UFC 319 blew the roof off United Center in Chicago, Ill., this past weekend (Sat., Aug 16, 2025), leaving several fighters feeling the post-fight blues thanks to one devastating finish after another. Among them was Aaron Pico, who had his UFC welcome party spoiled at the hands elbow of Lerone Murphy, who knocked him with a nasty spinning strike that put him out cold (see it again here).
And Geoff Neal, who suffered the first knockout loss of his UFC career thanks to yet another perfectly-executed
spinning elbow courtesy of Carlos Prates (relive it here). But, which fighter is suffering from the worst post-fight hangover, now a few days removed from the show?
Coming into his headlining title fight against Khamzat Chimaev, “DDP” was adamant he wasn’t buying into the “Borz” hype. While he was quick to give him his dues as a legit contender, du Plessis wasn’t fazed by his aura, his history of walking through opponents like a hot knife through butter. As always, du Plessis talked the talk, but once the cage door slammed shut, it was evident he was in for a long night.
In the first five seconds, Chimaev landed his first of many, many takedowns that were to come over the course of the 25-minute championship fight. Once on the ground, Chimaev didn’t get to land as many powerful shots as he would’ve liked because du Plessis did a good job of keeping him close. But, once the round ended, it was a fresh start for du Plessis because he was able to get back to his feet.
As soon as the new one started, it was back to the canvas you go.
Du Plessis simply had no grappling answer for the the wrestling juggernaut who is Chimaev, and “Borz” made it look so easy, manhandling one of the strongest 185-pound fighters in the game. “Stillknocks” was visibly frustrated after each round, which is understandable because one can only imagine the anxiety he must have felt to be constantly stuck in a crucifix position, and to have a monster draped all over your back not giving you an inch to breathe.
In the end, Chimaev came out on top in what was one of the most lopsided championship beatdowns in recent memory, costing him his title and undefeated record inside the Octagon. While it’s easy to say du Plessis’ wrestling weakness was exposed, it may not be completely fair because Chimaev is simply levels above everyone else in that department.
“But big ups to Khamzat, he deserves this, 100 percent,” du Plessis said after the fight. “He beat me fair and square tonight, he was the better man tonight, and I’ll be back. I’m coming to get my belt back. For now, it’s his and he deserves it.”
The loss for du Plessis will be a tough one to swallow because of the nature of the beatdown, but also because it was his first defeat in over seven years and just the third overall in his combat career. Still, the now-former champion won’t have to work too long to get into title fight consideration, but if Chimaev is still the title holder when that time comes, it likely won’t bode well for him.
But, that is still a ways down the road because “Stillknocks” now has to focus on winning his next challenge, which could come against the loser of the upcoming fight between Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho, who will headline UFC Paris to see who gets first crack at Chimaev. That’s why it only makes sense to have the loser face du Plessis.
