Khamzat Chimaev’s overpowering performance against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 on August 16, 2025, solidified his place as the new middleweight champion at Chicago’s United Center. Former champion Michael Bisping, speaking on his YouTube channel, called it the dawn of a new era, predicting a long reign for Chimaev with only one potential threat.
Chimaev’s Unmatched Control
Chimaev dominated Du Plessis for 25 minutes, landing 529 strikes and securing 12 takedowns to win the middleweight title by unanimous decision (50-44). The fight, broadcast on ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, and ESPN+, showcased his wrestling prowess. Bisping was in awe, stating:
“I’m telling you right now, we’re living in the era of Khamzat Chimaev. I’m not going to sit here and criticize Dricus Du Plessis. I think he’s an incredible fighter and a great champion and he may very well be back, but right now we’re living in the era of Khamzat Chimaev.” Du Plessis, known for his resilience, couldn’t escape Chimaev’s grip.
A “Disaster” for the Division
Bisping warned that Chimaev’s reign spells trouble for other contenders.
“This will be a disaster with Khamzat Chimaev as the champion,” he said. “I don’t mean because of what Din Thomas said. Thomas was like, ‘he isn’t going to be able to fight too frequently. He struggles with visas and stuff like that.’ No. When I said this is a disaster, it’s a disaster for the division because from what I see there, ain’t nobody, ain’t nobody, apart from Reinier de Ridder, ain’t nobody beating him.” He highlighted De Ridder’s jiu-jitsu, saying, “Reinier de Ridder is the only guy that has a shot because of the jiu-jitsu, because of the skills he has off his back.”
Bisping emphasized Chimaev’s unique style, noting:
“This is going to be probably a very long and dominant reign in the middleweight division. I don’t think we’ve ever seen a dominant wrestler like Khamzat Chimaev in the middleweight division. Typically it’s been strikers. Look at [Israel] Adesanya. Look at Anderson Silva, Rich Franklin. The list goes on. Yeah, we had Chris Weidman. He was a very good wrestler, defended the belt a few times to be fair.”
Chimaev’s wrestling, unlike the division’s striking-heavy past, sets him apart as a new kind of champion.
Reinier de Ridder, a Dutch grappler, joined the UFC in 2024 after dominating ONE Championship. His UFC wins include Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland, Bo Nickal, and Robert Whittaker by split decision at UFC on ABC 9 in July 2025. His jiu-jitsu makes him a unique threat, as Bisping noted. Robert Whittaker, on his MMArcade Podcast, also picked De Ridder as Chimaev’s toughest test. Kamaru Usman, on the Pound 4 Pound Podcast, chose Anthony Hernandez, highlighting the division’s depth.
Before UFC 319, Bisping predicted Du Plessis could win if he weathered Chimaev’s early pressure, citing Chimaev’s cardio issues against Burns and Usman. Chimaev proved him wrong with a full five-round domination. Daniel Cormier, on his YouTube channel, said De Ridder’s grappling could challenge Chimaev.
