The featherweight king won’t rule out a major upset going down at UFC 319.
Following back-to-back events at the Apex in Las Vegas, the UFC is heading back on the road to stage its latest pay-per-view event at Chicago’s United Center on August 16. All eyes are on the main event, which sees Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev’s title clash top a UFC 319 lineup that is not short on notable names.
Among those setting the stage for the middleweight championship headliner is former flyweight title challenger Kai Asakura, who returns for his second Octagon outing against Tim Elliott in the UFC 319 main card opener.
The Japanese star will enter the cage as the card’s biggest favorite as things stand, but that has not convinced one reigning champion that victory is guaranteed on the night…
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Alexander Volkanovski can see paths to victory for Tim Elliott against Kai Asakura
After signing with the UFC following a stint as a champion in Rizin, Asakura was granted an immediate title shot at the year-ending PPV in December 2024. Things did not go to plan for the newcomer, as Alexandre Pantoja choked out Asakura in round two at UFC 310.
In his pursuit of a first Octagon win, Asakura will next face Elliott, a 38-year-old veteran who has remained steady just outside the flyweight top 10. He has had his title hopes stalled by the likes of Muhammad Mokaev and Matheus Nicolau in recent years.
The American is widely expected to serve as the victim for Asakura’s journey back to the gold at UFC 319, but while breaking the fight down on his YouTube channel, Volkanovski warned not to count the experienced Arkansas native out.
“That is a pretty heavy favorite,” Volkanovski said while reacting to Asakura’s UFC 319 odds.
“Let’s be real, (Elliott) could easily — I’ve just showed you, (when Asakura) comes aggressive, there’s gonna be times you can shoot. Yes, there is damage while that is happening, (but) can he get a finish if he takes down Kai? Yeah.
“That could happen,” Volkanovski continued. “The only thing is, I feel like there’s gonna be a bit of damage done, even if he eventually gets the takedown. So I feel like Kai’s gonna win them rounds because of that.
“I am gonna lean towards Kai, but I want you guys to remember — heavy favorite, you know what I am like with the underdogs, and you can see an upset here. Well-rounded, experienced guys like this…can definitely do that.”
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Alexander Volkanovski has been told UFC 319 will decide who ends his reign
While Volkanovski was no doubt always going to enjoy the action at UFC 319, a late addition to the card may have boosted his interest.
The PPV in Chicago on August 16 was without a co-main event until late July, when Aaron Pico vs. Lerone Murphy was announced. The clash sees a former Bellator standout make his Octagon debut against an undefeated featherweight contender.
Among those high on both men is former two-division champion Henry Cejudo. ‘Triple C’ wants to see the winner at UFC 319 challenge ‘Alexander the Great’ next, and should he get that wish, Cejudo believes either Pico or Murphy will dethrone Volkanovski.
“The winner of this fight is gonna fight Alexander Volkanovski, and I also feel the winner of this fight is gonna become our next champion,” Cejudo said on his Pound 4 Pound podcast alongside Kamaru Usman.
“All due respect to Volk, but dude, these young guns. Lerone Murphy is fighting Aaron Pico. Aaron Pico is in his f—- prime, bro. Power, wrestling; he has been a manchild since he was a kid, already competing at the highest levels while in high school, beating world champions.
“And then Lerone Murphy, what he has been able to do to a lot of these fighters, man,” Cejudo continued. “Undefeated, very tricky, brings in a lot of the wrestling; he’s different, he’s like Merab (Dvalishvili).”