The hype for UFC 319 is intensifying, though a current champion does have an issue with one particular matchup.
Their first fight week interaction has only increased the hype for Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev’s clash for the middleweight title.
While the main event is certainly the biggest talking point on this card, the main card alone features some exciting matchups with fighters who know how to put on a show.
Before Michael ‘Venom’ Page looks to continue his middleweight success, the PPV opener features two men who have fought for UFC gold in the past.
One of the promotion’s biggest signings in recent times wasn’t able to pull off what would have been a historic debut, and he could be up against it in his second outing also.
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Max Holloway questions the matchmakers for booking Tim Elliott as Kai Asakura’s next opponent
At UFC 319, Kai Asakura will compete in his second UFC fight after signing to the promotion last year.
With flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja in need of new opponents, the former RIZIN fighter, who has a huge following in Japan, was put straight into a title shot at UFC 310.
This didn’t pay off for him after he was out grappled and submitted by the champion, and Max Holloway is worried that the same might happen on August 16 in Chicago.
Tim Elliott also fought for the flyweight belt when he challenged Demetrious Johnson and while the veteran is the underdog in this matchup, his style could prove difficult for Asakura.
After Alexander Volkanovski suggested that Elliott has a good chance of getting his hand raised, Holloway was critical of the UFC for giving Asakura an opponent who could shut his exciting striking down when he broke the card down in a recent predictions video.
“Why? They should have put him with a striker. They should have put him with like Kai Kara-France or something. This would have been a much more fun fight… Call me crazy but I think Tim Elliott just has a big advantage on the ground.
“Tim is like super weird bro on the ground. I don’t know, I just think this is a terrible fight for Kai bro. I think the matchmaking, they wanted to build up Japan and they’re just sending him, I think, in a different way man.”
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Max Holloway ends up picking with his head over his heart for the UFC 319 main card opener
As he clearly stated when breaking down the matchup, Max Holloway thinks that Tim Elliott is going to be a difficult opponent for Kai Asakura.
‘Blessed’ is clearly a fan of both men but wants to see the Japanese star get to showcase some of his striking.
When giving his final thoughts on the fight before moving on to the rest of the main card, Holloway admitted that he’d have to go against his heart on this occasion.
“My heart is saying Kai, but my head is just going Tim. This is a tough fight, man. This is a tough fight for Kai. I’ll go with Tim. I think Tim, if Tim don’t submit him or ground and pound finish, I think Tim just controls him for a bunch of the time on the ground and ekes out a decision.”