In what was billed as the biggest fight of the year, Khamzat “Borz” Chimaev dominated Dricus “Stillknocks” du Plessis in a lopsided affair to capture the UFC middleweight title at UFC 319.
Chimaev (15-0) outclassed the South African champion from the opening bell, using relentless wrestling to take down Du Plessis 12 times over five rounds.
The three judges all scored the fight 50-44 across the board, with one 10-8 round awarded for Chimaev’s total control in Round 3.
No answers
Despite surviving several near finishes, Du Plessis (22-3) had no answers on the ground and was visibly frustrated as Chimaev kept him pinned and punished for most of the bout.
“To be in the position he was in – the crucifix, getting punched and elbowed – it’s frustrating,” said UFC CEO Dana White, who scored the fight even wider at 50-41, awarding Chimaev four 10-8 rounds.
Still, White praised Du Plessis’s grit and refusal to give up.
“He came out every round trying to fight, trying to win,” White added.
Undisputed champion
With the victory, Chimaev becomes the new undisputed UFC middleweight champion, and Du Plessis becomes the first fighter ever to take Chimaev the full five rounds.
Until UFC 319, only Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns had survived the Chechen-Swedish phenom – both over just three rounds.
Du Plessis, however, endured Chimaev’s onslaught through all five.
While Du Plessis loses his title, he earns the distinction of being the first to test Chimaev’s gas tank over championship rounds – a small silver lining in an otherwise humbling night.
| Dricus du Plessis | Khamzat Chimaev | |
| 0 | Knockdowns | 0 |
| 45/68 (66.2%) | Total strikes | 529/567 (93.3%) |
| 13/29 (44.8%) | Significant strikes | 37/47 (78.7%) |
| 1/1 (100%) | Takedowns | 12/17 (70.6%) |
| 1 | Submission attempts | 0 |
UFC 319 fight card results
- Khamzat Chimaev def. Dricus du Plessis (c) via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-44)
- Lerone Murphy def. Aaron Pico via first-round knockout (elbow)
- Carlos Prates def. Geoff Neal via first-round knockout (elbow)
- Michael Page def. Jared Cannonier via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Tim Elliott def. Kai Asakura via second-round submission (guillotine choke)
- Baisangur Susurkaev def. Eric Nolan via second-round submission (rear-naked choke)
- Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Gerald Meerschaert via first-round TKO (punches)
- Loopy Godinez def. Jessica Andrade via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Alexander Hernandez def. Chase Hooper via first-round knockout (punches)
- Drakkar Klose def. Edson Barboza via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-29)
- Karine Silva def. Dione Barbosa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Joseph Morales def. Alibi Idiris via second-round submission (triangle choke)
Were you surprised by the performance from Dricus du Plessis?
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