On August 16, 2025, Khamzat Chimaev became the new UFC middleweight champion with a unanimous decision win over Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 in Chicago’s United Center. The fight, broadcast on ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, and ESPN+, was a showcase of Chimaev’s relentless skill, leaving UFC CEO Dana White both impressed and surprised.
The Fight That Redefined the Middleweight Division
Chimaev, undefeated at 15-0 (9-0 UFC), entered the octagon as a heavy favorite against Du Plessis, who held a 23-3 record (9-1 UFC). The South African champion, known for his durability, was defending his title for the third time. However, Chimaev’s performance was overwhelming, earning a 50-44 score on all three judges’ scorecards. From the opening bell, Chimaev took control. He used his wrestling to ground Du Plessis, landing 529 total strikes and completing 12 takedowns. His ground-and-pound was relentless, with Du Plessis struggling to escape the crucifix position.
White was impressed, saying at the post-fight press conference:
“The lead up to this fight, I said, ‘I bet the main event is the Fight of the Night.’ I didn’t see that coming, but not shocked either. The way that he dominated, if he could do it the first round, more likely you’re going to do it the second and throughout the rest of the fight.” He added, “I had every round a 10-8, except maybe for the last round. To be in the position that he was in, and the crucifix and just getting dominated on the ground and getting punched on the face and elbowed, it’s a frustrating place to be, and I thought he handled it well. Every round trying to get in the fight and win, yeah, impressive.”
Chimaev’s UFC career started in July 2020 on Fight Island, where he submitted John Phillips and knocked out Rhys McKee 10 days later.
Dana White reacts to Khamzat Chimaev’s dominant #UFC319 title win and Dricus Du Plessis’ effort in defeat. pic.twitter.com/4sv4gIDoiW
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) August 17, 2025
White recalled:
“The night when we were on Fight Island, and he said, ‘I want to fight next Saturday,’ ever since then, the guy has been a rocket ship. He’s obviously very popular, too. People love him and fighting back here in the United States, and obviously, Chicago loves him, too.”
His quick wins over Gerald Meerschaert and Li Jingliang made him a fan favorite.In 2022, a hard-fought battle against Gilbert Burns raised questions about his endurance, but Chimaev answered critics with a first-round submission of Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in October 2024, named MMA Junkie’s 2024 Submission of the Year. His coach, Joakim Karlsson, told ESPN MMA, “He’s worked on his stamina. He’s a different fighter now.” Health issues, including a 2021 COVID-19 recovery, tested him, but he came back stronger.
White thought the fight would be close but was surprised by Chimaev’s control. The Chicago crowd, at the UFC’s first event there since 2019, cheered loudly for the new champion. Du Plessis’ 11-fight win streak, including title defenses against Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland, came to an end. Chimaev became the 15th UFC fighter to win an undisputed title while undefeated.
