UFC fans have some time to ramp up for the next big PPV event, as UFC 319 isn’t scheduled to land at the United Center until mid-August. However, it’s still an event worth hyping up and getting excited about, of course, as the main event between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev gives everyone in Chicago an epic title bout.

This is going to be a fun event to bet on as the UFC 319 odds are already trickling in for when things fire off on August 16th. The challenger Chimaev comes in as the favorite and he’s joined by some huge names with stars such as Tim Elliott, Jared Cannonier, Chase Hooper, Jessica Andrade, and more hitting the canvas in search of a win.

Ready to bet on UFC 319? I’ll take a look at the latest pricing and work my way to my preferred UFC picks for every single bout on this fight card. Keep in mind, the odds will change as we get closer to fight night. Additionally, the card is subject to change, as well. We could see some last-minute reshuffling if fighters pull out due to injury or illness.

Where To Watch UFC 319?

UFC 319 can be watched on ESPN, ESPN+, and Disney+, with the main card only available on PPV.

What Time Does UFC 319 Start?

You can start viewing UFC 319 with the Early Prelims getting the action going at 6:00 pm EST. The Prelims are next at 8:00 pm EST, and the main card fires off at 10:00 pm EST.

Where Is UFC 319?

UFC 319 will be hosted by the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

UFC 319 Main Card Odds

Check out the latest UFC 319 odds for the Main Card, courtesy of the top sports betting sites: 

It’s early, but this is the tentative main card for UFC 319. It’s a little light, so check back to see who gets added to the card. There have been whispers about a Paddy Pimblett vs. Justin Gaethje fight, but both have balked at the idea for different reasons.

Still, based on what is (probably) set in stone, the UFC 319 odds look pretty good Khamzat Chimaev is favored to dethrone Dricus Du Plessis. He’s undefeated so far and is a worthy foe, so it’s certainly possible it happens, but you’re getting good pricing from both sides.

Kai Asakura is the biggest favorite on the UFC 319 main card at -325, so nothing is too crazy here. You can roll with my UFC 319 fight predictions seen in the table above, but I’ll break each fight down a bit further as you read along.

Want even more help before finalizing your UFC 319 wagers? Consider leaning on the top sports betting handicappers the web has to offer.

Step Inside

The Betting Octagon
For Elite UFC Picks!

Get Free Trial

UFC 319 Predictions For The Main Card

The UFC 319 main card gets rolling at 10:00 pm EST on PPV.

Khamzat Chimaev (-185) vs. Dricus Du Plessis (+160)

It’s tough to bet against someone like Dricus Du Plessis with any amount of confidence, but he is the underdog in his title fight with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319.

Chimaev is undefeated at 14-0 and a big reason why he is favored is his elite floor game. He nearly doubles up his opponent in takedowns per fight, and he can more than hold his own in terms of striking. He can finish this fight in a number of ways, too, while 12 of his 14 wins have ended early.’

It’s not like this is Chimaev’s first big fight, either. He has finished worthy foes in Robert Whittaker and Kevin Holland, while he’s earned Decision wins over brutes such as Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns.

Du Plessis (23-2) has more experience and has every bit the explosive finishing ability and versatility Chimaev possesses. He’s also on fire at the moment, having won each of his last 11 bouts. In fact, he hasn’t lost a fight since 2019, and his long list of big wins includes two victories over Sean Strickland and one over Israel Adesanya.

That said, all good things must come to an end. We have seen Du Plessis finished before, but we can’t say the same about Chimaev. He has the ability to win anywhere in this fight, and his floor game is arguably better than Du Plessis’s. It’s a close call, but I like Chimaev to live up to the hype in this one.

Bet: Khamzat Chimaev (-185)

Michael Page (-190) vs. Jared Cannonier (+165)

Next up is a potential barn-burner between Michael Page (23-3) and Jared Cannonier (18-8). This is a tough one to call due to both guys being greybears. Cannonier is 41 and Page is 38. So, while they both are nasty finishers with loads of experience, it appears to be anyone’s game.

In those types of fights, I tend to find myself leaning toward The Killa Gorilla, who has 11 knockouts to his name. Some had written the 41-year old off after a two-fight skid, but he bounced back nicely in his last bout – a TKO win over Gregory Rodrigues. He also has relatively recent Decision wins over the likes of Sean Strickland and Marvin Vettori.

Cannonier is as tough as they come, and he can end a fight in the blink of an eye. He has been KO’d three times, but his submission defense his top flight. I’d be more worried about how he receives the power of Page (13 KOs), but Cannonier grades out as the far more impactful striker.

I think it’s a close call, but both of these dudes are old and have KO power. I side with Cannonier, who may require fewer shots to inflict enough damage to get the job done. I also don’t mind the value I get with his +165 price tag.

Bet: Jared Cannonier (+165)

Kai Asakura (-325) vs. Tim Elliott (+250)

Tim Elliott (20-13) is a crafty veteran with loads of experience, but he seems to be at the end of the road. The 38-year old has solid striking and can end the fight early on the canvas, but he’s had low activity (last fought in December of 2023) and that provided his first win by stoppage in six years.

Elliott is super tough and highly skilled, but he’s the type of guy that grinds out wins or simply survives a loss. The finishes aren’t coming with any regularity anymore, and that could be a major problem against someone like Kai Asakura (21-5), who owns a three-inch reach edge and is an ultra explosive striker (13 KOs).

Asakura did drop his UFC debut last December, but he’s at least been more active than Elliott, and he’s exhibited better finishing ability. His lone UFC loss came against a stellar opponent in Alexandre Pantoja, too, so I wouldn’t grade him harshly for that.

The competition level has gone up, but Elliott isn’t someone I’d be fearing. Met with a much softer matchup than he endured last time out, I think Asakura gets the win and starts building up the hype train again.

Bet: Kai Asakura (-325)

Carlos Prates (N/A) vs. Geoff Neal (N/A)

Lastly, we have Carlos Prates (21-7) and Geoff Neal (16-6) duking it out on the main card. Probably. This bout is set up to occur at UFC 319, but as I write this, nobody knows for sure if it will stick on this portion of the card.

Regardless of where it lands permanently, this is a great fight between two dangerous strikers. Prates did get tripped up by Ian Garry this past April, but he’s otherwise been white hot with 11 consecutive victories dating back to 2019.

Prates is highly explosive with 16 KO wins to his name, while he comes into this one with a three-inch reach edge and is three years younger than Neal. He’s not immune to being finished, though, as he allows a good amount of damage and has been stopped early five times in his six defeats.

I like Prates more in this matchup, of course, as Neal doesn’t have a clear advantage where he is significantly better than his opponent. He does have KO upside (10 knockouts), but his recent form is a little more suspect, and Prates tends to inflict more damage.

This is a Fight of the Night contender, as I expect these guys to trade barbs and give us an epic finish or a three-round fight for the ages. However, it goes, my gut says to bet on history, and that means someone is getting KO’d. I think it’ll be Neal in the end.

Bet: Carlos Prates (N/A)

UFC 319 Preliminary Card Odds

Check out the latest UFC 319 odds for the Preliminary Card.

We have most of the UFC 319 Prelims fights set, as seven are official for this card. There are quite a few good ones, too, with no favorites priced above -400.

That might seem like a low bar, but we’ve had several huge betting favorites on recent cards. To see zero fighters at -400 or higher is a bit refreshing. While that means more bouts that are difficult to assess, it also means better value across the board.

Chase Hooper is probably the safest bet on the board, while the value looks good on both sides for every fight except for the one featuring Karine Silva. She looks like a really good bet to win, but laying big money down on a -360 price is suboptimal.

I have all of my UFC 319 picks for the Prelims ready to rock above, but if you want more context, keep reading for my full fight breakdowns.

UFC 319 Predictions For The Preliminary Card

Catch the Prelims starting at 6:00 pm EST on Disney+ and ESPN+.

Diego Ferreira (-170) vs. Bobby Green (+145)

The Prelims for UFC 319 might not officially be finalized, but it’s likely we’ll at least get this bout between Diego Ferreira (19-6) and Bobby “King” Green (32-17-1) on this part of the card.

Ferreira opens as the mild betting favorite despite being two years older than Green. That isn’t saying a whole heck of a lot with Green being 38, though, while Ferreira owns a three-inch reach advantage and has also been in better form.

The gap isn’t wide in that regard, but Ferreira is 2-1 over his last three fights, with both wins being KO’s and his most recent loss going down to the wire with Grant Dawson. It hasn’t been as nice for Green, as he’s been finished in each of his last three losses and has gone just 1-3 over his last four fights.

I think this one can go either way. Both guys have gobs of experience and know how to finish fights, but Green has had a hard time keeping it together lately. His 17 career losses seem to keep growing, and I expect that to be the case in this one.

Bet: Diego Ferreira (-170)

Michał Oleksiejczuk (-270) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (+230)

A less difficult UFC 319 pick to come to terms with has Michal Oleksiejczuk as a -270 favorite to edge out Gerald Meerschaert. That makes sense, seeing as Oleksiejczuk (20-9) is seven years younger and has a clear striking edge.

Meerschaert (37-19) is a veteran who could absolutely stage the upset – especially if he works this fight to the ground and can get good positioning. He does still have a three-inch reach advantage and averages .80 more takedowns per fight, while his insane 29 career submissions definitely leave a lump in the throat.

That’s a big reason why I don’t mind swinging for the fences here. I know that Hussar is younger and has 15 KOs to his name, but his takedown defense (6 submission losses!) has been abysmal and it’s something a seasoned pro like Meerschaert should be able to exploit.

There’s no denying this is a contrast of styles, but if this fight goes to the ground, my money is on Meerschaert as a fun +230 dog.

Bet: Gerald Meerschaert (+230)

Loopy Godinez (-250) vs. Jessica Andrade (+210)

We have our first female fight scheduled for UFC 319, where Loopy Godinez (13-5) is favored to beat Jessica Andrade (26-14). Andrade is two years older, but will own a mild one-inch reach advantage and is the far more lethal striker (6.39 significant strikes landed per minute).

Andrade isn’t in the best of form, but it’s hardly her fault. She’s just 2-4 over her last six fights, but losses to Jasmine Jasudavicius, Natalia Silva, Tatiana Suarez, and Xiaonan Yan aren’t anything to be too bummed about. Sandwiched in there are two wins over Mackenzie Dern and Marina Rodriguez.

The more troubling issue is Andrade has been finished in four of her last five losses. She still has the experience and finishing ability to be feared, but the losses are piling up and she’s been finished 10 times in her career now.

The sample size is smaller with Godinez, but she’s never been finished in any manner. She is not a good bet to end this fight early, herself, but her defense and toughness give her the clear leg up.

Bet: Loopy Godinez (-250)

Chase Hooper (-275) vs. Alexander Hernandez (+235)

Next up is Chase Hooper (16-3-1), who never really looks like he’s about to win, but has 12 finishes to his name and has only been finished once in his career. He will be the clear favorite against Alexander Hernandez (16-8), due to superior grappling and top shelf defense.

There is no denying that Hernandez is the more explosive fighter and finisher, but his style hasn’t actually led to a lot of success. He’s been in way worse form (3-4 over his last seven fights) and hasn’t actually ended a fight early since 2021.

Now 32 and seven years older than Hooper, Hernandez likely has nothing more than a puncher’s chance to stage the upset. Hooper’s defense will still need to be on point, but he’s the more likely fighter to end this bout early, and he’s a better bet to grind out a Decision win as well.

Bet: Chase Hooper (-275)

Edson Barboza (-150) vs. Drakkar Klose (+130)

A possible Fight of the Night candidate features two explosive MMA stars in Edson Barboza (24-12) and Drakkar Klose (15-3-1). Klose offers the more dominant MMA record, but he loses five inches in reach to Barbosa, and both of these guys are a bit long in the tooth.

Barboza has the most obvious edge in regards to reach, but Klose grades out as the better overall striker and wrestler. Barboza has more experience and offers elite finishing ability, though, with 12 KOs under his belt. Klose can also end the fight early, but his finishing ability isn’t on Barboza’s level and each time he stepped up the level of competition, he ended up getting KO’d.

I fear that could happen again here. If you want to trust the age difference and raw data, Klose might be the correct call. However, based on competition and finishing ability, I lean toward the more experienced Barboza.

Bet: Edson Barboza (-150)

Bryan Battle (-190) vs. Nursulton Ruziboev (+165)

Here we have a duel between Bryan Battle (13-2) and Nursulton Ruziboev (36-9-2), where one has far more experience than the other. Rubizboev has an insane 36 wins and has fought much more than Battle, while he is somehow only one year older.

Ruziboev does give way to Battle when it comes to striking accuracy and power, though. That could be misleading based on averages stretching across far more matches, however. I tend to think that is precisely the case when you note Ruzboev’s many finishes (33 in all) and recent success (4-1 in the UFC).

This is a guy who is highly skilled and can truly end fights early in a multitude of ways. Battle is versatile in his own right and has never been knocked out, but I think he could be more overmatched than expected. I like the value of Ruziboev as the underdog.

Bet: Nursulton Ruziboev (+165)

Karine Silva (-360) vs. JJ Aldrich (+285)

Lastly, we have just our second female-centric bout of UFC 319, with Karine Silva (18-5) favored to edge out JJ Aldrich (14-7). Silva has the more impressive record to this point, and is also the far better wrestler.

Silva is an explosive finisher with 17 of 18 wins coming via stoppage, and she is highly versatile within an elite floor game. She’s vulnerable to being finished (3 losses via stoppage), but she hasn’t allowed such a loss since 2017.

Much more seasoned now, Silva is 9-1 over her last 10 matches and looks like a really good bet to bounce back from a recent loss to Viviane Araujo. Aldrich is not nearly as dangerous and doesn’t package the same versatility.

She’s coming off a win and is 3-1 over her last four bouts, but Silva has the edge across the board in this one. I can see Aldrich possibly surviving, but Silva is much likelier to end this early and/or get the Decision win.

Bet: Karine Silva (-360)

The Best UFC 319 Picks

The following list represents our best UFC picks for this weekend’s event:

• Khamzat Chimaev (-185)
• Diego Ferreira (-170)
• Chase Hooper (-275)

I definitely don’t think the UFC 319 main event is easy to call, but Chimaev is undefeated and has elite finishing ability, combined with stellar defense. He’s faced a litany of strong opponents and has had the upper hand every single time.

Du Plessis is about as good as they come, but his winning streak is going to come to an end eventually, and it only makes sense for it to happen against one of the hottest names in mixed martial arts.

Ferreira is no traditional lock, as he’s 40 years old and is facing a guy who knows how to end fights. However, Bobby Green has been getting finished more than he does the finishing, so I like the idea of betting on that trend to keep rolling.

Lastly, Chase Hooper is one of the best wrestlers the sport has to offer, and he’s naturally going to have a clear edge in his fight. He’s a reasonably big favorite, but his -275 ML isn’t too crazy that we can’t take advantage and hammer it as one of the safer UFC 319 bets out there.

UFC 319 Card

Check out the updated UFC 319 fight card: