It was the kind of performance that makes you rethink everything you know about MMA conditioning. Honestly, if you watched Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319, you saw a version of "Borz" that wasn't just a front-runner. He was a marathon runner. We’ve all heard the critiques before—that he gasses out after eight minutes, that he can’t handle the deep water. But in Chicago, at the United Center, those talking points basically evaporated.
He didn't just win. He dominated.
The night of August 16, 2025, changed the trajectory of the middleweight division. Facing Dricus du Plessis, a man known for a weird, awkward pressure that breaks world-class athletes, Chimaev looked like he was playing a video game on easy mode. He walked away with the UFC Middleweight Championship, but the stats from that fight are what people are still whispering about in January 2026.
The Stats Nobody Can Ignore
Most people expected a grappling clinic, and they got it, but with a twist. Chimaev landed 12 takedowns. Twelve. That’s a staggering number for a five-round title fight, especially against a guy as physically strong as DDP.
But look at the striking.
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Chimaev set a UFC record by landing 529 strikes. You read that right. Most of them were short, punishing ground-and-pound shots, but the volume was claustrophobic. By the time the fourth round rolled around, Du Plessis looked like he’d been through a car wreck. The judges’ scorecards reflected the one-sided nature of the beatdown, returning three identical 50-44 tallies. It’s rare to see a champion lose every single minute of a fight, but Chimaev made it look routine.
Why UFC 319 Was a Turning Point
For years, the knock on Khamzat was his health and his activity. He’d fight once a year, get a mysterious illness, and disappear. UFC 319 felt like the moment the "myth" became the "reality." He controlled the Octagon for 21 minutes and 40 seconds of the 25-minute fight. That is essentially total shutdown.
People forget that Nassourdine Imavov was actually the backup for this fight. There was so much doubt that Khamzat would even make it to the scale. But he did. He hit 185 pounds on the dot, looking leaner than we’ve seen him since the Li Jingliang days.
The atmosphere in Chicago was electric, but also sort of tense. Everyone was waiting for the moment Chimaev would hit the wall. It never came. Instead, he just kept shooting, kept transitioning, and kept punching. It was a suffocating performance that forced the rest of the 185-pounders to realize they aren't just chasing a belt; they’re chasing a ghost they can't catch.
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What’s Next: The White House and Alex Pereira
Now that we’re in 2026, the conversation has shifted from "can he win a belt" to "can he hold two?"
Just yesterday, January 12, Chimaev took to X (formerly Twitter) to basically set the MMA world on fire. He’s targeting the UFC White House card. Yeah, you heard that right—the South Lawn of the White House in D.C., scheduled for June 14, 2026. It’s supposed to be a massive celebration for Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.
Khamzat isn't calling out a middleweight. He wants Alex Pereira.
"Let’s go White House. Don’t worry, I will finish you fast @AlexPereiraUFC," Chimaev posted.
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It’s a bold move. Pereira is currently the light heavyweight king, coming off an 80-second demolition of Magomed Ankalaev. While fans are clamoring for this, the UFC is in a tough spot. Does Dana White let his new middleweight champ jump the line, or does he force him to defend against someone like Imavov or a surging Sean Strickland?
The Reality Check
Look, Chimaev has fought once a year since 2022. That’s the reality. While the win at UFC 319 was legendary, he hasn't defended that belt yet. The "Double Champ" talk is fun for social media, but there are a lot of killers at 185 pounds who feel ignored.
Alex Pereira has already hinted on social media that the White House event might be a "no go" for him, possibly due to his own ambitions of moving up to heavyweight to chase Jon Jones. This leaves Khamzat in a weird limbo. He has the momentum of the Chicago win, but he needs to stay active to keep the "Borz" aura alive.
Practical Insights for the Fight Fan
If you're following Chimaev's career post-UFC 319, keep these three things in mind:
- Watch the February Announcements: Dana White has stated that the promotion won't start booking the White House card until February. That’s when we’ll know if the Pereira super-fight is real or just "wolf" talk.
- The Weight Factor: Chimaev looked incredible at 185. Moving to 205 to face a monster like Pereira is a massive physical risk. He’d be giving up a significant reach and height advantage to one of the most dangerous strikers in history.
- Middleweight Logjam: If the UFC says no to the super-fight, expect Chimaev to headline a card in late spring against Nassourdine Imavov. Imavov is the clear number-one contender and represents a fresh stylistic challenge.
The legacy of Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 is that he finally proved he belongs at the very top. He’s no longer just a "prospect" or a "boogeyman." He’s the champion. But in the UFC, the only thing harder than winning the belt is keeping it—or convinced the boss to let you go find another one.
To get a true sense of how Chimaev's style has evolved since the Du Plessis fight, you should go back and re-watch the third round of UFC 319 on Fight Pass. Pay close attention to his breathing and his posture between takedown attempts; it’s a masterclass in calculated aggression that we simply haven't seen from him in previous years.