Khamzat Chimaev proved that Israel Adesanya was wrong on UFC 319.
Years after sport to conquer on Fight Island, 'Borz' finally touched UFC Gold in Chicago, Illinois. Chimaev returned to the United States to include the middleweight champion Drus Du Plessis on Saturday evening and man in the main event of UFC 319 and the wrestler.
Chimaev broke several UFC records on the way to Dethrone du Persis via a unanimous decision. In five rounds, Chimaev landed more than 500 strikes and scored 12 Takedowns with 21 minutes of control time.
With its apparently unbeatable style, Chimaev is sending a former champion and icon Adesanya in a new era in the middleweight division.
Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty images
Israel Adesanya says that middleweight is in 'good hands' with Khamzat Chimaev as a champion
Prior to the title fight, Adesanya had supported former foe du plessis to beat Chimaev via the deceased TKO.
Chimaev surprised many, including Adesanya, by how he was able to go five rounds with Du Plessis and not fatigue.
“Not what I expected,” Adesanya said about Chimaev's title win on his YouTube channel.
“But I am happy that Khamza has repaired his cardio or has improved his cardio to the point where he can go five rounds and just go to people in Ragdoll.
“That is a mess to deal with, because I thought DDP, okay, maybe around four, he could fill the Takedowns because Khamzat would get tired. But he didn't even delay.
“He delayed DDP,” Adesanya said about Chimaev.
“He delayed him, which was very impressive, because then he finished me in round four. Because I thought, okay, I got it now, but he just finds a way to get his third wind, fourth wind.
“But yes, Khamzat made sure that he didn't even get the first wind and just smothered him. 50-44. That was crazy.
“Khamzat new middleweight champion, division is in good hands,” said Adesanya.
Adesanya, a former division champion and is currently driving a three-fighter-losing skid to du Plessis, Sean Strickland and Nassourdine Imavov.
Khamzat Chimaev joins Israel Adesanya as the third undefeated champion in middleweight history
Chimaev is one of the many unbeaten hunters to reach a UFC championship.
Two hunters achieved the performance at lightweight when the current champion Ilia Topuria and the retired Khabib Nurmagomedov never lost to anyone.
On 15-0, Chimaev is the third undefeated hunter who holds the middleweight title. Former champion Adesanya was the second and went all the way to 20-0.
Chris Weidman, the first, defended his title three times and reached 13-0 before he finally lost to Luke Rockhold in 2015.