Khamzat Chimaev completely dominated Dricus Du Plessis to win the UFC middleweight championship at UFC 319 on Saturday night.

Chechen-born wrestling specialist Chimaev scored a unanimous decision victory on the judges’ scorecards, smothering Du Plessis with his grappling.

Chimaev set the tone in the opening minute, shooting for an early takedown to bring the fight to the mat and pinning the South African in a crucifix position before raining punches with his left hand, but the blows did little damage and Du Plessis survived.

Round Two began in much the same fashion as the 31-year-old again brought the fight to the mat. This time Chimaev stuck to his opponent’s back like a limpet to threaten with knee strikes and choke attempts, and Du Plessis was spent in the third and fourth rounds in similarly poor positions.

There was a brief sliver of hope late in the final frame as Du Plessis finally managed to get himself into a threatening position, but it was too little, too late, and Chimaev was declared the winner – all three judges scoring the fight 50 to 44 in his favour.

“I never game-plan. I just came in, work like I do in the gym,” Chimaev said, with his new championship belt around his waist.

“That guy is strong, I couldn’t finish, respect that guy, he’s the only champion who was saying my name,” Chimaev added on Du Plessis. “This guy has real heart, a real lion, a real African lion.”

Du Plessis took his dethroning with good grace before promising to win the title back.

“He deserves this 100 per cent, he beat me fair and square tonight,” he said.

“He was the better man tonight, and I’ll be back. I’ll come and get my belt back, but for now, it’s his and he deserves it, and he has to enjoy it.”