Middleweight Division in ‘Good Hands’ Admits Israel Adesanya Amid Fan Backlash to Khamzat Chimaev Win

Former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya credits Khamzat Chimaev after his grappling masterclass at UFC 319 in Chicago.

Middleweight Division in ‘Good Hands’ Admits Israel Adesanya Amid Fan Backlash to Khamzat Chimaev Win

Israel Adesanya believes that Khamzat Chimaev is duly ministered (via X)

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Last weekend, UFC fans witnessed the dawn of a new middleweight era as Khamzat Chimaev decisively dethroned Dricus Du Plessis in the main event of UFC 319. True to his word, ‘Borz’ showcased suffocating pressure and relentless wrestling, leaving the South African star with virtually no answers. From the opening bell, Chimaev executed his game plan to perfection, denying Du Plessis any chance to find momentum.

After five punishing rounds, the judges rendered a unanimous decision (50-44) in Chimaev’s favor, a result that many are already calling one of the most lopsided title fights in recent memory. And why not? Chimaev had a record of 21:40 minutes of control time while landing 529 total strikes and 12 takedowns across five rounds. Moreover, he even placed DDP in crucifix holds on three separate occasions.

The emphatic victory silenced doubters while shocking those who expected Du Plessis to rise to the occasion. Among those watching intently was former champion Israel Adesanya, who studied every exchange live from the comfort of his home. Once the fight concluded, Izzy offered respect via a video on his channel to the newly crowned king, praising Chimaev’s dominant showcase inside the Octagon.

Not what I expected but I’m glad that Khamzat fixed his cardio or improved his cardio to the point where he can go give rounds and can just ragdoll people. That’s a mess to deal with. I thought DDP, around round four, would be able to stuff the takedowns because Khamzat would get tired but he didn’t even slow down. Khamzat, the new middleweight champion, the division is in good hands. 

Israel Adesanya via his YouTube channel

Adesanya himself once reigned over the middleweight division with dominance, successfully defending his belt five times and cementing legendary status. Moreover, Izzy had prior experience of facing DDP at UFC 305 for the gold, where he came up short.

The South African has previously mentioned that Adesanya represented the pinnacle of MMA, though those glory days have since passed. Currently, ‘The Last Stylebender’ finds himself on a tough three-fight losing streak, falling short against the hungry new generation of rising fighters.

Despite recent setbacks, Izzy has consistently remained respectful, acknowledging the talent and dedication of fresh contenders while crediting their success. The middleweight division is stacked with new elite fighters like Anthony Hernandez, Nassourdine Imavov, Caio Barralho, and Reinier de Ridder, each desperate to secure their opportunity and earn a highly coveted championship title shot.

Moreover, Khamzat Chimaev has made it clear multiple times that he is prepared to face anyone the UFC decides to match him against. At the UFC 319 post-fight presser, Chimaev revealed that he hasn’t suffered any injuries and would be up for a quick turnaround title defense at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi in October.

Long-standing rival calls out Khamzat Chimaev after UFC 319

Khamzat Chimaev has always carried an unapologetic personality inside and outside the cage, never shying away from rivalries or confrontations. One of his most heated beefs is with former middleweight title contender Paulo Costa, which has worsened with time. Their tension escalated at the UFC Performance Institute, where both fighters nearly got into a physical altercation before security intervened quickly.

Khamzat Chiamev gets a callout from Paulo Costa
Khamzat Chiamev gets a callout from Paulo Costa (via X)

Beyond that, they have exchanged countless verbal jibes online, with Costa mocking Chimaev’s fighting style and questioning his overall entertainment value. During UFC 319, Costa reignited the feud by mocking Chimaev, calling him boring and reliant only on wrestling. Following that, in a recent interview, the Brazilian called out the ‘Borz’ for a title clash.

Motherf*cker, look, you know who I am. I’m coming for you. I know how to fight you. You’re gonna do your shit thing. I’m gonna make you pay. I’m gonna hurt you so badly you want to give up, but I will not let you give up.

Paulo Costa via The Ariel Helwani Show 

Apart from Costa, former champion Sean Strickland has also expressed interest in fighting Chimaev and ending their heated rivalry. The Chechen warrior has publicly mentioned that he is open to facing the winner of Caio Borralho versus Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Paris. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for the newly crowned kingpin at 185lbs.

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