Chimaev Dominates Du Plessis to Claim UFC Middleweight Title

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

Chechen-born wrestling powerhouse Khamzat Chimaev captured the UFC middleweight title with a dominant unanimous-decision win over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 on Saturday night in Chicago.

All three judges scored the bout 50-44 for Chimaev, who smothered the South African with relentless grappling over five rounds. The 31-year-old set the tone in the opening minute, securing an early takedown and pinning Du Plessis in a crucifix position. Though the ground strikes did limited damage, the champion was unable to escape Chimaev’s suffocating control.

The same pattern unfolded in rounds two through four, with Chimaev sticking to Du Plessis’s back, threatening with chokes and knee strikes while draining his opponent’s energy. Du Plessis finally found a sliver of momentum late in the fifth, but by then the result was beyond doubt.

“I never game-plan. I just came in, work like I do in the gym,” Chimaev said afterward, praising his rival. “That guy is strong and he’s the only champion who was saying my name. This guy has real heart, a real lion, a real African lion.”

Du Plessis, who lost his belt with the defeat, showed grace in acknowledging Chimaev’s performance. “He deserves this 100 percent and he was the better man tonight. I’ll be back. I’ll come and get my belt back, but for now it’s his and he deserves it.”

The win crowns Chimaev as the new face of the UFC’s 185-pound division, with Du Plessis vowing to mount a return.