Former middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis openly requested Dana White & Co. for the division’s toughest challenge—but he couldn’t secure the matchup. At UFC 319, Du Plessis suffered a crushing defeat, surrendering his middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev, who made every round a punishing test for the South African contender.
While Dricus Du Plessis has historically been strong on the mat, ‘Borz’ showcased dominant wrestling and relentless ground-and-pound skills that have become his trademark. For the first time in his career, Khamzat Chimaev went the full five rounds at championship intensity without showing any signs of fatigue. Over the 25-minute bout, he maintained near-constant control, holding ‘DDP’ on the mat for 21 minutes and 40 seconds and landing 12 of 17 takedowns, effectively ragdolling the former champion.
Khamzat Chimaev’s performance drew immediate comparisons to former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar. During a live stream, senior journalist Luke Thomas addressed a fan’s remark that Chimaev reminded them of Lesnar, dismissing the comparison: “Brock Lesnar had better ground-and-pound than that. Although he had a lot of pitter-pat shots too.” Thomas emphasized that while Chimaev’s raw power is undeniable, Lesnar’s finishing ability on the ground remained in a league of its own, hammering opponents into submission with brutal efficiency.
LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 9: Khamzat Chimaev L speaks to Joe Rogan R during the ceremonial weigh-ins on September 9, 2022, at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Photo by Amy Kaplan/Icon Sportswire MMA: SEP 09 UFC 279 Icon220909510279
(This is a developing story.)
The post Brock Lesnar Overshadows Khamzat Chimaev as Wrestling Weakness Revealed After UFC 319 Performance appeared first on EssentiallySports.