Khamzat Chimaev overpowers title holder Dricus Du Plessis in a lopsided UFC title bout within the Octagon.
Khamzat Chimaev is the brand new undisputed UFC middleweight champion after a dominant show in opposition to title holder Dricus Du Plessis on the United Middle in Chicago.
Billed as a battle between the undefeated UFC middleweights, Du Plessis put his belt on the road for the third time on Saturday in opposition to Chimaev, the No 3-ranked contender and thought of some of the feared pound-for-pound fighters on the UFC roster.
However Chimaev was answerable for the bout from the start till the tip in some of the one-sided title fights in UFC historical past; all three judges scored the bout 50-44 for the Chechen fighter, who holds twin Russian and United Arab Emirates citizenship.
“I’m blissful, all the time,” Chimaev mentioned post-fight. “I by no means have a sport plan, simply go in and work like I do within the health club. That man [Du Plessis] is robust. I couldn’t end. I respect that man. He’s the one champion that may say my title. This man has massive coronary heart.”
The victory extends Chimaev’s unbeaten UFC win streak to fifteen. Du Plessis skilled his first UFC loss and drops to 23-3 for his combined martial arts (MMA) profession.
Chimaev, who first entered UFC in 2020 and has beforehand defeated former champions Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker, was not often threatened in opposition to Du Plessis, and regardless of being denied a end by the South African he relentlessly took down the defending champion within the opening minute of each spherical.
The 31-year-old transformed 12 of 17 takedown makes an attempt within the bout and spent 84% of the 25-minute battle answerable for Du Plessis, based on official UFC match information.
Du Plessis’s solely second to stage a come-from-behind victory got here within the last spherical when he spun his method on high of his tiring opponent and executed a guillotine. Sadly for the reigning champion, the choke solely lasted a few seconds as Chimaev methodically fought his method out and once more resumed his management of the battle till the ultimate bell.
“The person has unbelievable management on high,” Du Plessis mentioned. “It wasn’t a matter of power; it wasn’t bodily; it was nearly like he knew what your subsequent transfer was. I might nearly style that victory [with the guillotine choke hold], however he beat me truthful and sq.. He was the higher man tonight. I’ll be coming to get my belt again, however for now, it’s his. He deserves it.”
