Khamzat Chimaev Conquers Middleweight Championship in a Dominant Display
Khamzat Chimaev, since his UFC debut in 2020, was considered a future star. Finally, he met expectations by obtaining the middleweight championship at UFC 319 on Saturday night at the United Center. Chimaev (15-0) defeated Dricus Du Plessis (23-3) in a fight where the dominance was evident. Although Du Plessis managed to avoid an early finish, he rarely offered resistance. The fight, which went to five rounds, was one of the most uneven in UFC history. The three judges awarded a score of 50-44 in favor of Chimaev, who set a UFC record with 529 total strikes landed, surpassing Du Plessis’s 45.Chimaev, originally from Chechnya, debuted in the UFC in July 2020, winning his first two fights within a span of 10 days. Although the UFC tried to quickly push him towards the welterweight championship, a severe COVID-19 infection in 2021 and various medical and visa issues delayed his progress. However, when he has been active, Chimaev has proven to be unstoppable, defeating former champions like Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker. In Saturday’s fight, he landed 12 of 17 takedown attempts and controlled the fight for more than 21 minutes of the total 25. He took Du Plessis down in the first minute of each round and put him in a crucifix position on two occasions. The 12 takedowns tied for the third-most in a title fight in UFC history, and the most since Demetrious Johnson landed 14 in a flyweight title fight in 2015.“I am happy, always,” said Chimaev. “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. I respect him. He is the only champion who would say my name. This guy has a big heart.”
Khamzat Chimaev
The victory opens up multiple options for Chimaev, 31, who began his UFC career primarily as a welterweight, but has expressed his desire to compete in different weight classes. Before the fight, Chimaev mentioned that he could return to 170 pounds to face the winner of the fight between Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev, and has also shown interest in moving up to 205 pounds. In the co-main event, Lerone Murphy of England could have secured a featherweight title shot with a spectacular knockout over debutant Aaron Pico. Pico, with great anticipation in his debut, had his moments, but the fight ended abruptly when Murphy connected a spinning elbow that knocked him out. This is the most important victory in Murphy’s career, who came to the fight with a record of 8-0-1 in the UFC.“The man has incredible control,” said Du Plessis. “It wasn’t a matter of strength, it wasn’t physical, it was almost as if he knew what your next move would be. I could almost taste that victory [with the choke], but he beat me fair and square. He was the better man tonight. I will come back to reclaim my belt, but for now, it’s his. He deserves it.”
Dricus Du Plessis
The defending champion, Alexander Volkanovski, responded on social media, confirming the fight for December.“This sport is about moments, and I just created one,” Murphy said. “I accepted this fight on three weeks’ notice. I knew the opportunity was there. I’m next in line. Come on, Volkanovski.”
Lerone Murphy
