Khamzat Chimaev claimed the UFC middleweight championship after defeating South African fighter Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319.
The bout took place at the United Center in Chicago on Saturday, where Chimaev dominated the fight with all three judges scoring it 50-44 in his favor.
Dricus du Plessis’ Championship Journey
Du Plessis captured the middleweight title in early 2024 after defeating Sean Strickland at UFC 297.
Later that year, he defended his belt successfully against former champion Israel Adesanya, one of the greatest middleweights in UFC history.
In January 2025, he defended the title once more in a rematch with Strickland before facing Chimaev in Chicago.
Chimaev’s Record-Breaking Performance
The new champion delivered a historic performance inside the octagon.
He landed a UFC middleweight record of 529 strikes out of 567 attempted and completed 12 of 17 takedowns during the five-round fight.
This overwhelming display left no doubt about his dominance over du Plessis.
Who Is Khamzat Chimaev?
Khamzat Chimaev is a Russian-Emirati mixed martial artist with a unique international background.
Born in Chechnya, Russia, on 1 May 1994, he later moved to Sweden in 2011 with his family, where he also earned citizenship.
In 2023, reports suggested he gained Emirati citizenship after training extensively in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Now at 31 years old, Chimaev remains undefeated with a flawless professional record of 15-0.
Personal Life of the New Champion
Although he married in 2022, Chimaev has kept his wife out of the public eye, choosing not to share details about his private life on social media.
This adds a layer of mystery to the fighter’s personal world outside the UFC cage.