Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic ‘Celebrates’ Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 319 Title Win

Soccer legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic's reacted to Khamzat Chimaev's middleweight title win at UFC 319.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic ‘Celebrates’ Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 319 Title Win

Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrate Khamzat Chimaev's win (via X)

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At UFC 319, Khamzat Chimaev captured the middleweight title by defeating Dricus Du Plessis with dominant unanimous decision win. The ‘Borz’ backed up his pre-fight promises, completely outclassing DDP on the ground with relentless wrestling pressure. Chimaev’s dominance left the former champion helpless, unable to implement any effective strategy against the Chechen’s grappling-heavy approach.

Chimaev is undeniably one of the most popular fighters on the UFC roster, and his stardom has skyrocketed dramatically. After his dominant championship triumph, numerous celebrities and athletes congratulated him, recognizing his emergence as UFC’s newest unstoppable and marketable superstar.

Fans quickly noticed Cristiano Ronaldo acknowledging Chimaev’s success by liking his championship picture with the belt on Instagram. Ronaldo has long been a passionate follower of combat sports, frequently attending high-profile boxing events and UFC events in Saudi Arabia, where he is currently playing.

When it comes to MMA, the Real Madrid icon has previously interacted with legends Khabib Nurmagomedov and Francis Ngannou. Apart from Ronaldo, former AC Milan superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic also expressed admiration for Chimaev, connecting with him through a supportive video call.

This crossover moment significantly boosted Chimaev’s worldwide appeal, cementing his reputation among the best fighters in the world. Following his dominant UFC 319 victory, the newly crowned middleweight champion has already been called out by several hungry contenders.

Sean Strickland, who shares a long-standing rivalry with Chimaev, reignited their beef by demanding a future clash for the championship. Meanwhile, middleweight dark horse Anthony Hernandez confidently expressed his belief that he could overwhelm Chimaev with his cardio on the ground. 

The undefeated Chechen has already hinted at making a swift return, targeting the upcoming UFC 321 event scheduled in Abu Dhabi. Chimaev is willing to face any opponent, provided the UFC ensures a lucrative and fair purse.

Former rival defends Khamzat Chimaev criticism after UFC 319

Khamzat Chimaev had an incredible run to the UFC middleweight title, earning his shot by dismantling Robert Whittaker in minutes. In that fight, Chimaev broke Whittaker’s jaw, forcing a quick stoppage and leaving fans convinced the ‘Borz’ was a destructive force. Due to that performance, many fans anticipated a war at UFC 319, but against Dricus Du Plessis, things unfolded differently.

Khamzat Chimaev dominates Dricus Du Plessis
Khamzat Chimaev dominates Dricus Du Plessis (via X)

Although Chimaev dominated every round with suffocating wrestling control, he failed to secure a finish, leaving critics questioning his finishing ability. Throughout the contest, fans inside the arena booed heavily, expressing disappointment, while online audiences complained the fight was boring overall. However, experts such as Whittaker didn’t appreciate the narrative and shared their honest opinion.

Anyone that says it’s a boring fight is a casual. If you’re a fan of the sport and you’re not fascinated by Chimaev’s ability to control someone as dogged as Dricus—who’s gotten out of things time and time again, who physically never gasses, super strong, has cardio for days—if you’re not fascinated by such one-sided domination, then you have to be a casual.

Robert Whittaker via MMA Arcade

Similarly, former UFC champion Demetrious Johnson also sided with his analogy and slammed fans who criticized Chimaev. Du Plessis was extremely dominant in his previous fights, earning a reputation for incredible size, endurance, and relentless pressure. However, despite his proven strengths, DDP did absolutely nothing against Chimaev’s overwhelming wrestling and suffocating ground control.

Although their rivalry had previously been heated, both fighters showed mutual respect after the battle, acknowledging each other’s toughness. Chimaev is enjoying his hard-earned championship victory, remaining focused, calm, and unbothered by any lingering criticisms or negativity.

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