What’s Next After UFC 318? Full Confirmed UFC 319 Main Card For Chicago On August 16

UFC 318 is within the books, which means consideration will quickly flip to the combined martial arts chief’s subsequent pay-per-view providing, UFC 319 in Chicago, Illinois.

The promotion was in New Orleans final week, the place the Smoothie King Heart performed host to various intriguing matchups for its seventh numbered occasion of the yr. Of observe have been headline wins for Max Holloway and Paulo Costa, in addition to a retirement celebration for Dustin Poirier and essential victories for Daniel Rodriguez, Patricio Pitbull, and Michael Johnson.

Whereas the aftermath of the July 19 card is presently the speak of the city, it gained’t be lengthy till focus sways to the following PPV, and from the BMFs to the middleweight championship dialog.

At UFC 319, which takes place on the United Heart in Chicago, Illinois, on August 16, Dricus Du Plessis will put his middleweight title on the road in opposition to Khamzat Chimaev. Du Plessis initially gained the belt from Sean Strickland at UFC 297 and has retained the gold in opposition to Israel Adesanya and Strickland, respectively, at UFC 305 and UFC 312. Chimaev earned this title shot off a violent end of former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 final yr.

Throughout the principle card’s announcement at UFC 318, there was no listed co-main occasion. That’s nonetheless the case as of publication time.

Neal, Cannonier, Elliott Set The Stage For Middleweight Title Headliner At UFC 319

Earlier than Du Plessis and Chimaev make their approach out for the middleweight title battle, a number of names will look to make their very own statements on the principle card for UFC 319.

This contains Geoff Neal, who will likely be doing battle with the rising welterweight contender Carlos Prates. Neal snapped a two-fight skid his final day out, scoring a TKO win over Rafael dos Anjos in 90 seconds as a consequence of damage. Prates, of the Combating Nerds, will look to rebound following his April loss to Paddy Pimblett — the primary loss in Prates’ UFC run.

Former middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier may also be in motion, taking over Michael “Venom” Web page. Like Neal, Cannonier additionally snapped a two-fight skid his final day out, ending Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues in February. MVP returned to middleweight in his most up-to-date battle, scoring a choice over Shara Magomedov at UFC Saudi Arabia in February.

The primary card is scheduled to open with Tim Elliott taking over Kai Asakura in a battle of former flyweight title challengers. This will likely be Elliott’s first battle in over a year-and-a-half as a consequence of damage. Elliott most just lately fought in a bantamweight bout in December 2023, submitting Su Mudaerji. Asakura, the previous RIZIN bantamweight champion, challenged Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight title in his UFC debut at UFC 310, shedding through submission.

These pairings have presently gotten the nod to characteristic on the principle card over the likes of King Inexperienced, Jessica Andrade, and Edson Barboza, all of whom are anticipated to be featured gamers on the occasion’s preliminary card.

See beneath for the UFC 319 lineup, because it stands.

Major 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 Web page

Flyweight: Tim Elliott vs. Kai Asakura

Preliminary Card (Bout Order TBA):

Light-weight: King Inexperienced vs. Diego Ferreira

Middleweight: Gerald Meerschaert vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk

Ladies’s Strawweight: Jessica Andrade vs. Crazy Godinez

Light-weight: Chase Hooper vs. Alexander Hernandez