Tom Aspinall: UFC 319 main event 'wasn't the most exciting fight, but ...'

A new middleweight champion was crowned in the UFC 319 main event on Saturday at the United Center in Chicago. 

Khamzat Chimaev kept his undefeated record intact and took the title from Dricus Du Plessis in one-sided fashion. For five rounds, Chimaev consistently took Du Plessis down and controlled him from there. 

Each round was a wash and repeat of the previous round. Chimaev put Du Plessis in a crucifix position, unable to defend himself, several times. He peppered Du Plessis with short punches with not much on them like an older brother to a younger sibling. 

Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall watched the UFC 319 main event as it happened and was impressed with Chimaev's performance. While Aspinall didn't find the fight to be that exciting, he appreciated the dominance by the Chechen. 

"It wasn't the most exciting fight ever, but Khamzat was excellent," Aspinall said on his YouTube channel. "I thought it was going to be a more exciting fight, first of all. But I love grappling anyway, so I really enjoyed it. 

"I know there's a lot of fans that probably think he's like hugging him, or whatever, but I personally really enjoyed it. I mean just complete domination. Just complete domination from Khamzat."

"I think his grappling is just so good. He's just got like an unbelievable grappling style," Aspinall continued. "Stuff that DDP can usually get away with which is his physicality and escaping that way, he can't do against a good, technical guy like Khamzat." 

Aspinall puts his title on the line for the first time since becoming undisputed heavyweight titleholder in the UFC 321 main event on Oct. 25 in Abu Dhabi. The hard-hitting Brit faces former interim titleholder Ciryl Gane at Etihad Arena.

Following Saturday's championship win, Chimaev indicated that he'd like to make a quick turnaround. "Borz" wants to fight on the UFC 321 fight card in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 25. The same fight card Aspinall headlines against Gane.