The lights of Chicago’s United Center shone brightly for UFC 319, but no one outshined Khamzat Chimaev. Over 25 minutes, “Borz” dismantled Dricus Du Plessis in their middleweight title fight, walking away with the belt in one of the most dominant championship showings in UFC history.
Khamzat Chimaev: The New Standard
Chimaev proved why he was the betting favorite. From the opening bell, he rag-dolled Du Plessis with takedowns, heavy pressure, and relentless grappling. By the final horn, the outcome was beyond doubt. Now undefeated at 15-0 (9-0 UFC), Chimaev finally captured gold after years of hype. The question becomes: who in the middleweight division—or even beyond—can neutralize his pace and power?
Carlos Prates & Lerone Murphy Deliver
If one spinning elbow wasn’t enough, the night gave fans two. First, Carlos Prates stunned Geoff Neal with a last-second first-round finish in their clash. Prates not only bounced back from his setback against Ian Machado Garry, but also secured a $50,000 bonus and a booking at UFC Rio later this year.
Moments later, Lerone Murphy shocked the arena by derailing Aaron Pico’s long-awaited debut. Their fight looked to be tilting Pico’s way until Murphy landed a devastating elbow that sealed the win in the co-main event. With another $50,000 bonus in his pocket, Murphy has catapulted himself into featherweight title conversations.
The Night’s Toughest Defeats
For Du Plessis, the loss to Chimaev was more than a title defeat—it was a reality check. His prior run looked strong, but against “Borz” he was outclassed in every department. Unless he makes major strides in grappling, a rematch seems destined to play out the same way.
Another rough night belonged to Kai Asakura. After losing his debut to Alexandre Pantoja, he dropped his second bout to veteran Tim Elliott by submission in their matchup. For the former RIZIN champion, starting 0-2 inside the Octagon leaves his UFC future hanging by a thread. Fighters with his pedigree rarely get three chances.
What It Means Going Forward
With Chimaev’s arrival as champion, the middleweight landscape changes dramatically. Prates and Murphy emerged as breakout stars with highlight finishes, while Du Plessis and Asakura will have to regroup quickly. Add in rising names from Bellator MMA and RIZIN making their mark, and the second half of 2025 promises more shakeups inside the UFC cage.
