Khamzat Chimaev set up a completely dominant representation of wrestling to win on UFC 319.
Dricus Du Plessis was played five rounds during his middleweight title defeat on Saturday evening.
Nevertheless, the new King from 185 lb confronted with some criticism of his 'boring' game plan, which never looked like a finish on UFC 319.
Kamaru Usman insists that the only reason why Khamzat did not stop Chimaev 'DDP' is because he did not want that.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
Real reason Khamzat Chimaev did not stop Drus du Plessis
Kamaru Usman pushed Khamzat Chimaev on the edge of the defeat when they fought in October 2023.
The 15-0 Russian came from their UFC 294 Co-Main event with a razor-thin majority decision.
One of MMA's largest welter weights ever shared his unique view of UFC 319 on Monday morning.
As far as he is concerned, Chimaev du Plessis did not eliminate because he wanted to reserve energy.
“Khamzat Chimaev has this one skill that allows you to look like a wrestler in high school,” said Usman on the Pound4Pound podcast that he shares with Henry Cejudo.
“Khamzat has made many mistakes that I think he would have made that finish for that third round.
“You know, he came in a position where it was so easy, it was almost that he checked himself. He had to control his own emotions. He had to control his gas tank.
“That is not easy to dominate such a man. Everything works. In your thoughts you want resistance. Resistance is how you can size how much output you have to turn off. If everything goes well, you cannot measure how much output you have to switch off.
“Maybe you can try to finish it in that first round, you get up in the second,” whoa, I can't even lift my arms. Why am I so tired? “Khamzat has done a phenomenal work because he had so much success with this.”
The next fight by Khamzat Chimaev
There is no obvious number one competition for Khamzat Chimaev to defend his belt against.
However, he still hopes to return to the Octagon when the UFC goes to Abu Dhabi later this year.
Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane will be headed in the Etihad Arena on 26 October.
Nassourdine Imavov pushed himself in a title contract by switching off Israel Adesanya earlier this year.
On September 13, he will be on the main event of UFC Paris against UFC 319 Back-up Fighter Caio Borralho in the main event of UFC Paris.
The winner of that fight will probably be the leader who is confronted with Chimaev, if they are fit and ready for a quick turnaround.
Reinier de Ridder and Anthony Hernandez are the other two options. They are currently unparalleled after their recent victories over Robert Whittaker and Roman Dolidze.