KHAMZAT CHIMAEV is the new UFC middleweight champion following a BLOWOUT victory over Dricus Du Plessis.
The undefeated Russian locked horns with the South African slugger in the main event of UFC 319 in Chicago early this morning.
Fan favourite Chimaev, 31, went into his maiden title fight as a HUGE favourite over the dominant champ.
But he ripped the 185lbs strap from DDP’s clutches with a wide unanimous victory, a little over five years after his incredible debut in MMA ‘s top promotion.
Chimaev, unsurprisingly, immediately shot for a takedown after pawing out some range-guaging strikes and was successful in grounding the South African.
DDP accepted the takedown but remained calm under the relentless top pressure of Chimaev.
But he must have started to panic when he got put into a mounted crucifix.
Du Plessis managed to get out of the precarious possession with just over two minutes of the round remaining, but remained under the challenger.
Du Plessis briefly managed to force a scramble with 30 seconds to go but found himself grounded just before the horn went.
Chimaev was at his suffocating best once again after the restart, taking down the champion with a double leg after the traded body kicks.
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He chipped away at DDP with knees to the body as he looked for the champion to make a mistake.
But DDP didn’t panic as he rode out the round with Chimaev on his back.
DDP looked visibly fatigued ahead of the third round, and his depleted gas tank no doubt played a part in Chimaev securing the easiest takedown of the fight seconds after the restart.
Chimaev managed to secure a mounted crucifix again, but Du Plessis once again did a good job protecting his head in the body of the challenger.
Chimaev managed to bloody the champion with a few short elbows in the crucifix position.
Du Plessis managed to stuff a takedown for the first time at the start of the fourth, but was eventually grounded again by a relentless Chimaev.
Du Plessis was given some brief respite with a minute to go when referee Marc Goddard bizarrely separated the pair. But Chimaev quickly got him to the canvas after eating a body shot.
Du Plessis came out swinging in the fifth, letting his hands go after throwing a flying knee.
But it took Chimaev a mere 30 seconds to take him down for the umpteenth time.
DDP managed to get back to his feet with just over two minutes of the round remaining and wound up on top of the challenger.
And after landing on his back, he went for a Hail Mary guillotine. Chimaev, however, was able to pop his head out.
Chaos ensued after referee Marc Goddard separated the pair on the ground, with Chimaev getting caught by two hard shots.
He then shot for a takedown but saw his attempt to re-ground the fight stuffed.
Du Plessis looked for a rear-naked choke, but Chimaev was wise to it and defended it before ending the round, and the fight, in top position.
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
