Unstoppable Force vs. Immovable Object: UFC 319 Preview and Main Card Picks
August 15th, 2025, 3:00 PM ET
Written by Danny Varano
UFC 319 Main Card is Live on Saturday at 10:00 PM ET
All odds provided by ESPN Bet
(Main card picks listed at the bottom of the article)
Ladies and Gentlemen, it’ssssssss…TIME! Make sure to hold onto your toupees as two powerful fronts collide in the Windy City on Saturday night. UFC 319 at the United Center in Chicago will host the most intriguing middleweight title bout since a pair of heated duels between former champions Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira. The upcoming fight will mark the materialization of a day many UFC fans have long foreseen: the title debut of Khamzat “Borz” Chimaev.
Five years ago, Chimaev kicked down the welcoming door of the UFC with four consecutive early round finishes. With his immense talent and inexorable fighting style popping off the television screen, MMA circles immediately heralded “Borz” as a future champion. Despite the extensive wait, which has been perpetuated by a series of health concerns, the undefeated Chechen will finally challenge for undisputed gold.
Opposing the unbeaten Chimaev is the unyielding middleweight king, Dricus “Stillknocks” Du Plessis. Coming off impressive championship victories over Sean Strickland and Israel Adesanya, the South African champ plots to silence Chimaev’s avid advocates in his third title defense. A victory on Saturday night would extend Du Plessis’s winning streak to ten straight UFC dubs.
Main Event Overview
Both metaphorically and stylistically, this matchup epitomizes the phenomenon of an unstoppable force (Chimaev) meeting an immovable object (Du Plessis). Khamzat Chimaev has steamrolled down an inevitable path towards a UFC belt, and he possesses a fighting approach which mirrors his undeniable ascent.
In almost all of his eight contests within the organization, the Chechan phenom opened by sprinting for an immediate takedown. After executing a single or double-leg, Chimaev proceeded to hold down his opponents and bruise them with a high volume of ground-and-pound.
When his patented formula goes to plan, it often results in an abrupt ending (as seen in his most recent submission victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308). Yet, even if an early finish is unrealized, Chimaev still typically attains a handy lead on the judge’s scorecard.
In short, Borz fights like a madman. Moreover, he possesses an unmatched combination of speed and strength which perfectly suits his unrestrained style.
The rise of Dricus Du Plessis has not been nearly as glittery. Despite continuing to discard the top talent in the middleweight division, doubters still emerge from the woodwork to underestimate DDP. Criticisms stem largely from his presence and body language within the octagon.
He appears extremely awkward. His hands are held tensely in a high guard, a worst nightmare of any boxing coach preaching loose arms and hands. Stillknocks also tends to breathe through his mouth, which is typically an indication of fatigue. Yet, his pace never slows.
The South African has also displayed an ability to endure significant punishment without compromising his performance (particularly apparent in bouts with Israel Adesanya and Brad Tavares). It seems no matter what an opponent throws his way, somehow, someway, Du Plessis remains unbothered.
If Khamzat Chimaev is the metaphorical freight train barrelling down the railroad, then Dricus Du Plessis is certainly the colossal boulder sitting on the tracks.
Fight Keys and Predictions
As it relates to the challenger, Chimaev is best served directing the contest to the ground and leveraging his suffocating freestyle wrestling. Unlike Borz’s previous competitors, many of which were welterweights, the middleweight Du Plessis will likely demonstrate sturdier resistance to takedown attempts. Nonetheless, Chimaev would be wise to stay persistent in initiating exchanges on the canvas. A heavy wrestling onslaught will also limit any vulnerability to the powerful hands and kicks wielded by DDP.
In moments when the fight does remain on the feet, a key weapon for Chimaev is the right jab from a southpaw posture. Positioning his dominant hand forward will add some additional pop to his leading punch, potentially breaking his opponent’s stubborn high guard. Chimaev is very adept in switching stances. In his bout with Kamaru Usman, he also exhibited a tendency to throw a multitude of feints. By continuing to implement these tactics, Khamzat could counteract Du Plessis’s awkward movement with varied attacks of his own.
Turning attention to the rival corner, DDP could be scheming to let his challenger tire. The South African champ may open with a rather defensive approach, anticipating the Chechen’s explosive takedown efforts. By default, Du Plessis keeps his chest and hips back, a position which lends itself well to stuffing wrestling advances.
However, the champion must be careful not to be overly-protective. As soon as Chimaev has exerted his energy, DDP should begin bouncing off the backfoot to propel his explosive striking. Additionally, expect Stillknocks to utilize his left body kick. He is extremely skilled in disguising the technique, and blows to the core will further contribute to Chimaev’s fatigue.
Official Pick
The headliner at UFC 319 is perhaps the most difficult main event of 2025 to project, as it is truly the very best middleweights competing for a gold strap. Two outcomes have dominated the predictive conversations surrounding Saturday night’s must-see fight. Many UFC outlets believe either Chimaev ends the bout in the early rounds, or DDP emerges victorious by decision.
Despite understanding the logic, Club Underground disagrees with the forecasted results. Instead, Du Plessis fends off finishing sequences, however, the judges choose Chimaev as the victor. Underground Pick: Chimaev by unanimous decision.
Complete List of Main Card Picks:
Middleweight Title Fight: Dricus Du Plessis (+210 underdog) vs Khamzat Chimaev (-260 favorite) – Underground Pick: Chimaev wins by unanimous decision
Featherweight Fight: Lerone Murphy (+140) vs. Aaron Pico (-170) –Underground Pick: Murphy wins by unanimous decision
Welterweight Fight: Geoff Neal (+200) vs. Carlos Prates (-250) –Underground Pick: Prates wins by TKO/KO
Middleweight Fight: Jaren Cannonier (+165) vs. Michael “Venom” Page (-195) – Underground Pick: Page wins by unanimous decision
Flyweight Fight: Tim Elliot (+270) vs. Kai Asakura (-350) – Underground Pick: Asakura wins by TKO/KO
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