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 while landing steady ground strikes. Though the lack of damage frustrated the Chicago crowd, Du Plessis had no answers for Chimaev’s grappling aside from a brief scramble in Round 5. With the victory, Chimaev improved to 15–0 and became UFC Middleweight Champion, moving to #4 on the pound-for-pound list.
Next up for Chimaev should be the winner of Caio Borralho vs. Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Paris. Borralho has quietly surged into the top 10 with dominant wins over Jared Cannonier, Paul Craig, and Abusupiyan Magomedov. His blend of southpaw striking, strong grappling, and cardio make him a tricky matchup for any champion. Imavov, on the other hand, is ranked #2 and is riding high off his knockout win over Israel Adesanya earlier this year. His sharp boxing, length, and ability to shut down opponents with counters would present a new type of challenge for Chimaev.
Stylistically, both fights make sense. Borralho’s well-roundedness could test whether Chimaev can impose his pace against someone equally comfortable grappling, while Imavov’s clean striking and composure under pressure might force Chimaev into prolonged stand-up exchanges. Either matchup carries intrigue and legitimacy for a first title defense, with UFC Paris serving as the perfect scouting ground for Chimaev’s next opponent.
Last Five Fights – Khamzat Chimaev:
1. Win over Dricus du Plessis – Decision (unanimous), UFC 319 (August 16, 2025)
2. Win over Robert Whittaker – Submission (face crank), UFC 308 (October 26, 2024)
3. Win over Kamaru Usman – Decision (majority), UFC 294 (October 21, 2023)
4. Win over Kevin Holland – Submission (brabo choke), UFC 279 (September 10, 2022)
5. Win over Gilbert Burns – Decision (unanimous), UFC 273 (April 9, 2022)
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)