Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) dominated and outgrappled Dricus Du Plessis (23-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) to claim the middleweight title in Saturday's UFC 319 headliner at United Center in Chicago. Usman was one of the few fighters to pick Chimaev to win.

Khamzat Chimaev’s wrestling clinic against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 on August 16, 2025, impressed fans and fighters alike at Chicago’s United Center. Some booed the lack of striking, but former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker called it a masterclass.

Now that Khamzat Chimaev is the new UFC middleweight champion, there’s plenty of 185 pounders looking to step into the cage for his first title defense. With the UFC teasing a potential fast turnaround in Abu Dhabi on October 25th,

Daniel Cormier was shocked to see Khamzat Chimaev have success at UFC 319 with a move he warns against. Chimaev has experienced nothing but victory in mixed martial arts, and that trend continued all the way to title glory in the sport’s leading promotion this past Saturday.

Khamzat Chimaev added another major milestone to his career on Saturday, joining a very select group of fighters with his UFC middleweight title win. UFC 319 marked the promotion’s first trip back to Chicago in six years,

Lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan was in Khamzat Chimaev’s corner at UFC 319, guiding his friend and training partner to a middleweight title victory. It was sheer domination, but not exactly the most exciting fight.

The coach of Makhachev and Khabib is not the only prominent name defending Chimaev’s approach in the aftermath of UFC 319.