Khamzat Chimaev Dismantles Dricus Du Plessis in Historic UFC 319 Title Fight
At UFC 319, Khamzat Chimaev didn’t just win the middleweight championship—he made history. In a five-round clinic against reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis, Chimaev put on one of the most dominant wrestling performances ever seen inside the Octagon, leaving fans and analysts alike wondering if anyone at 185 pounds can stop “The Wolf.”
Chimaev smothered Du Plessis with relentless takedowns and suffocating control, landing 12 takedowns on 17 attempts and holding control for a staggering 21 minutes and 40 seconds of the 25-minute fight—the second-longest in UFC history. His output was equally jaw-dropping: 529 total strikes, including 517 on the ground and 411 to the head, shattering multiple UFC records. Judges had no choice but to score the bout a unanimous shutout, 50–44 across the board.
What was expected to be a back-and-forth war turned into a lopsided wrestling showcase. Du Plessis, previously unbeaten in the UFC and known for his durability and finishing ability, was unable to mount any significant offense. Chimaev’s suffocating pressure left the South African champion with no answers, handing him the first one-sided loss of his career.
“People might call it boring,” UFC veteran Matt Brown said in reaction to the fight, “but it was like Georges St-Pierre or Jon Jones in their primes—pure dominance, and nobody could stop it.”
From Setbacks to Supremacy
Chimaev’s rise has been as turbulent as it has been meteoric. After bursting onto the UFC scene in 2020 with the fastest three-fight win streak in modern history, his career nearly ended just as quickly. A severe battle with COVID-19 in 2021 left him hospitalized, coughing up blood, and briefly announcing his retirement from MMA. Visa complications later stalled his career further, forcing him to relocate to the UAE for stability.
Despite these obstacles, Chimaev never lost sight of his championship ambitions. Along the way, he defeated three former UFC champions—Kamaru Usman, Robert Whittaker, and now Du Plessis—cementing himself as one of the most dangerous fighters on the roster. His undefeated record now sits at 15–0 overall, 8–0 in the UFC.
What’s Next for “The Wolf”?
The question now is simple: who can beat him? Sean Strickland has already thrown verbal jabs at the new champion, while ONE Championship crossover star Reinier de Ridder has publicly called for a title shot in Abu Dhabi. Even Israel Adesanya, once dismissive of Chimaev, admitted after the fight that “the division is in good hands.”
For now, Chimaev stands atop the middleweight mountain with few clear challengers in sight. Like Ilia Topuria at featherweight, his dominance raises bigger questions: Will he move up for a third division? Will he clear out the middleweight division and walk away early?
Whatever path he chooses, UFC 319 made one thing clear—Khamzat Chimaev has arrived as a force of historic proportions, and the rest of the middleweight division may be left fighting for scraps.