ahead, Chimaev expressed his intent to savor this milestone victory for a brief moment before returning to the grind. He shared his plans after the fight.
I’m going to go back to the hotel, joke with my friends, and enjoy this victory,
—Khamzat Chimaev, UFC Middleweight Champion
Additional Highlights from UFC 319 Main Card
The event also featured notable finishes from other fighters. Lerone Murphy and Carlos Prates each earned spinning back elbow knockouts against Aaron Pico and Geoff Neal, respectively. Murphy extended his featherweight winning streak, while Prates finished his fight within the opening round’s final second. Middleweight Michael Page secured a unanimous decision over Jared Cannonier after scoring two knockdowns, and flyweight Tim Elliott achieved a submission win via guillotine choke against Kai Asakura.
Implications for the Middleweight Division and UFC’s Future
Khamzat Chimaev’s commanding performance not only reinforces his status as a dominant force in the division but also raises expectations for his upcoming matchups within the crowded middleweight title-contender pool. As fans and fighters alike look ahead, Chimaev’s UFC victory marks a significant moment in the sport’s landscape, signaling the rise of a new champion whose skills continue to reshape middleweight competition.