The UFC returned to Chicago on Saturday night with UFC 319 at the United Center, headlined by a Middleweight Championship clash between defending champion Dricus Du Plessis and surging contender Khamzat Chimaev.

Tim Elliott submitting Kai Asakura in the first fight of of the main card. Michael “Venom” Page followed with a statement win, outpointing Top 10 contender Jared Cannonier to earn his third win in four UFC appearances. Momentum continued to build with back-to-back highlight-reel first-round knockouts, as Carlos Prates and Lerone Murphy each secured finishes via spinning back elbows.

In the main event, Chimaev delivered a dominant performance, imposing his wrestling and relentless pressure on Du Plessis for five grueling rounds. The undefeated Chechen star left little doubt, sweeping the scorecards to claim a unanimous decision victory and capture the UFC Middleweight Championship.

Khamzat Chimaev def. Dricus du Plessis (c) via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-44)

Khamzat Chimaev (15-0) became the new UFC middleweight champion on Saturday night at the United Center, putting on one of the most dominant title-fight performances in recent memory against Dricus Du Plessis (23-3). While Du Plessis survived all five rounds, he rarely offered resistance as Chimaev controlled the action from start to finish.

The undefeated challenger wasted no time, taking Du Plessis down in under 10 seconds and advancing to a mounted crucifix position, where he held him on the canvas for much of the opening round. That game plan never changed. Chimaev secured takedowns in the opening minute of every round, converting 12 of 17 attempts overall, and spent more than 21 of the 25 minutes in control. Twice—in the first and third rounds—he trapped the champion in a completely defenseless crucifix.

As the fight wore on, Chimaev’s relentless wrestling and pressure continued to smother Du Plessis. He closed distance with ease, chained takedowns seamlessly, and shut down nearly every offensive opportunity his opponent attempted. Du Plessis had one desperate push late in the fight, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.

The judges unanimously scored the bout 50-44 for Chimaev, marking one of the most lopsided five-round fights in UFC history. Along the way, Chimaev broke the UFC’s all-time record for total strikes landed in a single fight, racking up 529 compared with just 45 from Du Plessis. Chimaev breaks the previous record of 447, set by Max Holloway in 2021 against Calvin Kattar by nearly 100 strikes.

With the win, Chimaev improves to 15-0, and he continues to look like an unstoppable force inside the Octagon.

UFC 319: Du Plessis vs Chimaev Results

• Khamzat Chimaev def. Dricus du Plessis (c) via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-44)
• Lerone Murphy def. Aaron Pico via first-round knockout (elbow)
• Carlos Prates def. Geoff Neal via first-round knockout (elbow)
• Michael Page def. Jared Cannonier via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Tim Elliott def. Kai Asakura via second-round submission (guillotine choke)
• Baisangur Susurkaev def. Eric Nolan via second-round submission (rear-naked choke)
• Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Gerald Meerschaert via first-round TKO (punches)
• Loopy Godinez def. Jessica Andrade via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Alexander Hernandez def. Chase Hooper via first-round knockout (punches)
• Drakkar Klose def. Edson Barboza via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-29)
• Karine Silva def. Dione Barbosa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Joseph Morales def. Alibi Idiris via second-round submission (triangle choke)