UFC 319 took place on August 16, 2025, at the United Center in Chicago, airing on ESPN+ PPV. The middleweight title was on the line as undefeated challenger Khamzat Chimaev faced then-champion Dricus du Plessis.
Chimaev delivered a dominant performance across all five rounds. He executed 12 out of 17 takedowns, landed an astonishing 529 total strikes to du Plessis’s 45, and controlled ground position for more than 21 minutes. Judges scored the bout unanimously 50-44, crowning Chimaev the new middleweight champion. The win improved Chimaev’s professional record to an impressive 15‑0.
Absolutely DOMINANT performance from @KChimaev tonight 👏
He’s leaving #UFC319 with middleweight gold! pic.twitter.com/ia1KW5sEAx
— UFC (@ufc) August 17, 2025
Fighters React
Former UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev from Dagestan reacted to Khamzat Chimaev’s title win, showing respect despite coming from different regions of the Caucasus. He posted on his Instagram story:
“Congratulations, it was sure (to happen)”
Jon Jones, arguably the greatest MMA fighter ever, offered a message on X:
“Congratulations (wolf)”.
Congratulations, 🐺
— Jonny Meat (@JonnyBones) August 17, 2025
These reactions carry weight: Makhachev knows Chimaev’s wrestling style intimately, and Jones rarely comments but chose to recognize Chimaev’s achievement. Their respect highlights Chimaev’s hard-earned status in the sport.
Khamzat Chimaev entered the UFC in 2020 with an unbeaten record. He quickly made waves by winning two fights in 10 days. His rise was slowed by COVID‑19 and health issues, but he returned to defeat top fighters including Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker.
Chimaev received UAE citizenship in January 2025. UFC 319 was his first middleweight title shot, and his decisive win confirms him as one of MMA’s most dominant competitors.
Many fans and analysts are already comparing Chimaev’s dominance to Khabib Nurmagomedov. Like Khabib, Chimaev combines elite wrestling with precise striking and relentless pressure. While he still has several title defenses ahead, his undefeated record and ability to control elite opponents put him in conversations about becoming one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time.
