In Chicago, at UFC 319, Khamzat Chimaev created history with his decisive victory over Dricus du Plessis, the then-reigning titleholder, for the UFC middleweight crown. The fight was decided by a dominant unanimous decision, with the judges awarding Chimaev all five rounds by a score of 50-44..
The Masterful Control and Record-Setting Takeover
Chimaev’s victory was an exhibition of flawless grappling control. An astounding 12 takedowns were recorded for Chimaev, which is tied for among the highest ever in UFC title fights, as he held ground control for over 21 minutes out of 25. He also set the record for most strikes in a fight, landing 529 strikes whilst Du Plessis managed only 45 strikes.
Du Plessis Shows Grit In Defeat
By the time Du Plessis had been probably bested, he put on some heart and showed resilience. He managed to surprise Chimaev with a late guillotine attempt late in the final round, but the failed attempt did nothing in terms of altering the verdict. After the fight, he maintained respect for his opponent’s overwhelming performance and waxed lyrical of Chimaev’s control, promising to win the title back at some time.
The Main Event Blasted by MEMORABLE Times
Also notorious for jaw-dropping undercard moments, both Lerone Murphy and Carlos Prates provided stunning spinning back-elbow knockouts, arguably one of the most memorable UFC opening acts in some time, setting the scene for Chimaev’s crowning moment.
What the Experts Said: An “Opening-Eyes” Performance
Rogan compared Chimaev’s approach to that of a wrestling coach who just would not stop; he opined that Du Plessis had an uphill fight trying to regain championship material upon meeting such elite grappling again. Meanwhile, Dana White, UFC president, stated that Chimaev’s dominance was beyond expectations, even for a Fight of the Night.
Also Read: Ouaddou Praises Teenage Captain Mbokazi: Future European Star In The Making