Former UFC analyst Dan Hardy believes Khamzat Chimaev will maintain his newly acquired middleweight championship for an extended period, suggesting the Chechen-born fighter’s biggest threat comes from within rather than from potential challengers.
Borz’ Chimaev captured the UFC middleweight title at UFC 319 on August 16, delivering one of the most dominant performances in championship history against Dricus du Plessis. The undefeated fighter secured a unanimous decision victory with scorecards reading 50-44 across all three judges, marking his first UFC title after maintaining a perfect 15-0 record.
Khamzat Chimaev’s Championship Performance Sets New Standards
The statistics from UFC 319 demonstrate the extent of Chimaev’s dominance. He controlled du Plessis for 21 minutes and 40 seconds of the 25-minute contest while landing 12 of 17 takedown attempts. The new champion connected on 529 total strikes compared to du Plessis’s 45, with Chimaev maintaining a 95.6% accuracy rate in the opening round.
Chimaev’s 517 ground strikes set a new single-fight UFC record, while his control time ranked as the second-highest in promotional history. The performance was so overwhelming that UFC CEO Dana White scored every round except the fifth as a 10-8 for Chimaev, though official judges only awarded one such round.
Dan Hardy’s Analysis of Championship Potential
Hardy’s assessment centers on Chimaev’s self-discipline as the determining factor for his reign’s longevity. The analyst suggests that external pressure from fans or media criticism about fighting conservatively could influence Chimaev’s tactical approach in future contests. In an interview with Helen Yee, he explained:
“To be honest, I think at this point right now Chimaev stays the champion unless he steps outside of himself and makes a mistake,” Hardy explained. “He could get pressure from the outside, he could get pressure from the fans for fighting safe and decide he wants to stand and trade with someone that’s going to clip him.”
The projection shows Hardy’s belief that Chimaev’s wrestling-heavy approach provides such a significant advantage over current middleweight contenders that only tactical errors or stylistic changes could jeopardize his championship status.
Division’s Current State and Potential Challengers
The middleweight division presents several intriguing challenges for Chimaev’s first title defense. Reinier de Ridder, a former two-division ONE Championship titleholder, has emerged as a leading candidate after defeating Robert Whittaker in his most recent appearance. De Ridder will face Anthony Hernandez at UFC Vancouver on October 18, with the winner likely earning a title shot.
Nassourdine Imavov advanced his championship credentials with a unanimous decision victory over Caio Borralho at UFC Paris on September 6, further solidifying his position as the division’s top-ranked contender. The French fighter has called for an immediate title opportunity following his latest victory.
Chimaev’s championship victory places him among an elite group of middleweights who have captured UFC gold. The division has historically seen extended championship reigns, with Anderson Silva holding the record with 10 successful title defenses during a reign that lasted 2,457 days.
Recent champions have experienced shorter tenures, with Dricus du Plessis holding the title for 574 days before losing to Chimaev. The South African’s reign included notable victories over Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland, demonstrating the division’s competitive depth.
Wrestling Foundation Supports Hardy’s Prediction
Chimaev’s wrestling credentials support Hardy’s optimistic outlook for the champion’s future. The 31-year-old won three Swedish National Championships in freestyle wrestling, posting a perfect 12-0 record across these competitions. His wrestling background includes bronze at the Russian Junior Championships before immigrating to Sweden.
The champion’s transition from wrestling to mixed martial arts has proven seamless, with six knockout victories and six submission wins across his professional career. Nine of his victories have come in the first round, highlighting his finishing ability when opponents cannot neutralize his grappling advantage.
