Khamzat Chimaev recently gave a dominant performance at UFC 319, where he captured the middleweight title with a convincing unanimous decision victory over Dricus Du Plessis. During the broadcast, commentators Daniel Cormier and Joe Rogan didn’t hold back in their assessment of the lopsided championship bout.
The pair were struck by the sheer level of dominance displayed by Chimaev, with one noting that “that kind of dominance, that kind of grappling dominance was not just a level, it was multiple levels.” The wrestling disparity between the two was evident throughout the contest, as Du Plessis appeared helpless against Chimaev’s relentless takedowns and ground control.
Rogan and Cormier were particularly critical of Du Plessis’ preparation, suggesting the now-former champion lacked adequate training partners to prepare for Chimaev’s elite grappling. “And it just didn’t seem like he had any answer for that. I don’t know who he brought in to train with him, but clearly he didn’t bring in anybody that had that kind of skill,” one observed, adding that Du Plessis “needs to be wrestling more.”
The commentary team praised Chimaev’s comprehensive performance, highlighting how “Khamzat just did exactly what he wanted to do. His pace, his pressure, his control, his cardio, everything looked on point tonight. He looked more prepared than he’s ever been in his entire career.” They acknowledged that despite Chimaev’s impressive career to date, “This was pure dominance, man.”
Looking ahead, the duo discussed the challenging time awaiting Du Plessis as he returns to the middleweight division. With “three former champions on the ledger” – including names like Adesanya, Strickland, and Whittaker – Du Plessis faces an uphill battle to reclaim his position.
The resounding victory validated pre-match expectations, with the commentary acknowledging that “the bookies were right. They knew and Khamzat Chimaev proved him right 10 times over.”
Chimaev’s performance established him as a dominant new champion who appears well-equipped to handle the challenges ahead in a talent-rich middleweight division.
