Former UFC referee John McCarthy recently analyzed Khamzat Chimaev‘s strategy during his victory over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319. McCarthy highlighted a critical weakness in Chimaev’s crucifix game flaw, noting that the fighter failed to capitalize fully on his dominant position to inflict meaningful damage on his opponent.
In the five-round championship fight, Chimaev demonstrated strong wrestling skills by repeatedly taking down du Plessis, controlling much of the bout from the top. Despite this, he was unable to finish the fight, which concluded with a unanimous decision in Chimaev’s favor, crowning him the new middleweight champion.
John McCarthy Emphasizes Need for Effective Elbow Strikes
Speaking on the WEIGHING IN podcast, McCarthy explained that Chimaev missed crucial opportunities to cause more harm while in the crucifix position. He urged Chimaev to focus less on “little punches” and more on elbow strikes, which are more effective in breaking down an opponent.
“The one thing, when Chimaev goes back, I’m going to sit here and tell you right. Now look, all those little punches and everything, stop. Set yourself up for elbows and utilize elbows. That’s what you need to do in that crucifix position. You’re never going to get a referee like Mark Goddard who is, absolutely intelligent as far as, ‘oh, hey, those aren’t doing damage. You can do that all day long.’ That was Roy Nelson’s big thing. He would sit there and he’d start counting. And I tell him, you could count to 3,000. I don’t give a sh*t okay, it’s are you hurting him? Okay, that’s what it’s got to be.”
McCarthy further noted that du Plessis’s head movement often prevented Chimaev from delivering elbows effectively, but he stressed that when the opportunity arises, Chimaev should seize it immediately.
“Chimaev needs to switch up some of the things he’s doing because elbows are exactly what you want to do in that position. There was many times that he couldn’t utilize the elbow based upon the way [du Plessis] was moving his head and coming up towards his armpit. But anytime that head comes away from the armpit and goes towards the hip, man, it’s time to start lighting him up.”
Israel Adesanya Applauds Chimaev’s Championship Performance
Former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya weighed in on Chimaev’s display in the title fight, praising his stamina and dominance throughout the contest. Adesanya expressed surprise at Chimaev’s ability to maintain intensity over five rounds, contrary to expectations that his cardio might falter.
“Not what I expected. But I’m glad Khamzat [Chimaev] fixed his cardio or improved his cardio to the point where he can go five rounds and just ragdoll people. That’s a mess to deal with because I thought DDP, okay, maybe round four, he’d be able to stuff the takedowns because Khamzat would get tired. But he didn’t even slow down…Khamzat new middleweight champion, division is in good hands.” [15:03]
Implications of Chimaev’s Crucifix Game Flaw on Future Fights
While Chimaev’s wrestling remains a formidable asset, the critique by McCarthy about the crucifix game flaw highlights a tactical area for improvement. The inability to inflict significant damage while controlling opponents on the ground could limit Chimaev’s ability to finish fights decisively in future bouts. Addressing this flaw by incorporating more damaging strikes like elbows could make Chimaev a more complete and threatening champion in the UFC middleweight division.
As the division evolves with rising contenders, refining these aspects of his game will be essential for Chimaev to retain his championship and further establish dominance among middleweights.