Key points
UFC 319 has arrived at the United Center in Chicago, with one of the most anticipated fight cards of the entire year.
Dricus Du Plessis‘ outlandish fight style has seen him look almost unbeatable as middleweight champion, but tonight he faces the toughest challenge of his career. Khamzat Chimaev is literally undefeated at 14-0, with wins over former champion Robert Whittaker and Kamaru Usman his latest scalps.
It’s a main event with a lot of heat behind it, added to by the exciting final face-off at last night’s ceremonial weigh-ins. Dana White had to jump in to stop the fight before the fight as both men went for each other on stage in front of a rowdy Chicago crowd.
The rest of the card is just as exciting, with the co-main event pitting the undefeated Lerone Murphy against promotional newcomer Aaron Pico. Former Bellator star Pico is immediately leaping to the top of the featherweight division in his debut after leaving the PFL.
And that’s not all; Michael ‘Venom’ Page is also back against Jared Cannonier in his latest middleweight effort.
We will be providing live updates throughout the night with all of the details on how to watch live, results, and more.
Chicago crowd boos Chimaev
He clearly left it all out there, he struggles through his post-fight interview and congratulates Dricus Du Plessis for his run as champion.
[Link]Khamzat Chimaev defeats Dricus Du Plessis by Unanimous Decision
We have a new middleweight champion as Khamzat Chimaev defeats Dricus Du Plessis in front of over 20,000 at the United Center in Chicago. 50-44 across the board.
[Link]<strong>Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev – Round</strong> 5
We get 30 seconds of fighting before another takedown and more crucifix pitter patter punches. It’s hilarious hearing Rogan and Cormier try to make this seem exciting, or like a finish is coming. Du Plessis gets on top for a second, goes for a guillotine, back where we started. They’re stood up, Du Plessis lands a big combination, Chimav gets a takedown and for once the champion sprawls. Du Plessis goes for a late choke, doesn’t get it, final bell goes, new champ.
[Link]<br><strong>Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev – Round</strong> 4
At least we got a few seconds of fighting there at the start of the round before Chimaev goes for the same thing again. Read the other three rounds of updates, it’s the same thing. Boring. Just give Chimaev the belt now. Finally, after four rounds, Goddard steps in and stands them up. Du Plessis down again within seconds. Yawn.
[Link]Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev – Round 3
Rinse and repeat, bell goes, Chimaev shoots, down we go. Dominant position, very little damage. But here’s something, DDP is cut, one of those little punches and elbows has gone through. With seconds to go in the third, Chimaev lazily looks for a choke, doesn’t get it and continues dominating position. The pair touch gloves after three, DDP almost understanding what is happening to him. “He’s handling me well,” the champion admits between rounds.
[Link]Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev – Round 2
The champion was smiling and laughing with his coaches between rounds, but is quickly taken down again by the challenger and put in a tough position. Halfway through the round Chimaev goes for the finish for the first time in the fight with a choke, almost immediately gives it up as he opts to keep his more than seven minutes of ground control time.
[Link]Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev – Round 1
The pair are held apart before the first bell, and immediately as the fight starts Chimaev shoots and lands a takedown. Really bad position for Du Plessis, who insisted pre-fight that he could get back up from a takedown. It seems he can’t as he is stuck in the crucifix position by Chimaev who continues to land little tapping shots without doing major damage. Du Plessis gets out, goes for the guillotine and is immediately on his back again to close the round.
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LERONE MURPHY VICIOUSLY KNOCKS OUT AARON PICO!
WOW! SPINNING BACKFIST FROM THE BRIT AND PICO IS UNCONSCIOUS! JUST LIKE THAT, THE DREAM DEBUT IS OVER!
[Link]Aaron Pico is inside the UFC octagon!
This is a moment that fans have been ready for since his Bellator days!
[Link]Time for our co-main event
Aaron Pico is arriving in the UFC to face the unbeaten Lerone Murphy!
Carlos Prates demands $50k and a fight in Brazil – and is granted it by Dana White
He wants Leon Edwards, that’s one hell of a matchup. Great post-fight interview with Joe Rogan!
[Link]CARLOS PRATES KNOCKS OUT GEOFF NEAL IN ONE!
Absolutely gruesome as Prates lands a spinning backfist that sends Neal to the deck. 5-1 in the UFC for the Brazilian, back in the wins after his defeat to Ian Machado Garry. What a moment!
[Link]Michael ‘Venom’ Page defeats Jared Cannonier by Unanimous Decision
Beautiful flowing striking from the Brit early, he loses the third but it’s too little too late for Canninrn
[Link]Michael ‘Venom’ Page vs Jared Cannonier is the next main card showdown
Exciting striker vs a veteran of the middleweight division, here we go!
[Link]Tim Elliott defeats Kai Asakura by round two submission!
Massive moment for the veteran Elliott who locks in a guillotine within seconds and scores the victory over 2x Rizin champion Asakura!
[Link]Baisangur Susurkaev submits Eric Nolan in Round 2
Wow! After Nolan was beginning to have success, Susurkaev lands the fairy tale win!
[Link]Baisangur Susurkaev vs Eric Nolan closes out the prelims
The Dana White’s Contender Series winner and Chimaev teammate Susurkaev is making his UFC debut just four days after winning a contract on the show. American Nolan gets his UFC opportunity as well.
[Link]Michał Oleksiejczuk knocks out Gerald Meerschaert in one!
Brutal knockout for the Polish star, Meerschaert’s inability to learn to strike at all costs him.
[Link]Gerald Meerschaert vs Michał Oleksiejczuk is next
Exciting fight between the new Polish Fighting Nerd and Ben Askren’s teammate GM3. Meerschaert will need a takedown early!
[Link]Lupita Godinez defeats Jessica Andrade by Unanimous Decision
After a vicious third round, Godinez made it through with 29-28 across the board to win another controversial fight. That’s the biggest win of her career.
[Link]Jessica Andrade vs Lupita Godinez is next
Our first world champion of the night returns in a strawweight clash on the prelims.
[Link]Anthony Hernandez lands a stunning round one KO of Chase Hooper!
CHASE HOOPER IS DOWN! TWO SECONDS LEFT IN THE ROUND AND THE FIGHT IS OVER! WHAT A MOMENT FOR HERNANDEZ!
[Link]Drakkar Klose defeats Edson Barboza by Unanimous Decision
29-28 across the board, fans calling for Barboza to retire after a difficult test.
[Link]Edson Barboza and Drakkar Klose are going to war
The Brazilian is landing big shots but it’s Klose who has had his rival out on his feet with clean punches on the button throughout.
[Link]Edson Barboza vs Drakkar Klose up next
Interesting fact, Tony Ferguson told me this week that an Edson Barboza kick was the hardest strike he ever felt
[Link]Karine Silva gets revenge on Dione Barbosa with UD win
Wildly contoversial decision as Silva gets to banish the demons of 2019. Rogan, Cormier and Anik stunned. 29-28 across the board for Silva in a fight with multiple near finishes.
[Link]Karine Silva vs Dione Barbosa is up next
Brazilian regional scene rematch here in the flyweight division.
[Link]Joseph Morales gets the tap in Round 2
Alibi Idiris struggled to stay out of the submissions of Morales all night and he ultimately succumbs to a triangle on the ground! Chael Sonnen wins The Ultimate Fighter flyweight season!
Alibi Idiris vs Joseph Morales kicks us off
The Ultimate Fighter finale for the flyweights as Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier do battle through their proxies.
[Link]Three fights have been cancelled from tonight’s card
The highly-anticipated showdown between King Green vs Diego Ferreira at lightweight was the first fight called off ahead of fight week. Rodrigo Sezinando and Daniil Donchenko was the next bout to fall, and then after a farcical weight miss, Bryan Battle was forced out of his fight with Nursulton Ruziboev. It will all amount to a massive delay to proceedings.
[Link]Welcome to the Bloody Elbow live blog
Good evening and welcome to the Bloody Elbow live blog from UFC 319 as Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev do battle at the United Center in Chicago.
We’re going to have everything you need throughout the night tonight right here, and you can keep in touch with us @BloodyElbow on X!
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