Relentless Khamzat Chimaev beats Dricus du Plessis to win UFC middleweight title

CHICAGO – A record number of strikes and several submission attempts were enough for Khamzat Chimaev to win the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight title, dethroning Dricus du Plessis by unanimous decision at UFC 319 on Aug 16.

By taking all three cards by 50-44 scores, the 31-year-old Russian-Emirati remained unbeaten at 15-0, despite what was a largely supportive sold-out United Centre crowd in Chicago turning to jeers as the fight went on.

“I never game-plan. I just came in, work like I do in the gym,” wrestling specialist Chimaev said, the new championship belt around his waist. 

“That guy is strong, I couldn’t finish. Respect that guy, he’s the only champion who was saying my name. This guy has real heart, a real lion, a real African lion.”

South African du Plessis (23-3) was on the canvas within the match’s first 10 seconds and the defending champion was on the defensive throughout the match.

Chimaev shot for an early takedown to bring the fight to the mat and pinned du Plessis in a crucifix position before raining punches with his left hand, but the blows did little damage and the 31-year-old survived. 

Round 2 began in much the same fashion as the Russian again brought the fight to the mat. This time he stuck to his opponent’s back like a limpet to threaten with knee strikes and choke attempts, and du Plessis was spent in the third and fourth rounds in similarly poor positions. 

There was a brief sliver of hope late in the final frame as du Plessis finally managed to get himself into a threatening position, but it was too little, too late, and Chimaev was declared the winner, with all three judges scoring the fight 50 to 44 in his favour. 

“He deserves this 100 per cent. He beat me fair and square tonight,” du Plessis said after the fight.

“He was the better man tonight and I’ll be back. I’ll come and get my belt back, but for now, it’s his and he deserves it, and he has to enjoy it.”

With a crowded middleweight title-contender pool in front of him, Chimaev said he was spending at least one night enjoying his breakthrough win.

“I’m going to go back to the hotel, joke with my friends and enjoy this victory,” Chimaev said.

The rest of the main card saw Lerone Murphy and Carlos Prates deliver spinning back elbow knockouts of Aaron Pico and Geoff Neal respectively.

England’s Murphy (17-0-1) stayed unbeaten in the featherweight division with his win at 3:21 of the first round.

After the fight, the 34-year-old called for a title bout with Australian champion Alexander Volkanovski, saying: “This sport’s all about moments and I just created one. I’m next in line – let’s go Volkanovski.”

Prates, who turned 32 on Aug 17, ended his fight with one second remaining in the opening round of their bout in the welterweight class.

Middleweight Michael Page’s two knockdowns were enough to secure a unanimous decision win over Jared Cannonier, and flyweight Tim Elliott secured a guillotine choke submission win over Kai Asakura at 4:39 of round 2.
REUTERS