UFC Announces UFC 319 Main Card Without A Co-Main Event
With UFC 318 behind us, it's time to look forward to the next UFC pay-per-view fight card, UFC 319. The main event of that card has been official for some time. In that contest, UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis looks to defend his 185-pound crown against Khamzat Chimaev. On Saturday, during the UFC 318 broadcast, the promotion officially announced the rest of the UFC 319 main card, with one glaring exception: the UFC 319 co-main event remains unbooked.
UFC 319 takes place on August 16 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The UFC has not held a fight card in Chicago since 2019. The UFC 319 main card streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN, and early prelims on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass.
UFC 319 Pay-Per-View Card Officially Announced
Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev - For Du Plessis's UFC middleweight title
TBD vs. TBD
Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates - Welterweight
Jared Cannonier vs. Michael Page - Middleweight
Tim Elliott vs. Kai Asakura - Flyweight
Other Official UFC 319 Fights
King Green vs. Diego Ferreira - Lightweight
Gerald Meerschaert vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk - Middleweight
Jessica Andrade vs. Loopy Godinez - Women's Strawweight
Chase Hooper vs. Alexander Hernandez - Lightweight
Edson Barboza vs. Drakkar Klose - Lightweight
Bryan Battle vs. Nursulton Ruziboev - Middleweight
Karine Silva vs. JJ Aldrich - Women's Flyweight
UFC 319 Main Event: Dricus du Plessis Vs. Khamzat Chimaev
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Dricus Du Plessis of South Africa reacts after his submission victory ... More against Israel Adesanya of Nigeria in the UFC middleweight championship fight during the UFC 305 event at RAC Arena on August 18, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Dricus du Plessis (23-2) joined the UFC in October 2020 as a 26-year-old with a 14-2 record. Before he joined the UFC, Du Plessis had won titles with KSW and EFC. He made his debut against Markus Perez on the main card of a UFC Fight Night event in Abu Dhabi. Du Plessis knocked out Perez in the first round. He followed that win with a July 2021 'Performance of the Night' KO win of Trevin Giles.
Those two wins earned him a shot against the ranked veteran Brad Tavares. Du Plessis won that scrap via decision. The victory put him in the top 15 of the division. A December 2022 submission win over Darren Till moved Du Plessis to No. 10 in the division. A TKO win over the No. 5 ranked Derek Brunson followed.
Du Plessis, who was working his way up the rankings, faced a tough test in his next outing when he met the No. 2 ranked Robert Whittaker at UFC 290. Du Plessis continued his rise, knocking out the former UFC champion in the UFC middleweight title eliminator and earning another 'Performance of the Night' bonus.
More important than the bonus was the title shot Du Plessis received for that win. He faced then-champion Sean Strickland in January, taking the title from Strickland in a 'Fight of the Night' bonus-winning scrap
In his first title defense Du Plessis picked up an August 2024 submission win over former UFC middleweight champ Israel Adesanya.
Du Plessis most recently faced Strickland in a rematch at UFC 312 in early February of this year. Du Plessis won that contest via unanimous decision.
I wrote of the champ after that fight, "Dricus du Plessis looked much more controlled and less reckless at UFC 312 than in many of his previous battles. He mixed up his striking techniques and targets against Sean Strickland, landed the more powerful blows, and didn't put himself in too many awkward positions.
"Du Plessis did a much better job in his UFC 312 rematch against Strickland in shutting down his foe's offense. In the first fight, Strickland landed 173 of 408 significant strikes. While in the rematch, Strickland was held to 128 landed strikes on 263 attempts. Meanwhile, Du Plessis increased his landed strikes and landing percentage from the first fight to the second. In the first battle, Du Plessis landed 137 of 354 attempts for a landing rate of 38 percent. At UFC 312, the champ landed 147 of 314 attempts for a striking rate of 46 percent.
'Du Plessis has defended the UFC middleweight crown twice while going 9-0 in the UFC. Despite his winning ways, the champ remains a bit of an enigma because his style shouldn't work — but it does.'
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 26: Khamzat Chimaev of Russia prepares to face Robert ... More Whittaker of New Zealand in a middleweight fight during the UFC 308 event at Etihad Arena on October 26, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Chimaev (14-0) is the No. 3 fighter in the official UFC middleweight rankings. The 30-year-old made his UFC debut in July 2020 with a second-round submission win over John Phillips. He followed that victory with a first-round TKO over Rhys McKee 10 days later, breaking the UFC record for the quickest turnaround between UFC wins in the modern era. Then, in September, Chimaev knocked out Gerald Meerschaert.
Things slowed down for Chimaev after that. He was booked to face Leon Edwards in December 2020, but that matchup never came to be despite multiple attempts to make the fight happen. The reason behind the numerous cancellations of Edwards vs. Chimaev was COVID-19.
When Chimaev finally returned to the Octagon in October 2021, he made short work of Li Jingliang, scoring a submission at 3:16 of Round 1.
In his next bout, Chimaev went the distance for the first time in his career, picking up a victory over Gilbert Burns. He followed that with a submission over Kevin Holland.
A break of more than a year followed that victory. Chimaev's next outing was an October 2023 matchup against Kamaru Usman, a fight that Chimaev won via decision.
A year after that, Chimaev made short work of Robert Whittaker, defeating the ex-UFC middleweight champ via submission (face crank) in the first round of their UFC 308 scrap.
UFC 319 Fight Card Location:
United Center in Chicago, IL
UFC 319 Date:
Saturday, August 16
UFC 319 Time:
Main Card: 10:00 p.m. ET
Preliminary Card: 8:00 p.m. ET
Early Prelims: 6:00 p.m. ET
We will have more on UFC 319, including the official announcement of the UFC 319 co-main event, as fight night nears.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kenya athletics trials under shadow of Chepngetich suspension
Kenya held trials for the World Athletics Championships on Tuesday under the cloud of renewed doping concerns after women's marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich was provisionally suspended last week. Chepngetich, 30, tested positive for the banned diuretic hydrochlorothiazide on March 14, according to the Athletics Integrity Unit. It threatens to destroy a career that has seen her win the 2019 world marathon title in Doha and set the marathon world record in Chicago last October at 2hr 09min 56sec, making her the first woman to run the distance under 2hr 10min. Her case has also cast a shadow over Kenya's preparation for the World Championships in Tokyo from September 13 to 25. Few in the Kenyan sports community have been willing to talk about the case. "It has increased suspicions that it is still a big issue. The authorities still have a lot more to do in the fight against doping," a former Kenyan world champion, who requested anonymity, told AFP. Kenya has invested massively to clean up its image after a string of doping scandals around the 2016 Rio Olympics led to it being declared non-compliant by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Nearly 130 Kenyan athletes, mainly long-distance runners, have been sanctioned for drugs offences since 2017, and Kenya has put in place a $25 million, five-year programme to attempt to combat the problem. In June 2024, Kenya handed out its first lifetime ban to marathon runner Beatrice Toroitich and a six-year ban to 10km record-holder Rhonex Kipruto. Kenyan sports lawyer Sarah Ochwada said Kenya has made significant strides. "Anti-doping is a complex system. It is a mix of bio-chemistry and medico-legal regulations," said Ochwada, who has represented several athletes suspended for doping including Rita Jeptoo, Ferdinand Omanyala, and Mark Otieno. "With more testing, the system is likely to catch both inadvertent and intentional anti-doping rule violators," she said, adding that it was up to Kenyan athletes to take "destiny into their own hands" and make sure they don't accidentally break the rules. Diuretics are banned because they can be used to rapidly lose weight or to flush out signs of performance-enhancing drugs. Athletics Kenya still has high hopes of success at the World Championships 10 years after it stunned the world by claiming the overall title for the first time in Beijing with seven golds, six silvers and three bronzes. Among the athletes expected to shine on Tuesday include rising 1,500m star Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech, the 18-year-old who upset Britain's reigning world champion Josh Kerr at the London Diamond League on Saturday. aik/er/rbu/gj
News24
35 minutes ago
- News24
LottoStar sets a new standard in responsible betting
In a groundbreaking move for the betting industry, LottoStar has become the first betting company in South Africa to offer independent professional counselling services to its players. This sets a new benchmark for responsible betting. This initiative not only raises the standard for ethical betting, it also reflects LottoStar's commitment to putting players' wellbeing at the forefront of its operations. By integrating qualified counsellors into its support ecosystem, LottoStar is ensuring that help is accessible and stigma-free. In an industry often defined by thrills and risk, LottoStar is redefining what it means to bet responsibly, placing mental health, emotional wellbeing and ethical betting practices at the core of its brand. This milestone initiative sets LottoStar as an innovator in the online betting industry. 'Responsible betting has never just been a box to tick for us. It's a commitment. A promise to our players that we care just as much about their wellbeing as we do about the games they love,' says a LottoStar spokesperson. A first in South Africa While many platforms offer basic self-exclusion tools or refer players to third-party helplines, LottoStar has taken the step of integrating in-house, professionally qualified counsellors into its platform. These counsellors are available to provide free, confidential support to players who may be experiencing betting-related stress, addiction tendencies or emotional strain. This service is: Free and accessible to all registered players. Confidential. Operated by qualified professionals trained in betting addiction. Players can take a quick and confidential Self-Assessment Quiz and check in with themselves to assess their betting habits. LottoStar has also introduced the Cooling-Off Period and Self-Exclusion programmes, where players can temporarily deactivate their accounts, giving them space to regain control of their habits. From detailed responsible betting guides and self-assessment tools to real-time support, LottoStar is equipping players not just to bet, but to bet smart and safely. With this initiative, LottoStar hopes to ignite a shift in the South African betting industry, one that empowers every player to enjoy betting in a mindful, informed way. 'Our goal is to create a safer, more supportive betting environment — not just for today, but for the future of this industry,' the spokesperson adds. About LottoStar LottoStar is a proudly South African online betting platform offering a range of games, including Scratchcards Games, Slot Games, and more, offering payouts of up to R75 Million. LottoStar is committed to transforming the betting experience – one responsible bet at a time. LottoStar is licensed by the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator. No under 18. National Responsible Gambling Programme 0800 006 008. Ts & Cs apply. All games are fixed-odds betting events.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
📲 Women's team in Copa América and Sul-Americana, Tuesday's agenda
Highlights of the day 🔥 UEFA Champions League 13h00 – Red Imps x Estrela Vermelha – YouTube (GOAT) 14h00 – Copenhagen x Drita – OneFootball 14h00 – Pafos x Maccabi Tel Aviv – OneFootball Brazilian Championship - under-17 15h00 – Athletico-PR x Corinthians – YouTube (Athletico) 15h00 – RB Bragantino x Vasco da Gama – YouTube (Bragantino TV) 15h00 – Botafogo x Bahia – YouTube (Botafogo TV) 15h00 – Fortaleza x Grêmio – YouTube (TV Leão) Women's European Championship 16h00 – England x Italy – YouTube (CazeTV) African Women's Nations Cup 16h00 – Morocco x Ghana – BandSports e YT (Esporte na Band) Copa América Femenina 18h00 – Colombia x Bolivia – SporTV 21h00 – Paraguay x Brazil – TV Brasil e SporTVSul-Americana 19h00 – Cerro Largo x Central Córdoba – ESPN 4 e Disney+ 19h00 – Operário-PR x Atlético-GO – Disney+ 21h00 – Vasco da Gama x Ind. del Valle – SBT e Paramount+21h00 – América de Cali x Bahia – ESPN e Disney+Brazilian Championship - Série B 19h00 – Athletico-PR x Ferroviária – Disney+21h00 – Athletic Club x Coritiba – SportvNet, Kwai e Disney+21h00 – Vila Nova x CRB – RedeTV!, ESPN 4 e Disney+ This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here. 📸 RODRIGO BUENDIA - AFP or licensors
