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 towards title holder Dricus Du Plessis on the United Heart 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 towards Chimaev, the No 3-ranked contender and regarded one of the vital feared pound-for-pound fighters on the UFC roster.
However Chimaev was accountable for the bout from the start till the top in one of the vital 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 stated post-fight. “I by no means have a recreation plan, simply go in and work like I do within the health club. That man [Du Plessis] is powerful. I couldn’t end. I respect that man. He’s the one champion that may say my title. This man has large 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 hardly ever threatened towards 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 combat accountable for Du Plessis, in accordance with official UFC match knowledge.
Du Plessis’s solely second to stage a come-from-behind victory got here within the ultimate spherical when he spun his manner on prime 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 manner out and once more resumed his management of the combat till the ultimate bell.
“The person has unimaginable management on prime,” Du Plessis stated. “It wasn’t a matter of energy; 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 honest 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.”
