For the first time in the show’s history, The Ultimate Fighter will see its finale fights held on two different cards.
This wasn’t the intention; however, this is now the reality following an injury to Rodrigo Sezinando, forcing the TUF welterweight final featuring him and Daniil Donchenko to be moved from this weekend’s UFC 319 card to Noche UFC 3 on September 13.
ThinkerBoxing was the first to break the news on social media.
It’s unclear what Sezinando’s injury is, but he will remain in the rescheduled finale fight.
This is unique as traditionally TUF fighters who were injured were out of the tournament, even for the finale fights. This was the case as recent as season 29, when an injury forced Tresean Gore out of his season finale fight with Bryan Battle, getting replaced by Gilbert Urbina.
TUF Finale Fight Off UFC 319 Following Injury To Rodrigo Sezinando
Sezinando, a member of Team Cormier, was a featured part of season 33, thanks in part to his rivalry with Diego Bianchini of Team Sonnen. Sezinando bested Bianchini in the first round before defeating teammate Jeff Creighton in the welterweight semifinal.
Donchenko defeated Richard Martins and Matt Dixon to reach the 170-pound final.
The flyweight finale fight featuring Alibi Idiris and Joseph Morales will remain on the UFC 319 card.
For the first time in six years, the UFC returns to the Windy City, as Chicago plays host to this Saturday’s UFC 319. Get yourself ready and in the know with another edition of MMA News staff fight predictions.
The event will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view on Saturday, August 16. The main card will begin at its usual 10pm ET start time, with preliminary card action kicking off at 6pm ET.
The main event will see an exciting and anticipated middleweight championship clash featuring defending champ Dricus Du Plessis facing challenger Khamzat Chimaev.
Unbeaten in the UFC, Du Plessis originally claimed the title with a win over Sean Strickland at UFC 297. Since then, he’s retained the title twice, defeating Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 last year and winning a rematch with Strickland at UFC 312 this past February.
Chimaev is undefeated and, just like Du Plessis, has risen up the middleweight ranks in impressive fashion since arriving to the UFC in 2020. Chimaev earned this title shot after his win at UFC 308, defeating former champion Robert Whittaker in a title eliminator.
The UFC 319 co-main event sees undefeated featherweight contender Lerone Murphy welcome former Bellator prospect Aaron Pico to the Octagon.
Murphy has won eight in a row since his UFC debut went to a draw. He most recently defeated Josh Emmett in the main event of UFC Vegas 105 this past April. This will be Pico’s first fight since defeating Henry Corrales at the PFL vs. Bellator event in February 2024.
The rest of the UFC 319 main card features a welterweight bout between Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates, a middleweight battle between former title challenger Jared Cannonier and Michael “Venom” Page, and a flyweight fight featuring former title challengers Tim Elliott and Kai Asakura.
UFC 319: MMA News Staff Predictions
With UFC 319 just a couple of short days away, Ryan Jarrell, Pranav Pandey, and myself (Thomas Albano) have provided our picks for the fights that make up the main card.
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through seven cards in 2025.
Pranav Pandey (22-15) Thomas Albano (20-17)
Ryan Jarrell (20-17)
And now, let’s take a look at everyone’s picks for UFC 319!
Flyweight: Tim Elliott vs. Kai Asakura
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: From my perspective, this one feels pretty straightforward. Yes, Asakura’s UFC debut ended in a crushing submission loss to Alexandre Pantoja, but that single setback doesn’t define his skill set. He brings championship experience and, in my opinion, has the striking tools to shut anyone’s lights out. The key will be keeping Elliott at bay and denying his relentless takedown attempts, which could prove tricky. Still, at 38 years old, Elliott faces a bigger question: can he match Asakura’s pace, power, and intensity over three rounds? Personally, I have my doubts. (Prediction: Asakura)
Thomas Albano: This is going to be fun. Kai Asakura may have come up short in his UFC debut, but a debut fight against one of the best champions in the sport, let alone the defending flyweight champion, was always going to be a tough task. But against an aging veteran like Tim Elliott? I definitely see Asakura displaying his full abilities that made him a champion in RIZIN on display here. It’s going to be a battle between Elliott’s wrestling game and Asakura’s striking – and with Asakura being the more well-rounded fighter in my eyes, it’s obvious where I lean to here. (Prediction: Asakura)
Ryan Jarrell: Father Time is undefeated and I expect that old saying to ring true in this scrap. Tim Elliot is closing in on 39 years old and that’s a big deal especially for a lighter weight class. Kai Asakura still must have a bad taste in his mouth from his UFC debut fight loss to the champion, Pantoja. Asakura is legit and coming in to his prime where Elliot is close to the end. No need to overthink this one, give me Asakura all day. (Prediction: Asakura)
Consensus: 3-0 Asakura
Middleweight: Jared Cannonier vs. Michael Page
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: I’ll be honest, this matchup is tricky to predict. Both fighters are arguably past their peak, yet each still brings dangerous tools to the table. “Venom” retains his trademark flair for unpredictable, complex striking. Add in his nimble footwork, and he could give Cannonier plenty of problems. That said, “The Killa Gorilla” has only fallen short against the elite of the elite. His raw power and fight-ending shots could be the exact antidote to Page’s movement-heavy style. If Cannonier can cut off the cage and let his hands go, he might just put a stop to the Brit’s night. (Prediction: Cannonier)
Thomas Albano: This is an interesting battle between two fighters who are past their prime but still relevant in the middleweight contender scene. Cannonier obviously has got some strong wrestling, and while Page’s abilities in this area aren’t the strongest, we have seen him defend well before. And besides that, he’s going to have the reach and striking advantages here. MVP can still hit well for an older fighter, and I expect that his striking is going to do far better work than Cannonier’s grappling. I expect this one to go the distance, and I see MVP getting his hand raised. (Prediction: Page)
Ryan Jarrell: I am very excited to see this fight from a stylistic standpoint. Venom Page is coming up a weight class against a veteran fighter with heavy hands and a granite chin. I am very interested to see if his slick movement will be on point and allow him to evade the power shots of Cannonier for a full fifteen minutes. I expect the Killa Gorilla to land something big and if he cannot, he will use his grappling and strength advantage to help him win a decision. (Prediction: Cannonier)
Consensus: 2-1 Cannonier
Welterweight: Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: They don’t call Neal “Handz of Steel” for nothing. The veteran slugger has made a career out of crashing parties with his heavy hands. That said, Neal has historically struggled against opponents with a significant reach advantage. Prates may have lost some momentum after his setback against Ian Garry, but “The Nightmare” remains a dangerous striker with the power to live up to his nickname. If he can impose his range and keep Neal at the end of his shots, Prates could find himself right back in the win column. (Prediction: Prates)
Thomas Albano: This is going to be Carlos Prates’ first fight since his undefeated record was ended at the hands of Ian Machado Garry. Prates could have been undefeated if it wasn’t for not doing enough when he had Garry down in the fight’s last minute in a bad way. The fight showed that while Prates wasn’t the better man on that night, he can still be a dangerous fighter. And given the power we’ve seen from Geoff Neal, this makes this fight more intriguing. I expect Prates will use his reach advantage to keep distance and land a powerful blow that does damage, gaining back any momentum lost with a solid finish here. (Prediction: Prates)
Ryan Jarrell: Carlos Prates is one of the most exciting young fighters in the entire sport right now and has the fighting style to become your favorite fighter’s favorite fighter. He smokes heaters before weighing in and then throws heat come fight night. Geoff Neal is a dangerous veteran fighter who throws hard and likes a fire fight. I expect both men to have their moments early on before Prates lands a big shot that changes the trajectory of the fight from a fight of the night candidate to a violent and exciting TKO finish. (Prediction: Prates)
Consensus: 3-0 Prates
Featherweight: Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico
Images: UFC.com & Bellator MMA
Pranav Pandey: Murphy has been tearing through the featherweight division, riding a nine-fight unbeaten streak in the UFC, a run that speaks volumes about his skill and consistency. With wins over battle-tested names like Dan Ige, Josh Emmett, and Edson Barboza, “The Miracle” has proven to be a genuine problem for anyone at 145. That said, while he’s durable and experienced, I don’t quite see him as a complete fighter or a true knockout threat. His vulnerability in takedown defense could open the door for trouble, especially against someone like Pico.
Pico enters for his UFC debut carrying the pressure of high expectations, but also the confidence of being a reliable finisher. The real question is whether he can translate that finishing ability against an opponent of Murphy’s pedigree, a level he hasn’t faced before. In my opinion, if Pico leans on his strengths and executes with precision, he could turn some heads, but getting past Murphy won’t be easy. (Prediction: Pico)
Thomas Albano: Good on Aaron Pico to receive a major opportunity for his UFC debut after losing his initial opponent in Movsar Evloev. But let’s be clear; that’s a fight that shouldn’t have been made in the first place. Evloev should be getting a featherweight title shot next. But now that’s no longer an issue, and instead Pico must deal with another unbeaten featherweight in Lerone Murphy. Murphy’s coming into this fight off a win over Josh Emmett, and he’s going to be looking for a statement win here to give himself positioning in the title picture as well.
I think everyone riding Pico’s hype train needs to pump the breaks, however. Yes, he’s got knockout power and a strong wrestling background. But he was heavily hyped when he made his professional debut in Bellator, too, and that didn’t go well. Pico’s track record may have been OK for Bellator/PFL standards, but Murphy’s track record completely blows Pico’s out of the water. I believe in Murphy’s all-around game a lot more, and after the way fellow Bellator alums Patricio Pitbull and Patchy Mix have faired in their UFC debuts, I have a lot of doubts. This may be a dog walk. (Prediction: Murphy)
Ryan Jarrell: This is going to be an interesting fight because Lerone Murphy is extremely legit but fighting as the underdog against a debuting fighter in the UFC with a ton of hype behind him. Pico is very dangerous and has the capability of being a force in this division for a long time. We have seen hyped prospects underperform in their UFC debuts time and time again and I believe we will see it one more time at UFC 319. Murphy is too well rounded and has been fighting the better competition for quite some time now. I expect him to dictate where the fight takes place and fight intelligently throughout fifteen minutes en route to a safe decision victory. (Prediction: Murphy)
Consensus: 2-1 Murphy
Middleweight Title: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: This is the type of matchup that makes the entire MMA community hold its breath, and trust me, I’m just as hyped as you are. It’s the kind of clash shrouded in pure unpredictability. Chimaev has been an unstoppable wrecking ball since the moment he stepped into the Octagon, and I genuinely believe the danger he brings to Du Plessis is very real. But here’s where I disagree with the popular narrative: people are way too quick to write off “Stillknocks.” He’s not holding that belt by accident, and by the oddsmakers, he’s still not getting the credit a champion of his caliber deserves.
“Borz” thrives in one area above all, his relentless wrestling and takedown game. For Du Plessis, surviving that storm in the opening half of the fight will be absolutely critical, and in my opinion, if anyone has the grit to weather it, it’s DDP. Many see him as chaotic and unpredictable, but I’ve always believed there’s a method to that madness. I think the real turning point of this fight will reveal itself once we cross into the championship rounds. If Du Plessis can shut down Chimaev’s wrestling by that point, the momentum could swing violently in his favor. With Chimaev’s cardio still in question, the later rounds could be where DDP takes over and finishes the job. (Prediction: Du Plessis)
Thomas Albano: Those who know me know that I have been following Dricus Du Plessis since his days in EFC Africa in 2016. I’ve been a longtime member of the DDP hype train, but this is a fight I have been debating so much with myself about. And that’s because right now I think Khamzat Chimaev has the best shot out of anyone in the division to beat him. Plus, Chimaev has history on his side –the two other men who have beaten Robert Whittaker at 185 before him (Israel Adesanya and DDP [I said before Chimaev, so Reinier de Ridder doesn’t count here]) have gone on to become champion.
Chimaev has such an amazing wrestling game, and I expect him to take DDP down right away and try to put him out as quickly as possible. That’s certainly going to be a problem for DDP, but if DDP weathers that early storm, is that going to be a problem for Chimaev? DDP’s last few fights have shown us that if the bout goes to championship rounds, he’s now able to go the full 25 minutes. Can Chimaev? The longer this fight goes, the more it favors the defending champion.
And all the pre-fight media stuff I’ve seen this, there’s something in the air. Something weird. Normally I get this feeling when a fighter is overconfident and doesn’t take their opponent seriously; that’s not what I’m getting from DDP. It feels like DDP has just the right amount of confidence from the other times he was counted out. It’s convinced others here to go with DDP…so since I’ve been a longtime member of his hype train, I should as well, shouldn’t I? (Prediction: Du Plessis)
Ryan Jarrell: This title fight is easily one of my most highly anticipated fights of the year. I cannot wait to see the chess match that takes place in this fight between two of the very best fighters on the planet right now. I expect Khamzat to start aggressive like he usually does, but will he be able to overwhelm the Champ and keep him playing defense like so many of his previous foes? I don’t expect that to be the case, as Du Plessis has proven to have the style and skillset to adapt to whomever he is fighting and find ways to fight the way he wants to. Dricus Du Plessis continues to prove the doubters wrong each and every time he climbs into the octagon and I don’t expect this fight to be any different. Dricus will weather the early storm and start to take over as the fight progresses and gets to the championship rounds. Ultimately, I see the champ winning on the scorecards in a fairly straightforward unanimous fashion. (Prediction: Du Plessis)
Consensus: 3-0 Du Plessis
That’ll do it for our UFC 319 staff picks! What do you think? Do your predictions look similar? Let us know in the comments section!
Also, you can check out the full UFC 319 card below.
Main Card:
Middleweight Championship: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Featherweight: Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico
Welterweight: Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates
Middleweight: Jared Cannonier vs. Michael Page
Flyweight: Tim Elliott vs. Kai Asakura
Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Gerald Meerschaert vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk
Women’s Strawweight: Jessica Andrade vs. Loopy Godinez
Lightweight: Chase Hooper vs. Alexander Hernandez
Lightweight: Edson Barboza vs. Drakkar Klose
Early Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Bryan Battle vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
Women’s Flyweight: Karine Silva vs. Dione Barbosa
Welterweight: TUF Finale: Rodrigo Sezinando vs. Daniil Donchenko
Flyweight: TUF Finale: Alibi Idiris vs. Joseph Morales
The UFC 319 card suffered a late blow with a fight scrapped just two days before the event.
According to a recent report from BJPENN.com’s Cole Shelton, the veteran lightweight clash between Diego Ferreira and King Green has been called off for reasons yet to be known. At this time, it remains uncertain whether the bout will be rescheduled for a future event.
Ferreira was slated to return to action at UFC 319 after a unanimous decision loss to Grant Dawson at UFC 311 this past January. The 40-year-old Brazilian is enduring one of the toughest stretches of his career, with a 2-4 run over his last six Octagon outings. He holds a 10-6 UFC record, with five of those victories coming by knockout.
Meanwhile, Green last competed at UFC 313 this past March, suffering a brutal knockout defeat to Mauricio Ruffy. That setback followed a submission loss to Paddy Pimblett at UFC 304 in July 2024. The 38-year-old American’s most recent victory came at UFC 300 against Jim Miller, but inconsistency has kept him from maintaining momentum. He currently boasts a UFC record of 13-12-1 with one no contest.
Photo by Tim Wheaton
What Does The Full UFC 319 Fight Card Look Like?
UFC 319 is set for this Saturday, August 16, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Topping the bill, reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis will put his belt on the line for a third time in a blockbuster showdown with Khamzat Chimaev.
In the co-main event, featherweight contender Lerone Murphy takes on highly touted debutant Aaron Pico in a compelling matchup. The UFC 319 main card also features a welterweight clash between Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates, a middleweight battle between Jared Cannonier and Michael Page, and a flyweight contest between Tim Elliott against former title challenger Kai Asakura.
Khamzat Chimaev is nothing more than another stepping stone toward Dricus du Plessis’ ultimate MMA goal.
After bagging impressive title defenses against Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland, ‘DDP’ will face his toughest test yet when he puts his undisputed middleweight gold on the line against ‘Borz’ at UFC 319 this Saturday night, August 16, in Chicago.
Sitting on an impressive 9-0 run inside the Octagon, du Plessis dreams of one day retiring from mixed martial arts as the greatest fighter the sport has ever seen. With a win over Chimaev, the South African sensation believes he’ll be one step closer to achieving that goal.
“I don’t care what the fans see,” du Plessis told Helen Yee. “Every time I defend that title, there’s going to be a next best guy. And that’s how I see him. He’s the next step. He’s the next guy in my way to becoming the greatest.”
Will Dricus du Plessis continue to defy the odds against Khamzat Chimaev?
As was the case in seven of his nine fights under the UFC banner, du Plessis goes into UFC 319 as the underdog. As it stands, the undefeated Chechen monster is a 2-to-1 favorite to leave ‘Chi-Town’ with the 185-pound crown wrapped around his waist.
Of course, du Plessis has made a career out of defying the odds.
Robert Whittaker was a -400 favorite to defeat ‘DDP’ before getting brutally knocked out by ‘Stillknocks’ at UFC 290. ‘DDP’ was then a +130 underdog in his first title tilt with Sean Strickland and a +150 dog in his subsequent title defense against ‘The Last Stylebender’ in August 2024.
Will du Plessis defy the odds once again and take another giant step towards MMA immortality? Fortunately, we won’t have to wait much longer to find out.
When he was awarded his new UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, Baysangur Susurkaev held up four fingers. The message was he wanted a quick turnaround — he wanted to fight at UFC 319 this coming weekend to be on the same card as his teammate, UFC middleweight title challenger Khamzat Chimaev.
And now, it appears Susurkaev is going to be getting his wish.
As initially reported on social media by Zac Coffman, host of the 4oz to Freedom podcast, Susurkaev will be competing in a short-notice bout for this weekend’s pay-per-view card, taking on Eric Nolan.
🚨FIGHT NEWS🚨
After taking no damage in his #DWCS fight last night, Baysangur Susurkaev will be making his @UFC DEBUT…
Baysangur Susurkaev vs. Eric Nolan Booked For This Weekend’s UFC 319 On Three Days’ Notice
Susurkaev was arguably the only standout performer of the premiere for season nine of Dana White’s Contender Series, which took place yesterday, August 12. Susurkaev scored a body-kick KO of Murtaza Talha in the night’s sole finish, leading to the UFC CEO and President to say he loved everything about him and told him to stand by for a major opportunity.
The opportunity for Susurkaev mirrors that of Chimaev’s first appearances with the UFC. After Chimaev quickly submitted John Phillips at UFC Fight Island 1 in July 2020, Chimaev turned around 10 days later for a short-notice fight with Rhys McKee at UFC Fight Island 3, scoring a first-round finish.
Prior to the DWCS appearance, which improved him to 9-0, Susurkaev had most recently fought in February, finishing Irakli Kuchukhidze at Fury FC 102.
Nolan, who is 8-3, won the CFFC welterweight title in May with a three-minute knockout of Blayne Richards at CFFC 142.
Cigarettes seem to be a constant companion in Carlos Prates’ daily grind.
Prates is set to make his Octagon return this Saturday, August 16, at UFC 319, where he will face veteran welterweight Geoff Neal at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The bout was originally scheduled for UFC 314 last April, but an injury to “Handz of Steel” forced the fight to be postponed.
FIREWORKS targeted for #UFC319 as Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates have agreed to rebook their welterweight matchup in Chicago. Who ya' got? 🧨🔥 pic.twitter.com/cFULTkS70V
“The Nightmare” is celebrated for his explosive finishes inside the cage. Outside the Octagon, though, he’s equally notorious for his hard-living lifestyle, often seen indulging in alcohol and, most notably, as a dedicated chain smoker in his social media posts.
Despite numerous warnings from his coaches about the health risks, Prates openly admits to smoking daily. Even while actively competing, lighting up before and after fights has become a deeply ingrained ritual he refuses to break.
Image: UFC.com
Carlos Prates Claims Smoking Cigarettes Supports His Weight Cut
During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Carlos Prates was questioned about whether he had cut back on his smoking ahead of his fight with Geoff Neal. The Fighting Nerds standout openly admitted his enduring love for cigarettes, revealing that he still lights up around eight smokes a day.
“The Nightmare” revealed he’s attempted to reduce his smoking, but doing so led to overeating. He ultimately accepted that he’d rather light up than risk struggling with weight cuts.
“Sometimes I start to smoke a little bit less, but it’s hard,” Carlos Prates said. “I get really excited, and I want to eat. I cannot eat pizza all day, so I prefer to smoke rather than have some problem with making weight… I like to smoke before I go to the stadium. We cannot smoke in the locker room. Smoke before, then I go there.”
Carlos Prates says smoking cigarettes helps with his weight cut 🚬
"It's hard [to smoke less]. I get really excited and I want to eat. I cannot eat pizza all day, so I prefer to smoke rather than have some problem with making weight.
Prates last stepped into the Octagon at UFC Kansas City this past April, where his 10-fight knockout streak was snapped by a unanimous decision defeat to Ian Garry. Before experiencing his first UFC loss, “The Nightmare” was riding a four-fight winning streak, featuring dominant finishes over notable opponents like Neil Magny and Li Jingliang.
Carlos Prates, who secured his UFC contract in August 2023 via Dana White’s Contender Series, boasts a professional record of 21-7, with an impressive 19 victories coming by way of stoppage.
Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev recently came face to face for the first time.
Du Plessis will put his middleweight crown on the line against Chimaev in the UFC 319 main event this Saturday, August 16, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
The build-up to this highly anticipated clash has been charged with tension, fueled by frequent back-and-forth exchanges between the fighters on social media. Many expected sparks to fly when they finally came together in person, but the encounter turned out to be quite the opposite.
Dricus Du Plessis And Khamzat Chimaev Meet In Person Ahead Of UFC 319 Clash
On Tuesday, Khamzat Chimaev’s jiu-jitsu coach, Alan Do Nascimento, posted an Instagram video capturing the moment “Borz” crossed paths with reigning UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis ahead of their clash this weekend.
To the surprise of many, the two rivals greeted each other with respect, shared a light moment of camaraderie, and chatted briefly in a friendly manner.
“Stillknocks” enters UFC 319 riding the momentum of a dominant unanimous decision victory in his second title defense, a rematch against Sean Strickland at UFC 312 this past February.
He first captured the 185-pound crown via split decision over Strickland at UFC 297, then successfully defended it with a submission win against former champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 305. Du Plessis remains unbeaten in the UFC, boasting a perfect 9-0 record.
Meanwhile, Chimaev is fresh off a first-round submission victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in October 2024. “Borz” has seen limited action in recent years, competing just four times since 2022. Still, he maintains an undefeated 9-0 record in the UFC, with notable finishes over opponents such as Kevin Holland and Li Jingliang.
Khamzat Chimaev will enter the Octagon in standout gear this weekend.
Chimaev will challenge reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis in the main event of UFC 319 on August 16 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Back in 2020, UFC fighter Bryce Mitchell made history by debuting his signature Reebok camouflage shorts. However, since last year, the UFC’s official fight kit partner Venum has rolled out a wave of custom designs for some of the sport’s biggest names including Alex Pereira, Israel Adesanya, Dustin Poirier, Merab Dvalishvili, and Ilia Topuria, among others.
The trend shows no signs of losing momentum, with the latest unveiling arriving just in time for UFC 319. As Khamzat Chimaev prepares for his first UFC title shot, the undefeated challenger will debut bespoke Venum fight shorts inspired by his moniker “Borz,” the Chechen word for wolf. The design features a striking pair of howling wolves on each side, set against a bold blue and grey backdrop.
However, Chimaev won’t be the only one showcasing unique fight gear on Saturday night. His opponent, Du Plessis, will also step in wearing his own custom-made shorts, adorned with the bold and vivid colors of the South African flag, a proud tribute to his heritage.
“Stillknocks” first sported the distinctive design during his successful title defense against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in August 2024.
Image: @dricusduplessis/Instagram
Khamzat Chimaev’s Custom Shorts For UFC 319 Ignite Fan Debate
The unveiling of Khamzat Chimaev’s custom-made shorts for UFC 319 drew a flurry of mixed reactions from MMA fans online. While many praised the striking howling wolf design, others were quick to criticize, arguing that several fighters have sported far more impressive gear.
They aren’t that bad but they’re not top tier either
Khamzat Chimaev last competed at UFC 308 in October 2024, where he secured a dominant first-round submission over former champion Robert Whittaker. “Borz” boasts an undefeated 8-0 UFC record and a perfect 14-0 overall, with 12 victories coming inside the distance.
Chimaev is a perfect 14-0 and has become something of a boogeyman in the division courtesy of his relentless wrestling and brutal submissions. For many, the game plan has been the same—survive the early onslaught in hopes that Chimaev will deplete his gas tank before hitting the latter rounds. To some extent, it’s worked for fighters like Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman, though both of them still fell to the unbeaten bruiser.
However, du Plessis’ team plans to take a much different approach.
“Khamzat doesn’t know what it is when people wanna wrestle him,” Visser said via UFC 319 Countdown. “He’s only facing guys who are trying to get away from him, from his wrestling. We don’t want to try and get away from his wrestling, we want to f–k him up in these games.
“You can’t think that you’re gonna beat my guy with one thing, and that’s wrestling. That guy’s one dimensional. We’ve seen his stand-up. I wouldn’t even give him a pro license for his s–t stand-up. He doesn’t present any problem for us. We are the problem.”
Du Plessis is going to fight his fight against Khamzat Chimaev
In seven of his nine career UFC fights, du Plessis has opened as the underdog. UFC 319 will be no different as Chimaev goes into his first title tilt as a 2-to-1 favorite. Of course, that just gives ‘DDP’ another chance to defy the odds, and he plans to do exactly that by beating ‘Borz’ at his own game.
“I’m not going in there to fight his fight,” du Plessis said. “I’m going in there to fight my fight. Just like I dealt with Adesanya’s striking, Strickland’s boxing, I’m going to deal with Khamzat’s wrestling.”
Thus far, Page is 2-1 under the UFC banner, with a pair of fairly dominant decision victories over ‘Bullet’ and Kevin Holland. But this time, ‘Venom’ plans to make a statement and give fans a moment to remember in ‘The Windy City.’
“I’ve always gone into a fight wanting a knockout,” Page told Ariel Helwani while discussing his upcoming clash with Cannonier. “I go in there to deliver that to the fans.”
Page may not be necessarily known for delivering highlight-reel knockouts, but that doesn’t mean he’s incapable of doing so. Just ask Evangelista Santos…
INCH PERFECT FLYING KNEE! 🤏
Flashback to #Bellator158 when Michael ‘Venom’ Page stopped Evangelista Santos via flying knee followed up with a Pokémon themed celebration! 😳 pic.twitter.com/XtmHQRJfDM
Clinging to his No. 8 spot in the middleweight rankings, Cannonier will look to score a second straight win after delivering an impressive bounce-back performance against Gregory ‘Robocop’ Rodrigues in February. Before that, ‘Killa Gorilla’ had dropped back-to-back bouts Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho — two fighters who will face off at UFC Paris to determine the middleweight division’s next title contender.
‘Venom’ claims political B.S. prompted his move up from welterweight to middleweight
Page typically competes at welterweight, but after struggling to get big-name fights in his home division, ‘Venom’ decided to make the move up to middleweight where things aren’t nearly as political.
“I want all the smoke, I want to go where the smoke is,” Page told The Independent. “It feels like the guys in the welterweight division are not carrying any fire. It seems to be very political, it’s a bit too technical about who fights who.
“There’s even more people with even more claims of getting that title shot [than at middleweight], so a lot of people don’t want to take those dangerous fights if they don’t have to. And to add to the welterweight division, Islam [Makhachev] is moving up as well now, which just holds up the division even more.”
A win over Cannonier in ‘Chi-Town’ would skyrocket Page into the top 10 of the middleweight division, instantly making him a contender in not one, but two weight classes.
After making his spectacular UFC debut in 2020, pummeling three opponents in the span of eight weeks, everyone thought Chimaev was on the fast track to title contention. Unfortunately, Chimaev’s momentum was halted due to an especially difficult bout with COVID-19 followed by a slew of post-pandemic illnesses that kept his appearances inside the Octagon few and far between.
Since 2022, ‘Borz’ has only competed once a year, leading some to speculate that a win over du Plessis in ‘The Windy City’ could be a disastrous turn of events for the UFC.
“Would Khamzat Chimaev winning the belt be a disaster for the division?,” ex-UFC champ Michael Bisping questioned on his Believe You Me podcast. “I got to agree that as far as promotion-wise, yeah, it could be, right?”
“Until we see him fight more regularly, then it is a question,” co-host and former fighter Paul Felder added. “It is a problem.”
UFC 319 will be Khamzat Chimaev’s first time fighting in the U.S. since 2022
Aside from Chimaev’s inconsistent schedule and laundry-list of cancelled bouts, another cause for concern could be his willingness to fight stateside. When ‘Borz’ steps inside the United Center this weekend, it will be his first time competing in the U.S. since September 10, 2022. On that night, Chimaev was originally scheduled to face Nate Diaz in the UFC 279 main event.
However, Chimaev infamously stepped in the scale eight pounds over the welterweight limit, forcing the UFC to shake-up the top of the card 24 hours before fight night.
Chimaev went on to ragdoll Kevin Holland in the co-main event, earning his sixth win inside the Octagon. He was subsequently forced to move up from 170 to middleweight, where he’s since added wins over Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker, setting the stage for his scrap with ‘DDP’ in ‘Chi-Town.’
Between illnesses, weight misses, and cancellations aplenty, are Bisping and Felder right to be concerned about what the middleweight division could look like with Chimaev sitting on the throne?
After winning his first three fights UFC in the span of eight weeks, Chimaev appeared to be on the fast track to fame, fortune, and gold. Sadly, his mometum was halted due to an especially bad bout with COVID-19. The illness was so extreme that the undefeated Chechen monster was contemplating retirement.
Fortunately, Chimaev made a full recovery returned to the UFC 13 months later, but ‘Borz’ was fully prepared to meet his maker.
Khamzat Chimaev opens up about remembering death often 🥺😧
"I believe in God, so I wanna meet Him as well. Life is going really fast — I'm already 31. I remember being 6 or 7 years old, and it feels like yesterday. I believe in God, so do good things before I meet Him. If… pic.twitter.com/Wfy8Bk2X8s
“I believe in God, so I wanna meet Him as well. Life is going really fast — I’m already 31,” Chimaev told ESPN. “I remember being 6 or 7 years old, and it feels like yesterday. I believe in God, so do good things before I meet Him. If you’re not ready to die when it comes, you’ll be scared. Maybe my thinking about that made me who I am today.”
Will Khamzat Chimaev’s reign of terror continue at UFC 319?
Since making his return, Chimaev has added five more wins to his resume, none more impressive than his horrifying first-round submission victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi. That on top of big wins over Kevin Holland and Kamaru Usman moved Chimaev into the No. 3 spot in the middleweight rankings, setting the stage for his highly anticipated clash with du Plessis in ‘Chi-Town.’
Overall, Chimaev is 14-0 in his mixed martial arts career with an 85% finish rate — five KOs and seven submissions. He enters Saturday’s scrap with the South African sensation as a 2-to-1 favorite to leave ‘The Windy City’ with the 185-pound crown.
After scoring a stunning first-round submission victory over Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi, ‘Borz’ will look to cash in on his first title opportunity when he challenges reigning and defending middleweight king Dricus du Plessis this Saturday night at UFC 319 in Chicago.
While Chimaev goes into the contest with an unblemished 14-0 record and a slew of impressive performances, some have suggested that the Chechen’s gas tank could be his biggest Achille’s heel come fight night. Chimaev recently attempted to quell any concerns that his cardio could be a problem while sending a very clear message to his opponent.
“What did you say, Dricus? You think my cardio won’t hold up? Come here and let’s see!” Chimaev said in a training clip via The MAC Life.
Khamzat Chimaev’s cardio coach says his strength and conditioning is on a ‘different level’
Chimaev is always looking to end things early inside the Octagon, but in the instances where he’s dragged into deeper waters, ‘Borz’ has been known to fade down the stretch. That was ever apparent in his bouts against Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman.
And while he went on to win both of those fights via decision, Chimaev’s cardio coach Joakim Karlsson thinks that today’s version of ‘Borz’ is far more dangerous than the one who fought Burns and the ‘Nigerian Nightmare.’
“Man, you can’t compare Khamzat, now, this time, with (the one from) one, two years ago,” Karlsson said at a UFC 319 media event. “It’s totally different. He has a different strength and conditioning coach now. It’s a different level now. I don’t think it’s fair to compare him from one, two years ago. It’s not the same.
“He’s just taking training more serious now. He has good dedication to what he does because now it’s serious stuff, it’s coming up to a championship fight. So he’s been more serious about everything. He’s taking care of nutrition, sleep, recovery and everything. He’s good.”
Brendan Schaub thinks Dricus du Plessis could be the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion. Chael Sonnen isn’t so sure.
Following dominant defenses against Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland in his last two outings, ‘DDP’ will arguably face his toughest test yet when he puts his middleweight gold on the line against undefeated Chechen monster Khamzat Chimaev. ‘DDP’ and Chimaev will headline UFC 319 this Saturday, August 16, when the promotion heads back to Chicago for a loaded pay-per-view lineup, which includes the Octagon debut of former Bellator star Aaron Pico.
When du Plessis and Chimaev step inside the cage, they’ll be fighting for much more than gold.
Both fighters enter the bout undefeated in their UFC careers, and both have dreams of etching their names in the history books as a three-division champion. But despite Schaub’s strong belief that ‘DDP’ can accomplish his goal, Sonnen thinks that could be a pretty tall order for du Plessis. Especially when the man you have to go through is Chimaev.
“Brendan Schaub did a piece, and he likes Dricus,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “He likes Dricus to the point that he thinks he could be a three-division champion. Brendan laid out the math: 185, where he’s already king. Go up to 205, grab the belt, slide up to heavyweight, beat those guys.
“I don’t hate the idea. I’m grateful that Brendan brought this to our attention because I too find that Dricus, in his next fight, is not fighting for nothing. I think there is something there. Take it from me, Mr. Division Expert: it has never been this difficult.”
Who’s ‘O’ will go when Dricus du Plessis meets Khamzat Chimaev in ‘The Windy City’?
‘DDP’ heads to Chi-Town with a perfect 9-0 record inside the Octagon and wins over a slew of former world champions. Meanwhile, ‘Borz’ will look to cash in on his long-awaited title opportunity after ragdolling opponents on his way to a 14-0 record, including a teeth-cracking submission win over Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi last year.
As it stands, Chimaev is a moderate favorite to come out on top, but du Plessis is known for defying the odds. In fact, the South African sensation has opened as the underdog in seven of his nine UFC bouts.
Will du Plessis defy the odds once again, or is it Chimaev’s time to finally strap UFC gold around his waist?
After ragdolling opponents en route to an unblemished 14-0 record, ‘Borz’ will look to climb to the top of the middleweight mountain when he challenges the division’s reigning champion, Dricus du Plessis, at UFC 319 on Saturday, August 16.
It will be Chimaev’s inaugural shot at UFC gold, but if things go according to plan, it won’t be his last. But even with his lofty goals of becoming the promotion’s first-ever three-division champion, ‘Borz’ made it clear that he’s not fighting for titles and accolades. It’s all about the benjamins.
“I don’t think so much about the belt,” Chimaev told MMA Junkie. “Has a couple of millions coming after the fight in my bank account. That’s the important thing. I want to fight, beat that guy, you know. That’s important to me.”
Khamzat Chimaev aims for a quick turnaround after UFC 319
If Chimaev comes out both unscathed and with the middleweight title in his position, he plans on making quick turnaround, potentially defending his title or competing for another one at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi in October.
“I need money bro. This is not enough, just to go for the one title,” Chimaev told ESPN MMA. “Hopefully if I don’t get injured or some stuff, gonna defend the belt or fight for other belt in Abu Dhabi, as well.”
Considering ‘Borz’ has struggled to fight more than once a year since 2022, we wouldn’t count on him making such a quick turnaround, but as they say in MMA, anything is possible.
After cleaning out much of the middleweight top five, Dricus du Plessis is ready for a new challenge.
‘DDP’ will get exactly that when he puts his undisputed 185-pound world title on the line against undefeated Chechen monster Khamzat Chimaev. The two will headline UFC 316 when the promotion heads back to the United Center in Chicago on Saturday, August 16.
After repeatedly defying the odds and scoring big wins over ex-champions like Robert Whittaker, Israel Adesanya, and Sean Strickland twice, du Plessis knew there was just one man left to defend his gold against.
“I have fought everybody in the top five except one,” du Plessis told Ariel Helwani. “That’s the resume I want. I want to fight the best guys. That’s why I wanted this Khamzat fight so badly.”
Ask and you shall receive.
Du Plessis vs. Chimaev is a classic battle of irresistable force vs. immovable object
While Chimaev has looked practically unbeatable inside the Octagon, du Plessis has continuously found a way to win, even when it looked as though his defeat was imminent. Of course, ‘DDP’ has never fought someone known for ragdolling opponents the way Chimaev does, and oddmakers certainly seem to believe ‘Borz’ will handle du Plessis the way he handled ‘The Reaper’ in Abu Dhabi.
Chimaev goes into the bout as a 2-to-1 favorite to leave ‘The Windy City’ with the middleweight crown. However, being the underdog is a position du Plessis has become plenty familiar with. In his nine career UFC fights, he opened as the underdog seven times. He’s currently 9-0 inside the Octagon.
Clearly, something’s got to give when the irresistable force meets an immovable object in Chi-Town.
Nassourdine Imavov has no interest in being a backup fighter.
Sitting as the top-ranked contender in the middleweight division, Imavov is ready for his first UFC title opportunity. But to get it, he’ll have to go through surging 185-pound sensation and Fighting Nerds co-founder Caio Borralo. The two will headline a loaded Fight Night card in Paris, France, when the promotion heads back to ‘The City of Light’ on September 6.
A mere three weeks before that, Imavov and Borralho will have their eyes on UFC 319’s highly anticipated clash between reigning and defending middleweight champion, Dricus du Plessis, and undefeated Chechen monster Khamzat Chimaev.
Despite Imavov being the No. 1 ranked contender in the division, Borralho will step on the scale as the official backup in Chicago. As it turns out, that’s because ‘The Sniper’ had already turned down the UFC’s offer to be the backup for du Plessis vs. Chimaev.
“He’s just taking my leftover, because I declined the backup,” Imavov told MMA Junkie. “If I hadn’t declined, the UFC wouldn’t have called him. For me, being the backup fighter for a title shot is not an honor. When I want to fight for the title, I want my face on the poster.”
“After the fight between Khamzat and DDP, everyone will forget that Caio was a backup—it’s something that has no sense.”
A title opportunity hangs in the balance as Nassourdine Imavov gears up for his fight with Borralho
Imavov goes into his second straight main event riding a four-fight win streak. That includes a stunning second-round knockout of former two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya in February.
Meanwhile, Borralho enters the biggest fight of his career with a perfect 7-0 record inside the Octagon, his most recent W coming against perrenial contender Jared Cannonier.
The winner between Imavov and Borralhoh is expected to leave Paris as the next man up for either du Plessis or Chimaev, depending on how things play out in ‘The Windy City’ later this month.
Arman Tsarukyan has revealed the intensity of Khamzat Chimaev’s demanding training routine.
Chimaev is slated to headline UFC 319 on August 16 at the United Center in Chicago, where he will challenge reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis for the title.
“Borz” has faced a string of cancellations and setbacks, with medical issues and unforeseen hurdles severely limiting his activity. As a result, he has competed just five times in the Octagon since September 2020. He has previously opened up about his inactivity, attributing it to pushing himself too hard in training.
According to the undefeated Russian, extreme overtraining left his body drained, ultimately compromising his immune system and making him more susceptible to illness. Having been part of Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 319 training camp, Tsarukyan understands the toll such intensity can take.
Image: @arm_011/Instagram
Arman Tsarukyan Shares Khamzat Chimaev Hired Coach To Prevent Overtraining
During a recent interview with Kamil Gadzhiev, Arman Tsarukyan weighed in on Khamzat Chimaev’s intense training habits. According to the UFC lightweight contender, “Borz” often entered fight night far from his peak, having drained himself through relentless overtraining.
To address the issue, Chimaev’s team has now brought in a dedicated coach tasked with managing his workload and closely monitoring his recovery to ensure he performs at his best when it matters most.
“Khamzat’s never at 100% on fight night because he constantly overtrains,” Tsarukyan said. “After sparring, he always goes to work the bag, lift weights, etc. He’s one of those guys you have to tell when it’s time to stop. He’s now being tested daily to monitor his recovery. They have devices that show his recovery status every day, and if he’s in a slump, they help pull him out of it. They give him more time to relax, because when you’re overtrained, you can’t work properly in sparring. We need a guy who will control this 24/7 and stop him at the right moment so he won’t overtrain.”
“Borz” was last seen in action at UFC 308 in October 2024, where he delivered a dominant first-round submission win over former champion Robert Whittaker. Khamzat Chimaev holds a flawless 8-0 record inside the UFC and stands at 14-0 overall, with an impressive 12 of those victories coming via stoppage.
Khamzat Chimaev capturing the UFC middleweight title could spell trouble for the division, at least that’s what one analyst believes.
Chimaev is set to challenge reigning 185-pound champion Dricus Du Plessis in the main event of UFC 319, scheduled for August 16 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
“Borz” made an explosive entry into the UFC in July 2020, earning massive acclaim after securing three dominant victories within just 66 days, marking the fastest such streak in modern UFC history. However, the undefeated Chechen’s rise has been repeatedly stalled by medical complications and unforeseen obstacles, resulting in only five appearances inside the Octagon since September 2020.
Now that Khamzat Chimaev is slated to compete in the biggest fight of his career, observers and critics are questioning whether he’ll successfully make it to the Octagon without complications. If he does and manages to dethrone Du Plessis, Din Thomas believes that could mark the beginning of an even bigger problem.
Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC
Din Thomas Raises Red Flag Over Khamzat Chimaev’s Future As Potential Champion
During a recent episode of The Bohnfire with Mike Bohn, UFC analyst Din Thomas shared his thoughts on the upcoming UFC 319 headliner between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev. The UFC analyst cautioned that if “Borz” emerges as the new middleweight champion, his history of irregular appearances could halt the division’s momentum, creating a situation that, in his view, would be detrimental to the sport.
“If Khamzat wins it’s a disaster,” Thomas said. “You can’t tell me a part of you isn’t just thinking, ‘This fight might not actually happen.’ Some of these guys habitual struggle in just making it to the dance. I’m not going to be pessimistic about it and will say he’s going to show up. But if he does show up and he’s able to win, do we trust him to be able to show up and fight again? That’s the thing.
“Can he do it twice? Can he do it three times? Because we need movement. I hate when it’s static and there’s no movement in these divisions and in order to be movement in the divisions, the champions have to fight.”
“Borz” last competed at UFC 308 in October 2024, where he secured a dominant first-round submission victory over former champion Robert Whittaker. Chimaev remains undefeated, boasting a perfect 8-0 record in the UFC and 14-0 overall, with an impressive 12 of those wins coming by way of finish.
The UFC 319 lineup has undergone a slight shake-up just a couple of weeks out from fight night.
According to a recent report from Ag. Fight, JJ Aldrich has withdrawn from her scheduled women’s flyweight bout against Karine Silva due to undisclosed issues. Stepping in on short notice, Dione Barbosa will now face Silva at UFC 319.
Silva was last in action at UFC 309 this past November, where she suffered her first promotional loss via unanimous decision to Viviane Araujo. The 31-year-old Brazilian earned her UFC contract with a second-round submission victory over Yan Qihui on Dana White’s Contender Series in October 2021.
“Killer” has secured four wins in five UFC outings, with three coming by submission against the likes of Ketlen Souza and Maryna Moroz. She holds a professional record of 18-5, with an impressive 17 of those victories earned via stoppage.
Meanwhile, Barbosa most recently competed at UFC Vegas 105 this past April, where she secured a first-round submission win over Diana Belbita, bouncing back from a unanimous decision loss to Miranda Maverick in July 2024.
“The Witch” punched her ticket to the UFC with a submission win over Rainn Guerrero on DWCS in September 2023. The former Olympic judoka holds a professional MMA record of 8-3, with four of those victories coming by submission.
Interestingly, UFC 319 won’t be the first time Silva and Barbosa share the cage. The pair previously met in May 2019 at Katana Fight 9, where “The Witch” claimed a unanimous decision victory.
UFC 319 is slated to light up the United Center in Chicago, Illinois on August 16. The ninth UFC pay-per-view event of 2025 will be headlined by reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, who will make his third title defense in a long-anticipated clash with Khamzat Chimaev. Meanwhile, the co-main event features Aaron Pico making his Octagon debut against undefeated featherweight contender Lerone Murphy.
The main card of UFC 319 will also showcase a welterweight clash between Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates. Additionally, a middleweight showdown between Jared Cannonier and Michael Page is set to potentially bring fireworks, along with a flyweight bout pitting Tim Elliott against Kai Asakura.
Khamzat Chimaev is putting on the final touches of his preparations for UFC 319, where he’ll attempt to become the UFC middleweight champion.
Chimaev took to social media to show images seen of his reported final fight camp. Chimaev is currently in Los Angeles and will soon make his way to Chicago, where UFC 319 takes place.
Of note, it looks like he is preparing his striking and power, as the photos show him working on his knees and hitting pads.
Khamzat Chimaev In Los Angeles For Final Camp Before UFC 319
“Feeling great,” Chimaev posted. “We are in LA. Doing training camp now, last camp before the fight. So, coming for Chicago. Kill everybody.”
Du Plessis, at 14-0, has taken the MMA world by storm since his UFC signing in 2020. It was then where he scored a pair of knockout victories while breaking the quickest turnaround time between UFC wins at 10 days. Chimaev would then knockout Gerald Meerschaert later that year.
While injuries and illness have slowed him down over the last few years, Chimaev’s success hasn’t, as he’s since scored wins over Li Jinglang, Gilbert Burns, Kevin Holland, Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker.
UFC 316 takes place on Aug 16 at the United Center in Chicago. Chimaev will be competing in the main event, challenging current UFC 185-pound champion Dricus Du Plessis.
Du Plessis has been champion since defeating Sean Strickland at UFC 297, retaining against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 and in a rematch with Strickland at UFC 312.
UFC 318 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 319 in Chicago, Illinois.
The promotion was in New Orleans last week, where the Smoothie King Center played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its seventh numbered event of the year. Of note were headline wins for Max Holloway and Paulo Costa, as well as a retirement celebration for Dustin Poirier and important victories for Daniel Rodriguez, Patricio Pitbull, and Michael Johnson.
While the aftermath of the July 19 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the BMFs to the middleweight championship conversation.
At UFC 319, which takes place at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on August 16, Dricus Du Plessis will put his middleweight title on the line against Khamzat Chimaev. Du Plessis originally won the belt from Sean Strickland at UFC 297 and has retained the gold against Israel Adesanya and Strickland, respectively, at UFC 305 and UFC 312. Chimaev earned this title shot off a violent finish of former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 last year.
During the main card’s announcement at UFC 318, there was no listed co-main event. That is still the case as of publication time.
Neal, Cannonier, Elliott Set The Stage For Middleweight Title Headliner At UFC 319
Before Du Plessis and Chimaev make their way out for the middleweight title fight, several names will look to make their own statements on the main card for UFC 319.
This includes Geoff Neal, who will be doing battle with the rising welterweight contender Carlos Prates. Neal snapped a two-fight skid his last time out, scoring a TKO win over Rafael dos Anjos in 90 seconds due to injury. Prates, of the Fighting Nerds, will look to rebound following his April loss to Paddy Pimblett — the first loss in Prates’ UFC run.
Former middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier will also be in action, taking on Michael “Venom” Page. Like Neal, Cannonier also snapped a two-fight skid his last time out, finishing Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues in February. MVP returned to middleweight in his most recent fight, scoring a decision over Shara Magomedov at UFC Saudi Arabia in February.
The main card is scheduled to open with Tim Elliott taking on Kai Asakura in a battle of former flyweight title challengers. This will be Elliott’s first fight in over a year-and-a-half due to injury. Elliott most recently fought in a bantamweight bout in December 2023, submitting Su Mudaerji. Asakura, the former RIZIN bantamweight champion, challenged Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight title in his UFC debut at UFC 310, losing via submission.
Those pairings have currently gotten the nod to feature on the main card over the likes of King Green, Jessica Andrade, and Edson Barboza, all of whom are expected to be featured players on the event’s preliminary card.
See below for the UFC 319 lineup, as it stands.
Main Card:
Middleweight Championship: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev
TBA Weight Class: TBA vs. TBA
Welterweight: Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates
Middleweight: Jared Cannonier vs. Michael Page
Flyweight: Tim Elliott vs. Kai Asakura
Preliminary Card (Bout Order TBA):
Lightweight: King Green vs. Diego Ferreira
Middleweight: Gerald Meerschaert vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
Women’s Strawweight: Jessica Andrade vs. Loopy Godinez
The UFC has just dealt with one champion retiring when Jon Jones seemed to hang up the gloves a few weeks ago (only to seemingly unretire in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump teasing a UFC card at the White House). But could the UFC lose a second champion to retirement during the summer?
If Caio Borralho is to be believed, that might come to fruition at UFC 319 if Khamzat Chimaev defeats Dricus Du Plessis for the middleweight championship.
During a “Nerd Talk” segment in a recent upload to MMA Today, Borralho is in the middle of a discussion about Chimaev’s fight with DDP and how a potential fight between he and Chimaev would go down.
“I heard somewhere some people saying that if he wins the belt, he’s going to retire,” Borralho said. “I believe it.”
Caio Borralho Feels He Can Beat Khamzat Chimaev — As Long As Chimaev Doesn’t Retire
Borralho did not precisely name who he heard the rumor from or where it originated; only that he’s heard “little talks” and “whispers.”
Borralho then followed up by saying he wasn’t sure if he believed it would happen, but he hopes that Chimaev doesn’t and he ends up facing the Emirati fighter one day — potentially for the belt.
“I think we can do a phenomenal fight,” Borralho said. “I know that I have the tools and the way to beat him. Fighting is nowadays not about being brutal only. I win all my fights with my brain, with tactics, with strategy and all that. That’s why it’s so hard to fight me because I can adapt so easy in the fight, you know?
“And I think everybody knows that. That’s why everybody was ducking me.”
This would not be the first time Chimaev announces retirement from the Octagon. After his impressive series of bouts in 2020 — the year of his UFC debut — against John Phillips, Rhys McKee, and Gerald Meerschaert, and his quick rise up the ranks, Chimaev appeared to announce retirement in March 2021 after complications in recovery from COVID-19.
Chimaev would end up returning to the cage at UFC 267 that October, submitting Li Jingliang.
In about a month’s time, the UFC will arrive in Chicago with a middleweight championship main event for UFC 319 that features Dricus Du Plessis defending the title against Khamzat Chimaev.
Both men in their own right have been seemingly unbeatable, as both men will enter unbeaten in their UFC tenures — and just two losses (both Du Plessis’) in the 39 fights combined between their two professional MMA careers.
Chimaev being so dominant in most of his performances, combined with the hype around him and his fighting style, have led plenty to feel he will leave Chicago with the belt strapped around his waist. Others, however, feel Du Plessis’ own, more awkward fighting style will land him yet another surprise victory in the cage.
When breaking down a comparison between the two’s fighting styles, another unbeaten UFC fighter, Mansur Abdul-Malik, feels Chimaev’s will get the better of DDP.
“Khamzat comes in that first round guns blazing,” Abdul-Malik told James Lynch recently. “He does a similar thing every single fight, but that thing has not failed. So, you really can’t bet against that.”
Mansur Abdul-Malik Predicts Khamzat Chimaev Will Defeat Dricus Du Plessis For UFC Middleweight Title At UFC 319
If there are two things Chimaev is known for in the Octagon, it is his dominant, freestyle-based wrestling and is “smashing” ground-and-pound that he’ll use on his opponents to try and finish the fight after securing the takedown. Sometimes those takedowns will also be set up through the usage of his boxing.
That fight style has led Chimaev not only to an undefeated UFC tenure, but also an unbeaten record in the sport, and some feel Du Plessis may struggle with that kind of pressure.
Abdul-Malik added that he feels Chimaev also is strong in terms of the mental aspects of the game, noting a specific example with his decision win in a highly entertaining bout with former welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns.
“[Chimaev is] tough in his own right,” Abdul-Malik said. “Look at the Gilbert Burns example. Look at his mentality. Look at the way he competes. Look at the fire that he comes with. That’s not someone that’s going to give up.”
Despite repeated one-year layoffs the last couple of years, and time off to deal with illnesses during his Octagon tenure, Chimaev has had plenty of hype around him, with early expectations of him becoming a UFC champion — something that could become a reality in about a month at UFC 319.
Chimaev earned his title shot off a dominant performance against former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. It should be noted that Whittaker’s only other losses at 185 in the Octagon — Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis — have each tasted middleweight gold.
Du Plessis won the middleweight title by defeating Sean Strickland at UFC 297 and retained the gold against Adesanya at UFC 305 and Strickland at UFC 312.
Robert Whittaker doubts that Khamzat Chimaev has what it takes to endure a potentially grueling clash with Dricus Du Plessis.
Chimaev is gearing up to take on reigning middleweight champion Du Plessis in the highly anticipated main event of UFC 319, set for August 16 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
“Borz” enters the title fight riding an undefeated wave of dominance, fueled by high expectations to claim the 185-pound crown. However, Whittaker, having shared the Octagon with both Chimaev and Du Plessis, isn’t buying into the narrative so easily.
Robert Whittaker Predicts Trouble For Khamzat Chimaev If He Fails To Ground Dricus Du Plessis
In a recent interview with FOX Sports Australia, “The Reaper” argued that it’s Du Plessis, not Chimaev, who deserves to be favored. Whittaker pointed to Chimaev’s patterm of fading in longer fights, referencing his decision wins over Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman. He questioned whether “Borz” can hold up if his grappling fails against Du Plessis and the fight extends beyond three rounds, especially against such an unpredictable opponent.
“Honestly, I have to say Dricus would be a favorite,” Whittaker said. “I think I’m leaning towards Dricus. The whole thing can be summed up – Chimaev will take him down. It’s will he finish him before he gets back up? That’s the million-dollar question because if he doesn’t finish him on the ground, I think he loses.”
Khamzat Chimaev last competed at UFC 308 in October, where he secured a dominant first-round submission victory over Whittaker. “Borz” boasts an undefeated 8-0 record inside the Octagon, with six of those wins coming by way of finish.
