Here are FIVE things to know about the new UFC middleweight champion, Khamzat Chimaev, who defeated South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis for the title at UFC 319 at the United Center in Chicago on Saturday.
Du Plessis lost his UFC middleweight title to Chimaev with all three judges scoring the fight 50-44.
Du Plessis had captured UFC gold at the beginning of 2024, dethroning Sean Strickland at UFC 297.
Later in 2024, he defended the title against one of the best middleweight champions of all time, Nigerian-born New Zealand mixed martial artist, Israel Adesanya.
Du Plessis then kicked off 2025 by defending his title in a rematch against Strickland.
As previously reported by The South African, Chimaev landed a UFC record number of 529 (out of 567) total strikes and takedowns (12 out of 17 attempted) for a middleweight title fight.
Take a look at Dricus’s fiancee’s sweet words after his loss
WHO IS KHAMZAT CHIMAEV?
- He is a Russian-Emirati mixed martial artist
- Khamzat Chimaev has lived in three different countries throughout his life. He was born in Chechnya, Russia. In 2011, he decided to leave Russia and moved to Sweden. One of his brothers was working in Sweden and wanted his family to move there. He spent a few years in Sweden and acquired citizenship. In 2023 reports claimed that he received citizenship from the United Arab Emirates as he was training in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
- The UFC middleweight champion is 31-years-old having been born on 1 May 1994
- He remains undefeated with a 15-0 record
- Khamzat Chimaev reportedly got married in 2022. However, he has not spoken of his wife and keeps her off his social media. Therefore, not much information about his marriage is known.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON DRICUS’ LOSS?
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