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 very best 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, operating by opponents briefly order whereas placing up gorgeous hanging differential numbers. After years of hypothesis over when Chimaev’s likelihood to turn out to be champion would come, he lastly will get his crack on Saturday night time.
Within the co-main occasion, former Bellator star Aaron Pico makes his UFC debut in opposition to undefeated Lerone Murphy.
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With a large title struggle in the principle occasion and intriguing fights up and down the cardboard, there’s positive to be loads of motion at sportsbooks across the nation and we’re right here to provide our picks for the very best bets for every of the 5 UFC 319 principal card fights.
After a barely disappointing 2-3 consequence 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 every one bets should be at odds of -250 or higher. Let’s check out this week’s picks with odds through DraftKings.
Tim Elliott vs. Kai Asakura
Kai Asakura through KO/TKO/DQ (+140)
Alexandre Pantoja and the UFC flyweight championship had 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. Against this, Elliott is a longtime UFC veteran. Saturday will mark his twentieth journey to the Octagon and thirty fifth skilled bout. Elliott could be a difficult opponent, with an unorthodox hanging type and a strong 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 through resolution (+100)
It is a difficult struggle, and there is a nagging a part of my mind saying that below 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 method the place he extra safely makes use of his pace and size to fluster opponents whereas choosing them aside moderately 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 activity in opposition to Web page), that is prone to be an extended night time of Cannonier chasing a ghost whereas he will get tagged by Web page’s in-and-out type of hanging. In a three-round struggle, that ought to result in a Web page resolution victory.
Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates
Carlos Prates moneyline (-250)
This line sneaks in on the prime finish of our acceptable odds and we’ll take it. Prates through 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 just a little right here. Prates tore by his first 4 UFC opponents, scoring knockouts in every struggle earlier than shedding 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 will wager on the expertise and explosiveness of Prates to win out right here, however leaving the choice on the desk moderately 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 just lately. Patricio Pitbull misplaced his first UFC struggle and Patchy Combine turned in an absolute dude in his debut. Pico is making an attempt to shake that pattern 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 damage suffered within the struggle. Pico remains 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 powerful edge in wrestling and has sharp boxing, he’s additionally a greater finisher, with solely two of 13 wins by resolution in comparison with 9 of 16 for Murphy. As soon as once more, we’re leaning towards the extra proficient 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 previous CBS Sports activities predictions, I do not consider I’ve ever picked in opposition to du Plessis. As an early adopter of “Stillknocks,” I am not altering my methods till given motive to take action. Chimaev is an absolute terror within the first spherical. His wrestling and dominant prime recreation are elite and he runs by opponents. Except, that’s, these opponents can drag him into the second and third rounds. Chimaev struggled at instances in successful selections in opposition to Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman, trying 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 subject in opposition to du Plessis and his deep fuel tank. The whole lot 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 the primary spherical, his possibilities to win rise dramatically. If he will get by the second, these possibilities skyrocket. It is a five-round struggle and that is du Plessis’ world, and I feel 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 skilled who’s up over $1,500 on his UFC main-card picks, and discover out.
