Overview

• After a 50-44 sweep with 529 strikes landed and 21:40 control time, Khamzat Chimaev claimed the middleweight belt in Chicago.
• The new champion climbed 10 places to No. 4 on the UFC pound-for-pound list in Tuesday’s official update.
• Chimaev and Reinier de Ridder traded callouts on X, fueling talk of a quick defense that Chimaev has suggested could come in Abu Dhabi.
• Cornerman Arman Tsarukyan said he insisted on a wrestle-first plan and told Chimaev not to box in round four, drawing both praise and heavy criticism from fans.
• Reactions split on the bout’s entertainment value, with Matt Brown calling it boring, Paulo Costa warning the approach could hurt business, and Daniel Cormier highlighting Chimaev’s reliance on long-range double-legs as de Ridder questioned whether his cardio has been fully tested.