The UFC makes its return to Chicago this Saturday, marking its first event in “The Windy City” since 2019. The highlight of the UFC 319 fight card is a middleweight title bout featuring champion Dricus du Plessis against top contender Khamzat Chimaev.
Since his entry into the UFC, Du Plessis has consistently surpassed expectations, proving himself against the toughest competitors in the middleweight division. He secured a victory over former champion Robert Whittaker in a title eliminator, claimed the title by defeating Sean Strickland, and successfully defended it against another former champion, Israel Adesanya.
Chimaev burst onto the UFC scene with an explosive style, swiftly dispatching opponents while showcasing impressive striking statistics. After much anticipation about when he would get his title shot, he finally faces Du Plessis this Saturday.
The undercard is packed with thrilling matchups featuring rising contenders and former Bellator MMA stars eager to make an impression. Notably, Aaron Pico is set to make his promotional debut against Lerone Murphy in the co-main event. Additionally, knockout artist Carlos Prates will take on Geoff Neal, while Michael “Venom” Page is slated to fight Jared Cannonier in what promises to be an entertaining welterweight clash.
With an exciting title fight headlining the event and intriguing match-ups throughout, there’s a lot of action expected. Sportsbooks across the country are gearing up, and we’re here to offer our best bets for the five main card matches of UFC 319.
After a somewhat disappointing 2-3 record for our UFC 317 best bets (we opted out for UFC 318), our overall record in 2025 stands at 18-15. We’re aiming for a better outcome on Saturday, adhering to our guideline that all bets must be placed at odds of -250 or better. Below are our picks based on the odds provided by DraftKings.
Tim Elliott vs. Kai Asakura
Kai Asakura via KO/TKO/DQ (+140)
Asakura faced Alexandre Pantoja in his last fight, where he fell short in the second round during his UFC debut. In contrast, Elliott is a seasoned UFC veteran with extensive experience. Asakura is expected to be the more explosive striker, and as long as he can avoid Elliott’s wrestling, a finish may be likely.
Jared Cannonier vs. Michael Page
Michael Page via decision (+100)
This matchup is complex, as Page has adjusted his fighting style to focus more on strategy than pure aggression. Cannonier, while experienced, is aging and may struggle to close the distance against Page’s speed. If Cannonier can’t effectively engage Page, it’s likely to lead to a decision win for Page.
Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates
Carlos Prates moneyline (-250)
This betting line is close to our threshold, and we’re opting for it. Prates has a strong knockout rate; however, Neal has proven resilient. We’ll predict a victory for Prates based on his talent, while keeping in mind the possibility of a decision.
Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico
Aaron Pico moneyline (-180)
Pico aims to break a trend where recent Bellator stars have stumbled in their UFC debuts. Despite a rocky start to his career, Pico has revived himself. His wrestling may provide him an edge over the undefeated Murphy, leading us to favor Pico to win.
Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Dricus du Plessis moneyline (+205)
Having supported du Plessis in past predictions, I’m sticking with him. Chimaev excels in the early rounds, but if du Plessis can endure and adapt, his chances of winning significantly increase as the fight progresses. The longer the fight lasts, the more advantageous it becomes for du Plessis.
