Times have changed. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) boogeyman Khamzat Chimaev captured Middleweight gold at UFC 319 last night (Sat., Aug. 16, 2025) by completely dominating former 185-pound kingpin Dricus du Plessis,

There are certain nights in the UFC where it feels like the sport shifts gears, and UFC 319 was one of them. After five years of hype, chaos and anticipation, Khamzat Chimaev finally claimed the undisputed middleweight crown and he did it in a way that suggested this might just be the beginning of a long, dominant era.

Former UFC champion Israel Adesanya praised Chimaev after his lopsided unanimous decision victory over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319, a performance that saw the Chechen-born star claim the belt with scorecards of 50-44 across the board.