Chimaev Secures Middleweight Title at UFC 319
CHICAGO – Khamzat Chimaev has once again asserted his dominance in the UFC, claiming the middleweight championship on Saturday night. He defeated Dricus Duplesis via unanimous decision at UFC 319.
With enthusiasm radiating from his corner, Chimaev (15-0) took control early, keeping Du Plessis (23-3) on his back during the opening round after successfully executing a takedown.
Even though Chimaev was in command on the ground, Du Plessis managed to avoid serious harm throughout the first round.
As the fight progressed into the second and third rounds, Chimaev’s takedown skills continued to shine, effectively overcoming Du Plessis with his grappling abilities.
Chimaev maintained his offensive strategy in the fourth round, consistently pressuring Du Plessis.
Chimaev, who has hinted at wanting a championship fight since joining the UFC in 2020, praised Du Plessis for presenting a tough challenge. “That guy is hard to finish. Respect him. He was the only champion who said, ‘I’m in.’ This guy has a big heart,” he commented.
Du Plessis attempted to rally with a takedown late in the fifth round, even trying for a guillotine, but it was too little, too late.
Overall, the match was largely defined by Chimaev’s dominance.
“No one wants to fall into the punches like that. It’s just so frustrating, requiring everything you’ve got,” Chimaev reflected.
All three judges scored the bout 50-44 in favor of Chimaev.
In his post-fight statement, Du Plessis said, “In the end, I went for it, had my back. I can almost taste the victory. He beat me fair and square tonight. He was the better fighter tonight. I’ll be back.”
This event marked the UFC’s return to Chicago after a six-year hiatus, filling the United Center with excitement.
The main card featured an impressive first-round finish involving Carlo Spreets and Lerown Murphy, both landing spinning elbows.
In a notable co-main event, Murphy (17-0-1), competing on short notice, countered an early surge from Aaron Pico (13-5) with a decisive elbow, leading to Pico’s loss in his UFC debut in the featherweight category. This performance put Murphy in line for a title shot against Alex Volkanovski.
The evening also showcased Prates (22-7), who made history with a spinning elbow knockout of Geoff Neal (16-7) in a prior match, marking Neal’s first knockout defeat. Meanwhile, White is promising to host a fight in Rio de Janeiro on October 11.
Not to be overlooked, Michael Page (24-3) showcased his skills by dropping Jared Cannonier (19-10) in the first round, ultimately securing a unanimous decision victory after an aggressive second round.
Timothy Elliott (22-13-1) opened the main card with a guillotine finish against Kai Askura (21-6) in the second round, despite Askura initially holding the advantage.
