On August 16, 2025, Khamzat Chimaev dominated Dricus Du Plessis to win the UFC middleweight title at UFC 319 in Chicago. His wrestling-heavy approach led to a unanimous decision victory, but he didn’t secure a finish despite controlling the fight for over 21 minutes. Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, who faced Chimaev in 2023, shared his thoughts on the “Pound 4 Pound” podcast, pointing out key errors that prevented a stoppage.
A One-Sided Performance
At the United Center, Chimaev took Du Plessis down 12 times, landing 529 strikes and securing a UFC record for control time in a title fight. The judges scored it 50-44, with some rounds close to 10-8. Chimaev used the crucifix position to land short punches and elbows, but Du Plessis survived all five rounds. Usman noted Chimaev’s dominance but saw flaws.
“Khamzat Chimaev possessed this one skill that can make you look like a middle school wrestler,” he said on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo. “That’s all that was, and even watching that, Khamzat made a lot of mistakes that I think would have got him that finish before that third round.”
Usman believes Chimaev could have ended the fight earlier.
“He got to a position where it was so easy, it was almost him controlling himself. He had to control his own emotions. He had to control his gas tank because that’s not easy to dominate a guy like that,” Usman said.
He pointed out a specific moment when Chimaev had Du Plessis on all fours.
“Khamzat kind of coasted, kind of landed some knees to the thigh. He could have one, sucked him back, or you could have put that weight on Dricus Du Plessis’ arms, driving that head down, kept driving and driving. I guarantee you do that for a round, Dricus Du Plessis either wants to go on his back, or he gives up these positions a lot easier, (and) that allows you to have that choke.”
Usman suggested Chimaev held back to avoid gassing out.
“Everything is working because, in your mind, you’re wanting resistance. Resistance is how you gauge how much output I need to put out. If everything is going right, you can’t gauge how much output to put out,” he said. “Maybe you might try finish it in that first round, then you get up in the second like, ‘Whoa, I can’t even lift my arms. Why am I so tired?’ Khamzat did a phenomenal job because he had so much success with this.”
Usman believes pushing harder in key positions could have led to a submission.
Kamaru Usman debuted in the UFC in 2015, winning the welterweight title in 2019 against Tyron Woodley. He defended it five times, beating Colby Covington (twice), Jorge Masvidal (twice), and Gilbert Burns, setting a UFC record with 15 straight welterweight wins. He lost the title to Leon Edwards via fifth-round knockout at UFC 278 in 2022 and dropped the rematch at UFC 286 in 2023 by majority decision (48-46, 48-46, 47-47). He lost to Chimaev at UFC 294 in 2023 by majority decision (29-27, 29-27, 28-28) in his middleweight debut. Usman returned at middleweight on June 14, 2025, outwrestling Joaquin Buckley at UFC on ESPN 69 in Atlanta, winning 49-46, 49-46, 48-47, earning a Fight of the Night bonus. His 21-4 record (16-3 in the UFC) includes nine knockouts,
