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 determination victory on the judges’ scorecards, smothering Du Plessis together with his grappling.
Chimaev set the tone within the opening minute, capturing for an early takedown to convey the battle 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 harm and Du Plessis survived.
Spherical Two started in a lot the identical trend because the 31-year-old once more introduced the battle 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 remaining body as Du Plessis lastly managed to get himself right into a threatening place, however it was too little, too late, and Chimaev was declared the winner – all three judges scoring the battle 50 to 44 in his favour.
“I by no means game-plan. I simply got here in, work like I do within the health club,” Chimaev mentioned, together with his new championship belt round his waist.
“That man is robust, I could not end, respect that man, he is the one champion who was saying my title,” Chimaev added on Du Plessis. “This man has actual coronary heart, an actual lion, an actual 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 honest and sq. tonight,” he mentioned.
“He was the higher man tonight, and I will be again. I am going to come and get my belt again, however for now, it is his and he deserves it, and he has to take pleasure in it.”
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