The UFC returns to Chicago on Saturday, marking the primary time the Octagon has landed in “The Windy Metropolis” since 2019. Atop the UFC 319 struggle card is a middleweight title showdown between champion Dricus du Plessis and elite challenger Khamzat Chimaev.
Du Plessis has defied expectations since becoming a member of the UFC, proving himself in opposition to the most effective 185 kilos has to supply. He defeated former champ Robert Whittaker in a title eliminator, defeated Sean Strickland to win the title and efficiently defended the title in opposition to one other former champ in Israel Adesanya.
Chimaev entered the UFC as a drive of nature, working by means of opponents briefly order whereas placing up beautiful putting differential numbers. After years of hypothesis over when Chimaev’s likelihood to develop into champion would come, he lastly will get his crack on Saturday evening.
The undercard options some fascinating matchups on Saturday. Most notably, Aaron Pico is about to make his promotional debut when he takes on high prospect Lerone Murphy within the co-main occasion. Pico has been tabbed for greatness since earlier than he even stepped foot inside a cage of any sort. The previous Bellator MMA fighter struggled early in his profession as he was put in in opposition to high fighters early. However he slowly discovered his footing and was closing in on title competition earlier than Bellator was purchased by PFL and his profession stalled. Now, he will get an opportunity to make a splash in a first-rate slot.
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Plus, one other rising contender will get his likelihood at a showcase when Carlos Prates takes on veteran Geoff Neal at welterweight. Prates, one of many star gamers popping out of the Preventing Nerds camp, ran by means of the primary 4 opponents he confronted within the Octagon by knockout. He bumped into his hardest take a look at to this point in April when he couldn’t work out the puzzle of Ian Machado Garry. Now, Prates appears to be like to get again to his successful methods and impress brass sufficient to contemplate him for a future title shot. Neal, in the meantime, has had an up-and-down run lately. He misplaced back-to-back fights in opposition to Shavkat Rakhmonov and Garry in robust trend earlier than successful in opposition to Rafael dos Anjos resulting from an harm early within the struggle.
The cardboard additionally marks the return of Michael “Venom” Web page as the previous Bellator MMA star appears to be like to maintain rolling in opposition to veteran Jared Cannonier. “MVP” has stifled each opponent he is confronted in his transient run with UFC, lulling them right into a affected person putting battle along with his distinctive model and awkward stance. He has picked up wins over Kevin Holland and Sharaputdin “Shara Bullet” Magomedov along with his lone defeat coming in opposition to Garry. Cannonier, in the meantime, is coming off a stable TKO win over Gregory Rodrigues in February that ended a quick two-fight dropping skid.
With a large title struggle in the primary occasion and intriguing fights up and down the cardboard, there’s certain to be loads of motion at sportsbooks across the nation and we’re right here to offer our picks for the most effective bets for every of the 5 UFC 319 foremost card fights.
After a barely disappointing 2-3 outcome for our greatest bets for UFC 317 (we took UFC 318 off), our 2025 document sits at 18-15. We’ll look to get our roll going once more on Saturday, with our solely rule remaining that each one bets should be at odds of -250 or higher. Let’s check out this week’s picks with odds by way of DraftKings.
Tim Elliott vs. Kai Asakura
Kai Asakura by way of KO/TKO/DQ (+140)
Alexandre Pantoja and the UFC flyweight championship have been a step too far for Asakura in his most up-to-date outing, with Pantoja securing a second-round choke to complete their UFC 310 struggle. That struggle was additionally Asakura’s Octagon debut, having been a star in Rizin previous to signing with the UFC. In contrast, Elliott is a longtime UFC veteran. Saturday will mark his twentieth journey to the Octagon and thirty fifth skilled bout. Elliott generally is a difficult opponent, with an unorthodox putting model and a stable floor recreation. Asakura is the way more explosive striker, with improbable timing and good energy. Asakura is a heavy favourite getting into the struggle, and so long as he does not get smothered by Elliott’s wrestling, a stoppage is the most certainly method this struggle ends.
Jared Cannonier vs. Michael Web page
Michael Web page by way of determination (+100)
It is a difficult struggle, and there is a nagging a part of my mind saying that underneath 2.5 rounds at +210 is the play. Nevertheless, Web page is not the wrecking ball finisher he was earlier in his profession. It is a results of Web page settling into a mode the place he extra safely makes use of his pace and size to fluster opponents whereas choosing them aside somewhat than going for the killshot from the opening bell. Cannonier is an skilled fighter at a excessive stage, however he is additionally 41 and age and miles are beginning to present a bit extra in his performances. Except Cannonier can routinely shut the gap (a tough job in opposition to Web page), that is prone to be a protracted evening of Cannonier chasing a ghost whereas he will get tagged by Web page’s in-and-out model of putting. In a three-round struggle, that ought to result in a Web page determination victory.
Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates
Carlos Prates moneyline (-250)
This line sneaks in on the high finish of our acceptable odds and we’ll take it. Prates by way of KO is listed because the most certainly consequence at +110, however Neal has not been stopped in his UFC profession (12 fights), so we are able to hedge our bets a bit right here. Prates tore by means of his first 4 UFC opponents, scoring knockouts in every struggle earlier than dropping to Ian Machado Garry in his most up-to-date outing. In Neal, Prates faces an skilled opponent who has sufficient tips up his sleeve to make this a possible entice struggle. We’ll wager on the expertise and explosiveness of Prates to win out right here, however leaving the choice on the desk somewhat than betting on the knockout.
Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico
Aaron Pico moneyline (-180)
We have seen former Bellator stars come to the UFC and stumble not too long ago. Patricio Pitbull misplaced his first UFC struggle and Patchy Combine turned in an absolute dude in his debut. Pico is attempting to shake that development in a co-main occasion struggle with Murphy. Pico was an absolute blue-chip prospect when he entered MMA, however misplaced his debut in 24 seconds and began his profession at 4-3. He then went on to win 9 of his subsequent 10 fights, with the lone loss coming resulting from a shoulder harm suffered within the struggle. Pico continues to be younger at simply 28 and has each device to be the fighter he was anticipated to be when he first stepped into the cage. Murphy is undefeated in 17 fights, together with 9 bouts within the UFC. Pico has a robust edge in wrestling and has sharp boxing, he’s additionally a greater finisher, with solely two of 13 wins by determination in comparison with 9 of 16 for Murphy. As soon as once more, we’re leaning towards the extra gifted fighter with extra avenues to victory on this one and anticipating a Pico win in his Octagon debut.
Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Dricus du Plessis moneyline (+205)
Going again by means of previous CBS Sports activities predictions, I do not imagine I’ve ever picked in opposition to du Plessis. As an early adopter of “Stillknocks,” I am not altering my methods till given purpose to take action. Chimaev is an absolute terror within the first spherical. His wrestling and dominant high recreation are elite and he runs by means of opponents. Except, that’s, these opponents can drag him into the second and third rounds. Chimaev struggled at occasions in successful selections in opposition to Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman, wanting visibly fatigued from the second spherical onward in opposition to each. Chimaev was in a position to dig deep sufficient in opposition to these males to grind out the choice, however these cardio points might be a large difficulty in opposition to du Plessis and his deep fuel tank. Every little thing about du Plessis is awkward. He fights all flawed however does so efficiently, partially as a result of he simply retains coming whereas his opponents begin to fade. If du Plessis can get by means of the primary spherical, his probabilities to win rise dramatically. If he will get by means of the second, these probabilities skyrocket. It is a five-round struggle and that is du Plessis’ world, and I believe he is too awkward and cussed to get ran over simply minutes into the struggle.
Who wins UFC 319: Du Plessis vs. Chimaev, and the way precisely does the struggle finish? Go to SportsLine now to get detailed picks and evaluation from the incomparable professional who’s up over $1,500 on his UFC main-card picks, and discover out.
