At UFC 319, Khamzat Chimaev dominated Dricus du Plessis from start to finish to claim the middleweight title with a lopsided unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-44). Using relentless wrestling and suffocating control, Chimaev repeatedly took Du Plessis down, securing side control, crucifix, and mount positions throughout the fight while landing steady ground strikes. Though the crowd grew restless at times due to the lack of damage, Chimaev’s grappling left Du Plessis largely helpless, aside from a late scramble in Round 5 where the South African briefly gained back control. With the win, Chimaev improved to 15-0 and captured UFC gold in dominant fashion.
Next up for Du Plessis should be the loser of Caio Borralho vs. Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Paris. Both men represent fresh matchups with stylistic intrigue for the former champion. If Borralho falls short, his southpaw striking and grappling blend would test whether Du Plessis can handle a younger, rising prospect with a similar well-rounded skill set. If Imavov is defeated, his length, sharp boxing, and composure would still present an elite striking challenge that could push Du Plessis into a more tactical fight than his usual pressure-heavy approach.
This booking makes sense for all parties. Du Plessis remains the #1 contender despite losing his belt and should not be far from a rematch opportunity, but a rebound win over a top-five opponent would strengthen his case. For Borralho or Imavov, fighting a former champion provides a massive opportunity to either bounce back or re-enter the title mix.
Last Five Fights – Dricus du Plessis:
1. Loss to Khamzat Chimaev – Decision (unanimous), UFC 319 (August 16, 2025)
2. Win over Sean Strickland – Decision (unanimous), UFC 312 (February 9, 2025)
3. Win over Israel Adesanya – Submission (face crank), UFC 305 (August 18, 2024)
4. Win over Sean Strickland – Decision (split), UFC 297 (January 20, 2024)
5. Win over Robert Whittaker – TKO (punches), UFC 290 (July 8, 2023)
Last Five Fights – Caio Borralho:
1. Win over Jared Cannonier – Decision (unanimous), UFC on ESPN (August 24, 2024)
2. Win over Paul Craig – KO (punches), UFC 301 (May 4, 2024)
3. Win over Abusupiyan Magomedov – Decision (unanimous), UFC Fight Night (November 4, 2023)
4. Win over Michał Oleksiejczuk – Submission (rear-naked choke), UFC on ESPN (April 29, 2023)
5. Win over Makhmud Muradov – Decision (unanimous), UFC 280 (October 22, 2022)
Last Five Fights – Nassourdine Imavov:
1. Win over Israel Adesanya – TKO (punches), UFC Fight Night (February 1, 2025)
2. Win over Brendan Allen – Decision (unanimous), UFC Fight Night (September 28, 2024)
3. Win over Jared Cannonier – TKO (punches), UFC on ESPN (June 8, 2024)
4. Win over Roman Dolidze – Decision (majority), UFC Fight Night (February 3, 2024)
5. NC with Chris Curtis – No Contest (accidental clash of heads), UFC 289 (June 10, 2023)