Overview

• Chimaev dethroned Dricus Du Plessis by unanimous decision at UFC 319, sweeping all three judges 50-44 while landing 529 strikes, recording 12 takedowns and controlling over 21 minutes on the mat.
• His wrestling-heavy approach silenced pre-fight cardio concerns but drew criticism from Du Plessis’ camp and segments of the fanbase who labeled the performance boring.
• High-profile figures including Israel Adesanya, Daniel Cormier and Michael Bisping praised Chimaev’s dominance and declared the middleweight division in capable hands.
• Contenders Nassourdine Imavov, Caio Borralho and Reinier de Ridder publicly staked their claims for the next title shot as Chimaev signaled his intention to defend in October at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi.
• Social-media narratives continue to evolve, with Sean Strickland reviving retirement taunts and Olympic wrestler Abdulrashid Sadulaev congratulating Chimaev on what he called “absolute domination.”