KHAMZAT CHIMAEV is the new UFC middleweight champion following a BLOWOUT victory over Dricus Du Plessis.
But MMA fans weren’t happy with his wrestling-dominant display and showered him with BOOS after the judges’ 50-44 scorecards were turned in.
GettyKhamzat Chimaev tangled with Dricus Du Plessis for the middleweight title early this morning[/caption]
GettyChallenger Chimaev was relentless with his takedown from the outset[/caption]
GETTYThe Russian controlled the champion for nearly every minute of the fight[/caption]
GettyChimaev was over the moon to finally get his hands on UFC gold[/caption]
The undefeated Russian locked horns with the South African slugger in the main event of UFC 319 in Chicago early this morning.
Fan favourite Chimaev, 31, went into his maiden title fight as a HUGE favourite over the dominant champ.
But he ripped the 185lbs strap from DDP’s clutches with a wide unanimous victory, a little over five years after his incredible debut in MMA‘s top promotion.
An elated Chimaev said: “I’m happy, happy as always to get my money. Dana [White] send me my money, brother.”
He added: “That guy is strong, I couldn’t finish him. Respect to that guy. The only champion was saying my name. This guy has big heart.
“He’s a real lion, an African real lion. Thank you, brother.”
Chimaev, unsurprisingly, immediately shot for a takedown after pawing out some range-guaging strikes and was successful in grounding the South African.
DDP accepted the takedown but remained calm under the relentless top pressure of Chimaev.
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But he must have started to panic when he got put into a mounted crucifix.
Du Plessis managed to get out of the precarious possession with just over two minutes of the round remaining, but remained under the challenger.
Khamzat Chimaev was truly at his suffocating best against Dricus Du PlessisGETTY
South African DDP had no answer for the insane wrestling pedigree of Chimaev
Du Plessis briefly managed to force a scramble with 30 seconds to go but found himself grounded just before the horn went.
Chimaev was at his suffocating best once again after the restart, taking down the champion with a double leg after the traded body kicks.
He chipped away at DDP with knees to the body as he looked for the champion to make a mistake.
But DDP didn’t panic as he rode out the round with Chimaev on his back.
DDP looked visibly fatigued ahead of the third round, and his depleted gas tank no doubt played a part in Chimaev securing the easiest takedown of the fight seconds after the restart.
Chimaev managed to secure a mounted crucifix again, but Du Plessis once again did a good job protecting his head in the body of the challenger.
Chimaev managed to bloody the champion with a few short elbows in the crucifix position.
Du Plessis managed to stuff a takedown for the first time at the start of the fourth, but was eventually grounded again by a relentless Chimaev.
Du Plessis was given some brief respite with a minute to go when referee Marc Goddard bizarrely separated the pair.
But Chimaev quickly got him to the canvas after eating a body shot.
GETTYKhamzat Chimaev manhandled Dricus Du Plessis for large portions of the fight[/caption]
GETTYDu Plessis was unable to get any of his offence off in the brief moments he was on the feet[/caption]
Du Plessis came out swinging in the fifth, letting his hands go after throwing a flying knee.
But it took Chimaev a mere 30 seconds to take him down for the umpteenth time.
DDP managed to get back to his feet with just over two minutes of the round remaining and wound up on top of the challenger.
And after landing on his back, he went for a Hail Mary guillotine. Chimaev, however, was able to pop his head out.
Chaos ensued after referee Marc Goddard separated the pair on the ground, with Chimaev getting caught by two hard shots.
He then shot for a takedown but saw his attempt to re-ground the fight stuffed.
Du Plessis looked for a rear-naked choke, but Chimaev was wise to it and defended it before ending the round, and the fight, in top position.
MMA fans were seemingly not impressed by Chimaev’s dominance, with one writing on X: “I will never watch another Chimaev fight for as long as I live.
“The absolute most boring, overrated, bulls**t fighter to ever watch.
“I don’t give a f**k if you disagree, you’re wrong.”
Another said: ” Bro, Chimaev is such a boring fighter. Fighters like him are ruining UFC.”
And another said: “I have never seen a more boring fighter than Khamzat Chimaev.
“Dominant but boring as hell.”
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