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Chimaev vows to take du Plessis' head and go
The Straits Times
|August 17, 2025
After Khamzat Chimaev burst onto the mixed martial arts scene in 2020 with a flurry of fast, violent stoppages that suggested a champion-in-waiting, he finally gets his shot at Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) gold when he takes on incumbent middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in Chicago.
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CHICAGO - After Khamzat Chimaev burst onto the mixed martial arts scene in 2020 with a flurry of fast, violent stoppages that suggested a champion-in-waiting, he finally gets his shot at Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) gold when he takes on incumbent middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in Chicago.
The Chechen-born 31-year-old, who started his professional career in Sweden before moving to the United Arab Emirates, was long seen as an unstoppable force until his career was disrupted by illness and visa issues.
UFC 319 will see Chimaev put his unbeaten record on the line against the unorthodox South African on Aug 16 (Aug 17, Singapore time).
This story is from the August 17, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
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