Khamzat Chimaev now the new king of UFC middleweight division, ends Du Plessis’ streak

Khamzat Chimaev is the new king of the UFC middleweight division. The undefeated Russian claimed the belt Saturday night at Chicago’s United Center with a commanding unanimous-decision victory over Dricus Du Plessis, handing the South African his first UFC defeat. Judges scored the bout 50-44 across the board, moving Chimaev’s record to 15-0.

From the opening bell, the 31-year-old suffocated Du Plessis with relentless wrestling and pressure. Chimaev racked up 12 takedowns—the second-most in UFC middleweight history and tied for third-most in any title fight since 2015. He dominated from top position, landing knees, short punches, and smothering control that kept Du Plessis on the defensive all night.



The lone moment of danger for Chimaev came late in Round 5, when Du Plessis locked in a guillotine choke. But the Russian quickly escaped and closed out the fight on top, leaving little doubt about the outcome.

According to a report of USA Today, the crowd, at times restless with the grind-heavy affair, booed but Chimaev shrugged it off with a grin: “Happy, happy always. Get my money. Dana, save my money, brother.”

Despite the one-sided nature of the fight, both men exchanged respect afterward. Chimaev praised his rival’s toughness: “That guy is strong to the finish … he had great heart.” Du Plessis returned the compliment: “The man has incredible control on top. He’s just like a blanket. It wasn’t about strength—it’s like he knew your next move.”

For Du Plessis, 31, the loss ended his 23-2 run and halted his first title reign after two successful defenses, dropping him to 23-3.

Round-by-round summary:

• Round 1: Early takedown and dominance from Chimaev. 10-9 Chimaev
  
  
• Round 2: Constant pressure, knees, and choke attempts. 20-18 Chimaev
  
  
• Round 3: Heavy ground-and-pound bloodied Du Plessis. 30-27 Chimaev
  
  
• Round 4: Multiple takedowns; ragdolling display. 40-36 Chimaev
  
  
• Round 5: Du Plessis threatened with a guillotine but faded late. 50-44 Final
  
  

With the win, Chimaev rises to the top of the middleweight division—still undefeated, still untested, and now a world champion.