Khamzat Chimaev fully dominated Dricus Du Plessis to win the UFC middleweight championship at UFC 319 on Saturday evening.
Chechen-born wrestling specialist Chimaev scored a unanimous choice victory on the judges’ scorecards, smothering Du Plessis together with his grappling.
Chimaev set the tone within the opening minute, taking pictures for an early takedown to carry the struggle to the mat and pinning the South African in a crucifix place earlier than raining punches together with his left hand, however the blows did little injury and Du Plessis survived.
Spherical Two started in a lot the identical trend because the 31-year-old once more introduced the struggle to the mat. This time Chimaev caught to his opponent’s again like a limpet to threaten with knee strikes and choke makes an attempt, and Du Plessis was spent within the third and fourth rounds in equally poor positions.
There was a short sliver of hope late within the last body as Du Plessis lastly managed to get himself right into a threatening place, but it surely was too little, too late, and Chimaev was declared the winner – all three judges scoring the struggle 50 to 44 in his favour.
“I never game-plan. I just came in, work like I do in the gym,” Chimaev stated, together with his new championship belt round his waist.
“That guy is strong, I couldn’t finish, respect that guy, he’s the only champion who was saying my name,” Chimaev added on Du Plessis. “This guy has real heart, a real lion, a real African lion.”
Du Plessis took his dethroning with good grace earlier than promising to win the title again.
“He deserves this 100 per cent, he beat me fair and square tonight,” he stated.
“He was the better man tonight, and I’ll be back. I’ll come and get my belt back, but for now, it’s his and he deserves it, and he has to enjoy it.”
