Marc Goddard finds support from a fellow community member in the wake of the recent fight dispute.
Last week, in the UFC 319 main event, Khamzat Chimaev overpowered Dricus Du Plessis to claim the middleweight title with a one-sided unanimous decision.
“Borz” overwhelmed Du Plessis throughout the fight, dictating the action with constant chain wrestling and suffocating top control. He landed 12 takedowns, repeatedly trapping the defending champion in crucifix positions and keeping him on the defensive for most of the bout.
Image: @ufc/X
Late in the fourth round, referee Goddard stepped in to separate Chimaev from “Stillknocks,” seemingly due to a stalemate. The 51-year-old official made a second stand-up late in the final frame, a decision that has ignited widespread debate within the MMA community, drawing criticism from former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and other pundits.
Herb Dean Defends Marc Goddard Amid Debate Over UFC 319 Headliner Intervention
During a recent interview with MMA journalist Helen Yee, veteran referee Herb Dean weighed in on Marc Goddard’s decision to separate Khamzat Chimaev from Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319. While Dean acknowledged that “Borz” was clearly dominating, he defended his fellow official, noting that MMA should not reward fighters who simply hold dominant positions without actively pursuing a finish.
According to Dean, stand-ups in such scenarios are appropriate to keep the action flowing and preserve the excitement of the sport.
“I don’t think anything was wrong with his [Marc Goddard] standups, Dean said. “Khamzat dominated the fight round. This is an ongoing conversation that stakeholders and everyone in the sport has, but what do we want this sport to look like? Do we want people to achieve a dominant position, which, if you’re not using it to beat your opponent, could almost be looked at as a hiding place, as a place to burn time? And I’m never gonna accuse Khamzat of hiding because, I mean, the man’s a savage.
“But if you get a position, we can break that one down, the crucifix chest-to-chest position, not a lot of height, very difficult to get to a place where you can punch your opponent. Sometimes he’s able to get elbows, and you want to reward people. But we can talk about 10-8 [round], and at the same time you want to reward someone with a 10-8 for trying to finish their opponent, for taking a risk… I’m okay with those standups that Marc Goddard did.”
Goddard, with over two decades of officiating experience, has established himself as one of MMA’s most respected referees, having overseen hundreds of high-profile bouts in the UFC and other major promotions.
The UFC’s long-awaited return to Chicago finally happened on August 16, as the promotion held UFC 319 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, featuring a highly-hyped main event.
It was the UFC’s first venture to the Windy City since 2019, when the promotion held UFC 238 in June of that year. That night saw Henry Cejudo become the third champ-champ in UFC history by defeating Marlon Moraes for the bantamweight title, as well as Valentina Shevchenko’s scary knockout of Jessica Eye to retain the women’s flyweight title.
The main event of UFC 319 saw the middleweight title on the line when Dricus Du Plessis defended the gold against Khamzat Chimaev. Du Plessis originally won the belt by defeating Sean Strickland at UFC 297 and retained against Israel Adesanya and Strickland, respectively, at UFC 305 and UFC 312. The undefeated Chimaev earned the title shot with a violent finish of another former champion, Robert Whittaker, at UFC 308.
The co-main event featured unbeaten featherweight contender Lerone Murphy in action, as he welcomed former Bellator top prospect Aaron Pico to the Octagon.
Who showed up in Chicago? Who missed the mark? Let’s find out in this edition of Hits and Misses for UFC 319!
Hit – Alexander Hernandez Does Indeed Do Great
The intention may have been to use Alexander Hernandez as another name for Chase Hooper to put away on his path toward becoming the breakout star some would hope he’d become. “The Great” stopped that in its tracks for now.
Hooper had a notable reach advantage and used that early on. But Hernandez worked his boxing, and his hands ended becoming the difference in this outing. Hernandez landed a right hand just before the horn that dropped Hooper, and he’d put the young star away with seconds remaining in the first round.
That’s now three straight wins for Hernandez since returning to lightweight last year, and he might be a win away from facing a lightweight contender. As far as Hooper goes, this isn’t the end, as he’s only 25, had a win streak coming into this contest, and is still developing.
Hit – Fighting Nerd Michal Oleksiejczuk Is Different
Sometimes a change of camp really does something to a fighter, and perhaps there’s no better example of late than with Michal Oleksiejczuk’s move to the Fighting Nerds.
Facing Gerald Meerschaert at UFC 319, Oleksiejczuk consistently stopped Meerschaert’s attempts to take the fight to the ground. That would have put the outing in Meerschaert’s world, and instead, Oleksiejczuk kept the fight in his and made Meerschaert pay.
Oleksiejczuk scored a pair of knockdowns before blasting Meerschaert away with ground-and-pound until the ref stopped the fight.
MOST 1ST-ROUND KNOCKOUTS – UFC History 11 – Vitor Belfort 09 – Anthony Johnson 08 – Michal Oleksiejczuk#UFC319pic.twitter.com/nunUEUzO8B
This is the second straight first-round finish for Oleksiejczuk, following his first-round finish of Sedriques Dumas at UFC 314. Oleksiejczuk feels like a reborn fighter since moving to the Fighting Nerds, and a third finish in a row his next time out would just put a stamp on that.
Miss – “Baysangur Susurkaev!” & The Silence Of Chicago
Let’s start by saying this — Baysangur Susurkaev deserves all the credit in the world for taking a Dana White’s Contender Series fight on a week’s notice, winning that, turning around four days later for his UFC debut and scoring a finish. That’s not my issue.
My issue is that more credit needs to be given to Eric Nolan — because Susurkaev left a performance that leaves much to be desired.
Susurkaev tried to pressure Nolan during the opening round, only for Nolan to work his hands and rock Susurkaev in the closing seconds of the round. In fact, had there been more time, Nolan could have gotten a finish. Susurkaev worked over Nolan’s legs in the second, and when the former CFFC welterweight champion tried to take the fight to the mat, Susurkaev made him pay and took his back, scoring the submission.
And while it’s good to have confidence, Susurkaev went on to say he’d be willing to fight again in a few weeks and tried to lead a chant of his name with the Chicago crowd…it failed spectacularly.
The feat itself is phenomenal, but I need to see more from Susurkaev before I can call him something special.
Hit – Tim Elliott Gives “Age Is Only A Number” A Supporting Argument
You may not see Tim Elliott challenging for a flyweight title soon, if ever again. That might be a miracle. But what he did at UFC 319 against Kai Asakura cannot be denied.
Asakura’s footwork helped give him an edge early on in the fight, allowing him to connect a number of times on Elliott. While Asakura had the edge for about four minutes, Elliott took him down in the final minute of the first and didn’t look back. In the second, he’d score another takedown and worked top position until he was able to score a submission via choke.
Elliott has now won four of his last five, though this marked his first fight since December 2023. Again, it may take a miracle for Elliott to blow up the flyweight rankings and get his way into a title shot. But this win has shown he’s a tough competitor who up-and-comers may have to go through just to get into the contender scene.
Hit – MVP: Same Ol’ Antics & Fighting Style
Vintage Michael “Venom” Page. That’s the best way to describe his victory over Jared Cannonier at UFC 319.
MVP stayed on the outside to start the opening round, nullifying Cannonier’s attempts to come inside and landing on Cannonier from range. He taunted throughout the fight, daring Cannonier to try and get him, only to make Cannonier miss and land on him. MVP also knocked Cannonier down a couple of times during the fight. And even when Cannonier got him down in the third, he wasn’t able to do much with it and couldn’t get the finish, which resulted in a decision win for Page.
After the way he looked against a former middleweight title challenger, and looking at MVP’s run in the UFC so far, it would benefit the Bellator veteran more to stay at 185.
Hit – Carlos Prates Makes Chicago Come Unglued…
What else needs to be said? It was one of the best knockouts 2025 has delivered and then some.
While Geoff Neal looked to be aggressive and come out strong, his single-shotted efforts proved to be no match in the long run for the game Carlos Prates was playing. Prates aimed low with kicks and picked up his output over the course of the fight’s near five minutes.
And then, right before the horn, WHAM! One of the most vicious elbows ever delivered in this sport, bringing everyone to their feet, jaw-dropped or roaring with cheers.
Carlos Prates scores the 9th spinning back elbow knockout in UFC history. It's his 5th UFC knockout, most in the UFC since 2024.
This is how you rebound following the loss to Ian Machado Garry. This is how you gain yet another Performance of the Night bonus. And this is how you make your mark and say, “I’m right in the middle of this welterweight title picture.”
Hit – …And Then Lerone Murphy Delivers An Encore
Second verse, same as the first, right? A spinning elbow KO is rare enough in the UFC, but then we saw two in a row.
Lerone Murphy pulled off the highlight to give Aaron Pico a rude awakening (or in this case, “sleepening”…I know it’s not a word) into the UFC. In something that has been a repeat of some of Pico’s other losses in his career, Pico got too careless and aggressive with his striking, and Murphy took advantage. Murphy picked up on Pico’s forward pressure motions and used a spinning elbow to drop him out cold in vicious fashion.
Murphy is undefeated, and the only time he didn’t win a fight was when he fought to a draw in his UFC debut. “The Miracle” finally, however, got a highlight that stamped a statement for a title shot — and featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski seemed to be listening, posting “See you in December” after the fight. Perhaps Murphy has now found a way to jump Movsar Evloev for the next crack at the 145-pound title.
Miss – Names From Outside The UFC Aren’t Delivering
I was watching a YouTube video in the immediate aftermath of the fight from someone I really respect in the MMA media landscape, James Lynch, talking about whose stock has risen and fallen the most following UFC 319. And he had an interesting take in that, instead of picking Dricus Du Plessis or Aaron Pico, he selected Kai Asakura for the fact he’s now 0-2 since coming over from RIZIN and just lost to an elder stateman of the flyweight division.
And the more I think about it, the more he’s right. And that combined with the Pico loss, despite some wild takes in the MMA community over the past week, is why I’m putting this “miss” here and combining Asakura, Pico, Patchy Mix, and even Patricio Pitbull.
Of late, these names have all been fighters once prominent in other promotions, who have just not delivered when it comes to their time in the UFC thus far. For Asakura to lose to the defending champ in his debut is one thing, getting finished by Tim Elliott (no disrespect to him whatsoever) is another. People raved about Pico despite his track record, his UFC opponent, and the lack of success of some of his Bellator precedents. Look what happened.
Then there’s Patchy Mix, who looked awful in his UFC debut against Mario Bautista a couple of months ago. Patricio Pitbull might be a case of “came over too late,” but it’s undeniable his 1-1 start in the UFC, and how he’s performed in both fights, leaves a lot to be desired. Obviously, there are exceptions (look at Michael Chandler and Michael “Venom” Page), but the recent track sheet of guys coming over to the UFC from other promotions has not been great.
And now Pitbull and Mix are being paired against two other names from other promotions, respectively in former two-division Oktagon champion Losene Keita and former KSW champion Jakub Wiklacz. And the thing is, the UFC has no big loss either way with fighters they bring from other promotions. Win and they can consider you a top name and put promotion behind you. Lose? “Well these other promotions aren’t the UFC.”
Takedown, takedown, takedown was the strategy. And the belief was that the longer the fight went on, the more it’d favor Du Plessis. There were plenty of questions about Chimaev’s gas tank and how he would handle the wild, unorthodox nature of DDP’s fighting style.
He answered those questions and then some with an absolutely dominating performance. In fact, the last time a challenger had this much of a one-sided beating of a defending champion for as long as Chimaev did, you’d have to go back to Kamaru Usman beating the breaks off Tyron Woodley to dethrone him of the welterweight title at UFC 235. If were talking title fights in general, then perhaps the beatdown Amanda Nunes put on Felicia Spencer at UFC 250.
So what’s next for Chimaev? Despite not fighting more than once a year since 2020, he’s being very open about a desire to turn around on short fashion and defend the belt in Abu Dhabi at UFC 321. Is there anyone who seems to be willing to step up and try to match his style and beat him? Reinier de Ridder is raising his hand. But after all this time he’s spent on the sidelines with the Jon Jones situation, you can’t just move heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall down from the main event, right?…Right?
Miss – A Disappointing Ending To DDP’s Run
As someone who has ridden the DDP hype train since 2016, it’s crazy that the minute everyone starts to believe in his style, along comes Khamzat Chimaev to end the run in one of the most spectacular fashions.
The man simply had no answers on the mat. He just couldn’t figure out how to get away from Chimaev’s wrestling. The pressure Chimaev put on was just too much; and it’s honestly kind of a shock Chimaev either didn’t get the finish or have scorecards that were like 50-43 or 50-42.
And it’s a shame. Du Plessis solidified himself as one of the most entertaining fighters at 185 in the UFC. He made a name for himself proving people wrong; and this time he just couldn’t. And unfortunately, it means he isn’t getting a rematch anytime soon. And you have to wonder what is next for him considering he’s beaten Sean Strickland twice, and Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker once.
Perhaps Reinier de Ridder is next if the UFC isn’t ready to give RDR the title shot? Or maybe DDP can face Nassourdine Imavov or rematch with Adesanya?
Miss – Chicago Turns On Chimaev
Finally, I have to call this out. It goes beyond Chicago and into the toxicity that is the MMA online community, but Chicago really proved to show the hypocrisy in fans.
If you heard the kind of crowd Chicago was this week, it seemed like a massive W. People were wild and crazy, and it seemed most of the crowd put their support behind Chimaev. They were nuts for him during the pre-fight press conference and the ceremonial weigh-ins.
Then the fight happened. And the longer it went, the more boos rang down. Even when the man got the gold strapped around him, something most in Chicago wanted to happen, the reaction was a lot tamer by comparison.
Absolutely DOMINANT performance from @KChimaev tonight 👏
Look, it wasn’t the most entertaining fight and plenty of people are disappointed there wasn’t a finish. There is no doubt about it. But you can’t take away from the fact it was one of the most dominant performances ever in a UFC title fight — and that is an accomplishment in its own right.
Georges St. Pierre didn’t finish every fight, but he put on excellent, dominating performances. Khabib Nurmagomedov didn’t finish every fight, but he put on excellent, dominating performances. Amanda Nunes didn’t finish every fight, but he put on excellent, dominating performances.
Criticizing the fight does not mean someone is anti-Chimaev or making disparaging remarks about him and his background, and it doesn’t mean that someone is a “casual.” It can simply be journalistic or expert commentary. At the same time, if someone is praising the performance of Chimaev, it doesn’t mean they are crazy.
How is it that both things can’t be true? It wasn’t a great fight from the entertainment value perspective, but it did leave a significant moment in its own way.
Maybe the next time UFC hypes up a big main event fight, we as fans and pundits take more of a cautious approach when looking at it.
Fans slamming Khamzat Chimaev’s latest performance might just be showing they don’t truly understand MMA, at least in the eyes of a former champion.
Last weekend, in the main event of UFC 319 at Chicago’s United Center, Chimaev fulfilled his long-awaited dream of becoming UFC middleweight champion, dominating Dricus du Plessis en route to a unanimous decision victory.
Absolutely DOMINANT performance from @KChimaev tonight 👏
Right out of the gate, “Borz” wasted no time dragging Du Plessis to the canvas, where he smothered him with unrelenting pressure for nearly the entire contest. Chimaev dictated the pace with chain wrestling and suffocating top control, converting 12 of 17 takedown attempts and racking up an astonishing 529 total strikes that left the defending champion stuck on the defensive.
Despite his dominance, the undefeated Russian rarely threatened a finish, with most of his offense coming as steady ground strikes rather than fight-ending blows. Even so, the sheer volume and control left “Stillknocks” little chance to respond, and by the end of five lopsided rounds, the judges awarded Khamzat Chimaev a 50-44 unanimous decision.
Robert Whittaker Slams Fans Who Dismissed Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 319 Performance
During a recent episode of the MMArcade Podcast, Robert Whittaker weighed in on Khamzat Chimaev’s authoritative performance against Dricus Du Plessis, which crowned him the new middleweight champion at UFC 319.
The former UFC 185-pound titleholder voiced strong disapproval of fans who dismissed Chimaev’s grappling-heavy approach, insisting that anyone who downplays “Borz’s” ability to dominate a fighter of Du Plessis’ caliber for the full 25 minutes simply doesn’t understand the magnitude of his control.
“Anyone that says it’s a boring fight is a casual,” Whittaker said. “If you’re a fan of the sport and you’re not fascinated by Chimaev’s ability to control someone as dogged as Dricus, who’s gotten out of things time and time again, who physically never gasses, super strong, has cardio for days, if you’re not fascinated by such one-sided domination, then you have to be a casual. You never see this level at a championship fight, this level of control. We just saw someone get crucifixed for 15 minutes. How can you be a fan of the sport and not think, ‘wow, that’s crazy?‘”
With this victory, Khamzat Chimaev has extended his undefeated streak to 15, including notable wins over the likes of Whittaker, Kamaru Usman, and Gilbert Burns.
Aaron Pico has already set his sights beyond the sting of his devastating defeat.
This past Saturday at the United Center in Chicago, Pico’s Octagon debut was derailed in brutal fashion, as undefeated featherweight Lerone Murphy sealed a stunning first-round knockout in the UFC 319 co-main event.
Pico came out aggressive from the opening bell, pressing Murphy with sharp punches and heavy pressure. He mixed in a clinch and even tested his wrestling, but Murphy stayed composed, breaking free and firing back with clean shots, including a sharp knee to the body.
Moments later, “The Miracle” unleashed a thunderous spinning elbow that crashed flush on Pico’s chin, instantly folding the UFC newcomer. As the 28-year-old Californian hit the canvas motionless, Murphy added a single follow-up strike before the referee intervened, sealing one of the night’s most spectacular finishes.
Image: @ufc/X
Aaron Pico Promises Bounce Back After UFC 319 Knockout Loss
Aaron Pico entered 2025 as one of the UFC’s most hyped newcomers, but his dream debut ended abruptly when Lerone Murphy floored him with a highlight-reel knockout.
The featherweight hopeful addressed the setback on social media on Sunday, assuring fans of his health while promising that the lessons learned from defeat would fuel his return as a stronger, more prepared fighter.
“Last night wasn’t my night, that’s the fight game,” Aaron Pico posted on Instagram. “I’m grateful for my team, my family, and everyone who continues to support me. The supporters that have been there from day one and my new supporters, I see you! Thank you.
“Wins and losses both teach lessons and I’ll come back sharper, stronger, and better prepared. Thank you all who have sent messages and checked in, my health is well. Thanks for riding with me. My story is not over.”
he defeat drops Pico to 13-5 in his professional career, with 11 of those victories coming by way of finish, all secured during his run under the Bellator MMA banner.
Ryan Garcia appears less than impressed with the action at UFC 319.
UFC 319, one of the year’s most anticipated pay-per-view cards, went down this past Saturday at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The event delivered fireworks, with three main card finishes, including back-to-back first-round spinning back elbow knockouts.
First, Carlos Prates flattened Geoff Neal in highlight-reel fashion, before Lerone Murphy derailed Aaron Pico’s Octagon debut in the very next fight.
The main event saw Khamzat Chimaev dethrone middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis via unanimous decision in what was arguably one of the most dominant title fight performances in recent memory.
“Borz” racked up over 21 minutes of control time, landed 12 takedowns, and piled on 529 total strikes. However, the win elicited a divided response from fans, as Chimaev’s dominance lacked the threat of a finish or any truly fight-ending offense.
Image: @ufc/X
Garcia seemed to be among those left underwhelmed by the UFC 319 headliner, suggesting it failed to live up to the hype. The former interim WBC lightweight champion took to social media, where he did not specify the bout but implied his disappointment with the card, with many assuming he was referring to the main event.
“UFC lowkey boring, at least this fight,” Garcia wrote on X.
MMA Fans Rip Ryan Garcia For Hinting UFC 319 Main Event Lacked Excitement
Ryan Garcia’s post suggesting he found the UFC 319 main event dull quickly drew the ire of MMA fans, who wasted no time firing back at “KingRy”.
Many pointed to his own underwhelming performance against Rolando Romero, while others reignited the age-old debate of MMA’s superiority over boxing when it comes to delivering excitement.
Joe Rogan has a contender in mind he believes could pose a serious challenge to Khamzat Chimaev’s title reign.
On Saturday night at Chicago’s United Center, Chimaev extended his undefeated streak with a commanding performance, claiming the UFC middleweight title by defeating Dricus Du Plessis via unanimous decision in the UFC 319 main event.
From the opening bell, “Borz” took control, swiftly bringing Du Plessis to the mat and keeping him there throughout the majority of the bout. That relentless pressure set the tone for the fight, as Chimaev dominated “Stillknocks” across all five rounds, converting 12 of 17 takedown attempts and leaving his opponent virtually powerless to launch any offense.
While Chimaev controlled the bout from start to finish, he seldom threatened Du Plessis with a fight-ending finish. His ground strikes, though not overly damaging, kept Du Plessis from mounting any meaningful offense. Still, it hardly mattered, as Chimaev’s total domination and superior grappling were enough to convince all three judges, who scored the bout 50-44 in favor of the undefeated Russian.
Khamzat Chimaev is arguably one of the most dominant fighters in modern UFC, but Rogan believes there’s someone in the 185-pound division who could challenge his supremacy.
Image: @UFCEurope/X
Joe Rogan Suggests Reinier de Ridder Could Test Khamzat Chimaev
Following the UFC 319 main event, Joe Rogan, alongside fellow commentators Daniel Cormier and Jon Anik, analyzed Khamzat Chimaev’s dominant performance and his looming reign over the division. Rogan highlighted rising contender Reinier de Ridder as a complete fighter who could potentially pose a serious challenge to “Borz”.
“Reinier de Ridder in particular, given his ability to grapple on the ground and also his ability to land shots standing,” Rogan said. “His toughness, his experience. He throws those combinations with that long lead-in knee. He’s interesting.”
“RDR” is coming off a split-decision victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC Abu Dhabi last month. The former two-division ONE Fighting champion remains undefeated in the UFC with a 4-0 record, including impressive finishes over Kevin Holland and Bo Nickal.
Meanwhile, Chimaev has stretched his perfect record to 15-0, including a 9-0 mark in the UFC, with 12 of those victories coming by stoppage.
Dricus Du Plessis receives an encouraging message from his fiancée after his recent loss.
On Saturday night at Chicago’s United Center, Du Plessis dropped his middleweight title after a lopsided unanimous decision defeat to Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC 319 main event.
Absolutely DOMINANT performance from @KChimaev tonight 👏
The fight unfolded as expected, with Chimaev immediately asserting his dominance by taking Du Plessis down and keeping him grounded throughout the first round. That approach defined the bout, as “Borz” repeatedly controlled the South African on the canvas over five rounds, landing 12 of 17 takedowns and leaving Du Plessis little room to mount any offense.
On the ground, Chimaev moved Du Plessis across the Octagon at will, landing ground strikes that, while not heavily damaging, prevented any meaningful counterattack. It wasn’t until the fifth round that “Stillknocks” found a brief spark with his striking, landing some clean shots, but it was too late to turn the tide. The judges unanimously scored the fight 50-44, handing Chimaev a dominant win and crowning him the new UFC middleweight champion.
In the wake of his loss, Dricus Du Plessis finds comfort and encouragement from his closest loved ones.
Image: @ufc/X
Vasti Spiller Pens Supportive Message After Dricus Du Plessis’ Title Loss At UFC 319
After his tough defeat at UFC 319, Dricus Du Plessis’ fiancée, Vasti Spiller, turned to social media to send an uplifting message to “Stillknocks,” proving she remains a constant pillar of support in his life.
“My world. This is just the beginning,” Spiller posted on Instagram.
This defeat marked Du Plessis’ first loss in the UFC since his debut in October 2020. Before that, “Stillknocks” hadn’t experienced defeat since October 2018 at KSW 45, where he suffered a third-round TKO at the hands of Roberto Soldić.
The 31-year-old South African captured the UFC middleweight title in January 2024, defeating Sean Strickland via split decision at UFC 297. He then successfully defended his belt twice, first against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 and later in a rematch with Strickland at UFC 312.
Khamzat Chimaev has put on one of the most dominant displays in the history of UFC title fights, completing blanking Dricus Du Plessis over five rounds to claim the UFC middleweight championship in the UFC 319 main event.
Mere seconds into the fight, Chimaev level changed and scored a takedown. DDP attempted to get an arm around Chimaev but was forced to release. Chimaev got Du Plessis in a crucifix, landing short punches around the head of the trapped defending champion. Chimaev continued to work DDP over in top position for most of the round, until Du Plessis got back to his feet in the final 20 seconds. Du Plessis went for another guillotine but was unsuccessful.
Chimaev scored another takedown seconds into the second round, getting right into back control and maintaining it despite Du Plessis’ attempts to shake him off. Du Plessis got to the fence, but Chimaev continued to smother him with pressure, nearly locking in a rear-naked choke at one point.
The process continued in the third round, where Chimaev wrapped DDP up in another crucifix and landed more short shots. Du Plessis avoided the first takedown attempt in the fourth round, but Chimaev was right back to work with another successful takedown seconds later. Chimaev dominated through back and side control during the fourth.
Du Plessis tried to bring out strong strikes in the fifth round, and even through in a guillotine attempt, but it all was for naught.
Khamzat Chimaev Defeats Dricus Du Plessis To Become UFC Middleweight Champion At UFC 319
Chimaev now improves to 15-0 in MMA and completes the destiny that seemed set for him when he made his Octagon debut in July 2020. Chimaev earned the title shot with a submission of Robert Whittaker at UFC 308.
Du Plessis had won the middleweight title with a decision over Sean Strickland at UFC 297. He retained the belt against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 and in a rematch with Strickland at UFC 312.
It was crazy enough when Carlos Prates unleashed a spinning back elbow on Geoff Neal for a Knockout of the Year contender. One fight later, we get a second kind of spinning elbow — a UFC first, and one that potentially will give Lerone Murphy a title shot.
Murphy took advantage of Aaron Pico’s aggression and scored a spinning back elbow to score a first-round knockout in the UFC 319 co-main event.
Pico came out with strong strikes from the start, looking to bring the fight to Murphy and connecting on the body. Murphy, however, troubled Pico with a knee that landed in close.
“The Miracle” picked up on Pico’s forward movement and caught him being careless, landing a surprise spinning back elbow that dropped Pico out cold in devastating fashion.
Lerone Murphy Blasts Aaron Pico With Elbow For KO At UFC 319
ARE YOU F****ng KIDDING!!! Back to back spinning Elbow KOs, this one by Lerone Murphy! At this point, just give him the shot at the belt, my goodness! #UFC319pic.twitter.com/vNptA7XtGT
— High Low Sports Podcast (@High_Low_Sports) August 17, 2025
Murphy now improves to 17-0-1, having won every bout in the Octagon since going to a draw in his UFC debut.
This was Pico’s debut in the UFC since coming over from the PFL, having just one fight there following PFL’s purchase of Bellator in late 2023. Pico hadn’t fought since defeating Henry Corrales at the PFL vs. Bellator Champions card in February 2024.
Carlos Prates just produced one of the most jaw-dropping knockouts of the year, if not recent MMA history, with his finish of Geoff Neal at UFC 319.
Neal came out with some aggression, looking to control the pace and come forward with pressure. He executed a few good shots, but focused more on single blows than combination. Prates looked to work over Neal’s legs with kicks. Prates’ pace picked up over the course of the second half of the round.
And then, right before the horn, Prates pulled off a spinning back elbow that landed on the side of Neal’s head, dropping him out cold.
CARLOS PRATES KNOCKED OUT GEOFF NEAL WITH A SPINNING BACK ELBOW 😳
Michael Page will be a ranked UFC fighter come Tuesday, as he scored a victory over Jared Cannonier at UFC 319.
Cannonier tried to close the distance to land on Page, but MVP kept on the outside and used his long range to his advantage. He consistently tagged Cannonier, including a counter punch that dropped Cannonier briefly. “The Gorilla” briefly was able to get a hold of Page and placed him against the fence, but he didn’t do anything with it.
Page continued to do work in the second round, scoring another knockdown with a one-two combination and taunting Cannonier while trying to keep distance. Cannonier finally got the fight to the ground and held Page there for the third round. He attempted a couple of submissions, but they were for naught.
Page took the decision on all three judges’ scorecards, 29-28.
Michael Page Scores Judges’ Nod Over Jared Cannonier At UFC 319
MVP has the most disrespectful non disrespectful fighting style of all time 😂😂😂 #UFC319
Tim Elliott may be 38 years old, but don’t count him out yet. That was the statement made in his victory over Kai Asakura that kicked off the main card at UFC 319.
Elliott seemed to struggle with the footwork of Asakura during the opening frame. That led to Asakura being able to connect on several powerful punches during the round, including a strong one-two in the opening seconds. Asakura was in control and kept the fight standing for about four minutes, but Elliott scored a takedown in the round’s final minute, getting right into side control and landing a few knees to the body.
Elliott managed to get the fight to the ground during the second round again. This time, however, Elliott completed work over Asakura from top position, eventually making his way to a guillotine choke, scoring the submission with about 20 seconds left in the second round.
Tim Elliott Scores Second-Round Submission At UFC 319
Tim Elliott holding it down for the 35 and older club 🫡 #UFC319
Used his grappling to throw off Kai Asakura then caught him in a nasty guillotine after a dominant Round 2 to get the tap. What a crazy win for Elliott after the layoff. #UFC319
Taking the fight on just a few days’ notice, Baysangur Susurkaev faced adversity but managed to score a finish of Eric Nolan in the featured preliminary card bout of UFC 319.
Susurkaev started the fight with heavy pressure, displaying full confidence. Nolan, however, shook things up in the closing seconds of the first, rocking Susurkaev and nearly scoring the finish.
Susurkaev, however, stole momentum in the second round with a series of leg kicks to bust up one of Nolan’s legs. Nolan went to the mat, but that allowed Susurkaev to get right on top and work his way to Nolan’s back.
Susurkaev then finished off the recent CFFC welterweight champion with a rear-naked choke. His post-fight interview, however, appeared to not fly over well with fans, as he called to compete at Noche UFC 3 and failed to get the Chicago crowd to chant his name.
Baysangur Susurkaev Scores Submission Of Eric Nolan On Days’ Notice At UFC 319
Susurkaev competed just four days ago on the season premiere of Dana White’s Contender Series season nine, scoring the night’s only finish with a body kick on Murtaza Talha.
Nolan won the CFFC’s 170-pound title with a finish of Blayne Richards in May.
The move to the Fighting Nerds team continues to pay off for Michal Oleksiejczuk, as he scores a first-round knockout of Gerald Meerschaert during the UFC 319 preliminary card.
Meerschaert tried to bring the fight to the ground consistently, but Oleksiejczuk continuously stopped his takedown attempts. Oleksiejczuk’s mission to keep the fight standing was successful, blasting Meerschaert with powerful punches and scoring a pair of knockdowns.
Oleksiejczuk forced Meerschaert to stand until finding an opening to land brutal ground-and-pound and force referee Herb Dean to stop the fight.
Michal Oleksiejczuk Crushes Gerald Meerschaert At UFC 319
After three consecutive losses, Oleksiejczuk joined the Fighting Nerds team, and he’s now won back-to-back outings. He scored a first-round finish of Sedriques Dumas at UFC 314.
Meerschaert has now lost three straight and five of his last seven.
Talk about a photo finish. Alexander Hernandez provided one with his first-round knockout of Chase Hooper during the UFC 319 preliminary card.
Hooper looked to use his reach advantage, giving Hernandez some trouble with his kicks early on. “The Great Ape” worked his boxing more over the course of the round, however.
That’d lead to the finish, with one right hand from Hernandez sending Hooper crumbling to the canvas.
Alexander Hernandez Smashes Chase Hooper Right Before First-Round Horn
WOW. 😳💥 Alexander Hernandez finishes Chase Hooper via TKO in Round 1! That’s how you make a statement 👊🔥#UFC319pic.twitter.com/OQp6M9gSnJ
Dricus Du Plessis’ coach has an unexpected takeaway from the face-off with Khamzat Chimaev.
Du Plessis is set to put his middleweight crown on the line for the third time tonight, squaring off against Chimaev in the UFC 319 main event at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
The lead-up to this eagerly awaited clash has been fraught with tension, fueled by fiery exchanges between the fighters on social media. Interestingly, fight week began on a different note, as Du Plessis and Chimaev showed mutual respect and initially steered clear of the usual trash talk.
However, that initial courtesy quickly evaporated during Thursday’s pre-fight press conference, when both fighters officially faced off for the first time. The intensity spiked, particularly from “Borz”, who fired a barrage of words at the reigning UFC middleweight champion.
Chimaev turned up the heat physically during the final staredown on Friday at the ceremonial weigh-ins, shoving ‘Stillknocks’ before being pulled apart by UFC CEO Dana White and on-stage security. Dricus Du Plessis, however, appeared completely unfazed by the incident.
Image: @ufc/X
Morne Visser Believes Dricus Du Plessis Gained Mental Edge Over Khamzat Chimaev Before UFC 319
During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Dricus Du Plessis’ longtime coach, Morne Visser, broke down the UFC 319 face-off between ‘Stillknocks’ and Khamzat Chimaev. Visser pointed out that Du Plessis demonstrated control by holding his hands higher than ‘Borz’ and effectively got inside his opponent’s head.
“You’ll see Khamzat has got his hands close to his chest, and Dricus has got his hands over Khamzat’s arm,” Visser said. “Not a lot of people look at that, but that shows dominance. If you look at that face-off, you know when there are two guys fighting in the street and one guy gets pulled away and his buddies kind of save him. Dana came in between and he pushed them apart, and only then did Khamzat make a big noise.
“Why wasn’t he so arrogant when he was standing right in front of Dricus? That’s just weird for me. That just shows a little bit of weakness. If you want to be tough, be tough in front of the guy, don’t walk away and then shout stupid things.”
Dricus Du Plessis last stepped into the Octagon at UFC 312 this past February, where he secured a dominant unanimous decision victory over Khamzat Chimaev in their rematch. ‘Stillknocks’ remains undefeated in the UFC with a perfect 9-0 record, including six wins by stoppage.
After Brad Katona did so just a couple of seasons ago, Joseph Morales has re-entered the UFC after winning The Ultimate Fighter, becoming the flyweight winner of season 33 with a second-round submission of Alibi Idiris — a fight that kicked off the action at UFC 319.
Morales, the major underdog in this fight, came out with pressure right away, as the two did some early trading. Though Morales was on the front foot, Idiris did very well while landing on the back foot. Morales would clinch Idiris up, however, getting the upper hand in the grappling department. After Idiris missed a spinning attack, Morales scored a takedown and worked Idiris in top control. Morales got to the back and locked up a body triangle, keeping ahold even as Idiris got to his feet. Though Morales had to release the grip, he’d use a kimura grip to get Idiris back down and back to Idiris’ back. Morales locked up a choke, but the time expired.
Morales looked to get Idiris down to start the second round, but Idiris managed to do well with defending those attempts. But as Idiris continued to look for big moves, Morales strongly worked him over with boxing, eventually landing a body blow that did big damage. Morales dropped Idiris and looked for a banana split, but he lost it.
While he was on the bottom, Morales locked up a tight triangle choke, scoring the submission and the TUF 33 flyweight title.
Joseph Morales Becomes TUF 33 Flyweight Winner
Right after this tweet he catches him in a triangle and ends it, Joseph Morales looked incredible tonight. So interested to see where he goes from here, he proved me wrong time and time again throughout this season. #UFC319https://t.co/SEyRBYAAfv
Morales, a member of Team Sonnen, arrived at the final fight through victories over Eduardo Henrique and Imanol Rodriguez (the latter in controversial fashion). Before TUF, Morales had a prior stint in the UFC, going 1-2 with a submission of Roberto Sanchez and losses to Deiveson Figueriedo and Eric Shelton. Since his UFC release, he’s won three straight.
Idiris, a member of Team Cormier, reached the TUF Finale thanks to defeating Furkatbek Yokubov and Roybert Echerverria. Prior to his time on TUF, Idiris went 10-0 as a pro while fighting exclusively for Nazia FC, picking up their flyweight title in the process.
The TUF 33 welterweight winner will be determined at Noche UFC 3 in a fight featuring Team Cormier’s Rodrigo Sezinando and Daniil Donchenko. The fight was scheduled for tonight but was postponed due to Sezinando suffering an injury.
UFC 319 took place tonight from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!
In the main event, Dricus du Plessis looked to defend his middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev. While in the co-main event, Lerone Murphy took on Aaron Pico in a featherweight matchup.
UFC 319 Results: Main Card
Middleweight Championship: Khamzat Chimaev def. Dricus du Plessis via unanimous decision (50-44×3)
Featherweight: Lerone Murphy def. Aaron Pico via KO: R1, 3.21
Welterweight: Carlos Prates de. Geoff Neal via KO: R1, 4.59
Middleweight: Michael Page def. Jared Cannonier via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Flyweight: Tim Elliott def. Kai Asakura via submission: R2, 4.39
Preliminary Card
Middleweight: Baysangur Susurkaev def. Eric Nolan via submission: R2, 2.01
Middleweight: Michał Oleksiejczuk def. Gerald Meerschaert via TKO: R1, 3.03
Joe Rogan is skeptical about Khamzat Chimaev’s endurance.
Chimaev is locked in to headline UFC 319 this Saturday at the United Center in Chicago, where he will challenge reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis for the title.
CHICAGO, TODAY'S THE DAY 🚨#UFC319 is FINALLY here!!
Although “Borz” remains undefeated in his professional career, he has only gone the distance twice in the UFC. In both bouts, Chimaev faced significant challenges, and as the fights progressed into the later rounds, he appeared to fade, raising questions about the durability of his cardio.
Joe Rogan Questions Whether Khamzat Chimaev Can Last Against Dricus Du Plessis
During a recent episode of his JRE MMA Show, Joe Rogan shared his insights on the highly anticipated clash between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev. The veteran commentator also discussed the undefeated Russian’s preparation for UFC 319, discussing whether “Borz” has made any gains in endurance while training with renowned conditioning coach Sam Calavitta.
“What’s going to be interesting is if it gets into deep water, because I know he started training with Calvita—for his conditioning,” Rogan said. “He went to Sam Calvita who trained TJ Dillashaw, works with Aaron Pico, Arman Tsarukyan’s doing it with him, too. And that guy is a legend, man… He’s using real science to do it. This is the first time he’s ever been through a camp like this where he’s coming in fresh, where he’s not overtrained.”
Rogan also questioned how Khamzat Chimaev’s cardio would hold up in championship rounds, warning that Du Plessis could become a serious threat late in the fight.
“That’s the question—is can he sprint for five rounds? ‘Cause we know DDP can. Him and Sean Strickland, they were ready to have heart attacks at the end of that fight. Getting his nose busted like that and still staying and fighting with staph. He had staph. He had staph through the second fight. That’s why he was listless. He was on antibiotics and everything. He was all messed up.”
“Borz” enters UFC 319 riding a first-round submission win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in October of last year. Chimaev currently holds a perfect 14-0 professional record, with 12 victories coming by stoppage.
UFC 319 is almost here, and we here at MMA News are here to provide you the latest on betting odds for the card.
The card takes place from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday, August 16. The pay-per-view main card portion of the event will start at 10PM ET/7PM PT, with preliminary action starting at 6PM ET/3PM PT.
The headline attraction for the event will feature Dricus Du Plessis taking on Khamzat Chimaev with the UFC middleweight championship on the line.
The co-main event will see the undefeated Lerone Murphy welcoming Aaron Pico to the Octagon.
The pay-per-view card will also feature Geoff Neal facing Carlos Prates, Jared Cannonier clashing with Michael “Venom” Page, and Tim Elliott meeting Kai Asakura.
UFC 319: Du Plessis vs. Chimaev Betting Odds
Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 319 as of August 15 at 9:30pm ET, courtesy of DraftKings.
Main Card:
Middleweight Championship: Dricus Du Plessis (+215) vs. Khamzat Chimaev (-265)
Featherweight: Lerone Murphy (+154) vs. Aaron Pico (-185)
Welterweight: Geoff Neal (+180) vs. Carlos Prates (-218)
Middleweight: Jared Cannonier (+180) vs. Michael Page (-218)
Flyweight: Tim Elliott (+250) vs. Kai Asakura (-310)
Preliminary Card:
Welterweight: Baysangur Susurkaev (-950) vs. Eric Nolan (+625)
Middleweight: Gerald Meerschaert (+180) vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk (-210)
Women’s Strawweight: Jessica Andrade (+120) vs. Loopy Godinez (-142)
Lightweight: Chase Hooper (-325) vs. Alexander Hernandez (+260)
Early Preliminary Card:
Lightweight: Edson Barboza (-130) vs. Drakkar Klose (+110)
Women’s Flyweight: Karine Silva (-198) vs. Dione Barbosa (+164)
Flyweight: TUF Finale: Alibi Idiris (-455) vs. Joseph Morales (+350)
We’re about 24 hours away from UFC 319, and MMA News is here to bring you the video from the ceremonial weigh-ins for the card!
UFC 319 takes place on August 16 from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
The main event of the evening will feature Dricus Du Plessis defending the UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev. Du Plessis, unbeaten in the UFC, originally claimed the championship with a decision win over Sean Strickland at UFC 297. He has since defended the title against Israel Adesanya and Strickland at UFC 305 and UFC 312, respectively. Chimaev, who hasn’t lost in MMA, secured this title shot with a finish of another former champion in Robert Whittaker at UFC 308.
The co-main event will feature the UFC debut of Aaron Pico, as the Bellator veteran faces undefeated featherweight contender Lerone Murphy.
The rest of the main card sees Geoff Neal face Carlos Prates, Jared Cannonier taking on Michael “Venom” Page, and Tim Elliott going toe-to-toe with Kai Asakura.
The ceremonial weigh-ins present the last opportunity for opponents to face off before they meet inside the Octagon. Check them out below via the UFC’s official YouTube channel!
Per an announcement from the promotion, the early prelim bout between Bryan Battle and Nursulton Ruziboev has been scrapped due to Battle missing weight.
Battle weighed in at 190 pounds, four pounds above the non-title middleweight limit.
As of press time, it’s unclear what in the circumstances changed that led the fight to being canceled.
Bryan Battle Misses Weight By Four Pounds, UFC 319 Bout With Nursulton Ruziboev Off
This is Battle’s second straight scheduled contest that saw him significantly miss weight — and doing so in a heavier weight class this time around. Battle weighed in at 175 pounds for a scheduled welterweight bout against Randy Brown at UFC 310.
Battle is unbeaten in his last five fights.
This is the third fight in the last 26 hours that UFC 319 has lost. The scheduled prelim headliner between King Green and Carlos Diego Ferreira was canceled after Green withdrew due to injury. Then, the welterweight TUF Finale fight between Rodrigo Sezinando and Daniil Donchenko was pushed back to Noche UFC 3 due to injury to Sezinando.
UFC 319 will proceed on with 12 fights — down from its scheduled 15 after Baysangur Susurkaev’s quick turnaround from the Dana White’s Contender Series premiere.
We are just one day away from UFC 319, and we’ve got the official weigh-in results for you here at MMA News.
UFC 319 takes place from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, featuring a number of noteworthy matchups, including a highly-anticipated middleweight title fight.
The UFC middleweight championship is on the line in the evening’s main event, as Dricus Du Plessis defends against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev.
Du Plessis, who made his UFC debut in October 2020, won the UFC middleweight title with a decision win over Sean Strickland at UFC 297. He has since retained the belt twice, defeating Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 and winning a rematch against Strickland at UFC 312.
Chimaev, who made his UFC debut in July 2020, has also quickly risen up the ranks with his impressive performances. He earned this title shot with a finish of Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in October.
The co-main event will see the undefeated Lerone Murphy, coming in off a win over Josh Emmett, face a man who will be making his UFC debut — Bellator veteran Aaron Pico.
The main card will also feature a welterweight bout between Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates, a middleweight battle between Jared Cannonier and Michael Page, and a flyweight fight featuring Tim Elliott and Kai Asakura.
UFC 319 Weigh-In Video, Results
UFC 319 takes place Saturday, August 16 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.
See above to watch the UFC 319 Weigh-In Show (beginning at 9:50 a.m. ET), and check out the full results below.
Main Card:
Middleweight Championship: Dricus Du Plessis (185) vs. Khamzat Chimaev (183) (Backup fighter: Caio Borralho (184 lbs))
Featherweight: Lerone Murphy (146) vs. Aaron Pico (145)
Welterweight: Geoff Neal (171) vs. Carlos Prates (170)
Middleweight: Jared Cannonier (186) vs. Michael Page (186)
Flyweight: Tim Elliott (126) vs. Kai Asakura (126)
Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Baysangur Susurkaev (186) vs. Eric Nolan (183)
Middleweight: Gerald Meerschaert (185) vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk (186)
Women’s Strawweight: Jessica Andrade (116) vs. Loopy Godinez (115)
Lightweight: Chase Hooper (155) vs. Alexander Hernandez (156)
Early Preliminary Card:
Lightweight: Edson Barboza (155.5) vs. Drakkar Klose (156)
Middleweight: Bryan Battle (190)* vs. Nursulton Ruziboev (186)
Women’s Flyweight: Karine Silva (125) vs. Dione Barbosa (125.5)
Flyweight: TUF Finale: Alibi Idiris (126) vs. Joseph Morales (126)
*Battle missed weight by 4 pounds, fight is off (originally reported to remain on with a 30 percent fine of his purse)
Dricus Du Plessis is curious how Khamzat Chimaev will react to his first loss.
“Stillknocks” is set to make his third middleweight title defense against Chimaev in the UFC 319 main event this Saturday, August 16, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Du Plessis enters this fight riding an impressive 11-fight win streak, nine of which have come inside the UFC. The South African has only suffered defeat twice in his career, but those losses taught him hard lessons and fueled the confidence he carries into this weekend’s bout.
On the other hand, Chimaev has faced challenges in a few UFC bouts but remains unbeaten across his 14 professional fights. “Borz’s” perfect record has reinforced his mindset, giving him the belief he needs to dethrone “Stillknocks” at UFC 319.
However, Dricus Du Plessis is determined to put an end to Chimaev’s streak.
Dricus Du Plessis Raises Questions About Khhamzat Chimaev’s Composure Following First Potential Loss At UFC 319
During UFC 319 media day, Dricus Du Plessis spoke about his upcoming title defense against Khamzat Chimaev. “Stillknocks” questioned Chimaev’s mental toughness, pondering how the undefeated Russian might react if he suffers his first career defeat and loses his undefeated record.
“I think after Saturday night, it’s going to be time to go and maybe do some introspection saying ‘how are we approaching this?’ Because I don’t know where he’s at on a mental level,” Du Plessis said. “I know he has a lot of money, as he says. I haven’t checked his bank statements but he says he has a lot of money.
“You know he’s so certain he’s becoming world champion and I’m here to say no. There’s no way you’re becoming world champion while I’m the champion. It’s going to be interesting to see.”
UFC 319 is just a couple of days away, featuring a highly-anticipated middleweight title fight. Time to stir the pot more and gain more hype for UFC 319, courtesy of a good ol’ fashion question-and-answer session.
The ninth UFC pay-per-view event of the year goes down from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday, August 16. UFC 319 will be headlined by Dricus Du Plessis defending the UFC middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev.
The co-main event sees undefeated featherweight contender Lerone Murphy facing Bellator veteran Aaron Pico in Pico’s UFC debut.
The rest of the main card features a welterweight battle between Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates, a middleweight fight featuring Jared Cannonier and Michael “Venom” Page, and a flyweight scrap with Tim Elliott taking on Kai Asakura.
Watch The UFC 319: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev Pre-Fight Press Conference
As per tradition, the UFC pay-per-view main card participants will be featured in a press conference during fight week. This is the opportunity for fighters to answer questions from media and fans, as well as potentially lay in some smack talk on their opponents.
