Chimaev dethrones Du Plessis

At UFC 319 inside the United Center in Chicago, Khamzat Chimaev produced a dominant display to dethrone South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis and claim the UFC Middleweight Championship.The Russian set the tone immediately, securing a takedown within seven seconds and controlling the fight with relentless grappling. Over five rounds, he completed 12 of 17 takedowns and amassed more than 21 minutes of ground control. Judges scored the contest 50–44 on all three cards.Du Plessis showed trademark grit, attempting late submissions and battling back in the fifth round, but admitted afterwards that Chimaev’s top control was unlike anything he had faced. “He’s just like a blanket ... it wasn’t about strength, it was as if he knew my next move,” the South African said, vowing to come back stronger.Chimaev, now unbeaten, dismissed the crowd’s boos and praised his rival. “That guy is strong to the finish. This guy had great heart,” he said after securing the belt.The co-main event delivered fireworks as Britain’s Lerone Murphy flattened Aaron Pico with a spinning back elbow knockout. Moments earlier, Brazil’s Carlos Prates also stunned fans with another spinning elbow KO against Geoff Neal, earning both men performance bonuses.Elsewhere on the card, Britain’s Michael ‘Venom’ Page outpointed Jared Cannonier in a tactical striking battle, while veteran Tim Elliott opened the main card with a slick submission win over Kai Asakura.The night belonged to Chimaev, however, whose suffocating performance signals a new chapter in the middleweight division after ending Du Plessis’ title reign.

Chimaev dethrones Du Plessis

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Namibian Sun 2026-08-25

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Chimaev dethrones Du Plessis

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Namibian Sun 2026-08-25

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