The UFC makes its return to Chicago for the first time since June 2019 as Illinois fans do not have to wait anymore. The headliner is a heavily anticipating Middleweight title fight between the champion, Dricus Du Plessis, and the #3 contender, Khamzat Chimaev. The co-main event was put on rather short notice as #6 Featherweight contender, Lerone Murphy, welcomes former Belltaor star, Aaron Pico, to the UFC. Here is everything you need to know before the action begins.
early prelims
Karine Silva vs Dione Barbosa (Women's Flyweight Bout) - Silva's nine-fight win streak came to an end when she went the distance with Viviane Araujo to lose by unanimous decision at UFC 309. Out of her 18 victories, 'Killer' has only gone to a decision once, securing eight KO/TKO wins and nine submissions. The #11 contender is looking to redeem herself and keep her position in the Flyweight division.
Barbosa returned to the win column in her last bout after submitting Diana Belbita in the first round at UFC Vegas 105. 'The Witch' mainly focuses her work on the ground with half of her eight wins ending by submission. The Brazilian steps in on short notice with a high reward as a victory will place her in the 125-pound rankings.
Bryan Battle vs Nursulton Ruziboev (Middleweight Bout) - Battle just managed to claim the win in his last fight after going to the judges' scorecards and earning a split decision over Randy Brown. 'The Butcher' can stop a fight on the feet or ground as he holds four KO/TKO wins and six submissions. The Charlotte mixed martial artist will be aiming to increase his unbeaten streak to six with a possibility of facing a ranked opponent in his next bout.
Ruziboev picked up his first decision win in the organisation after defeating Dustin Stoltzfus by unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 106. The Uzbekistan fighter has a total of 33 stoppage triumphs with 13 by KO/TKO and 20 by submission. After going the distance in his last fight, Ruziboev will be hoping to claim another finish and earn himself a chance at the Middleweight rankings.
Edson Barboza vs Drakkar Klose (Lightweight Bout) - Barboza's two-fight win streak was snapped in his last battle after losing to Lerone Murphy by unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 92. The former Lightweight contender is known for his spectacular knockouts, earning 14 of those out of 24 victories. The Brazilian will be wanting to bounce back in style and amaze the Chicago crowd in his first PPV event since March 2022.
Klose lost his wealthy four-fight win streak after a first-round knockout defeat to Joel Alvarez at UFC Tampa. The Michigan-born fighter has only lost three times in his MMA career, as well as earning six KO/TKO wins from 15 triumphs. Klose will be doing his best to return to winning ways as defeating a UFC veteran like Barboza will give him that satisfaction.
preliminary card
Chase Hooper vs Alexander Hernandez (Lightweight Bout) - Hooper is currently on a five-fight win streak after defeating Jim Miller by unanimous decision at UFC 314. 'The Dream' has 12 stoppage wins from 16 victories, holding four KO/TKO wins and eight submissions. The Enumclaw fighter is likely one win away from earning a chance at the top 15 in the Lightweight division.
Hernandez made it two wins-in-a-row when he took the glory against Kurt Holobaugh at UFC Vegas 104, winning by unanimous decision. 'The Great Ape' occasionally earns a finish with 50% of his victories ending in a stoppage, six by KO/TKO and two by submission. Hernandez has a great chance to cancel out one of the highly viewed prospects in the 155-pound division.
Jessica Andrade vs Loopy Godinez (Women's Strawweight Bout) - Andrade is currently on a two-fight losing streak after suffering a first-round submission loss to Jasmine Jasudavicius at UFC 315. 'Bate Estaca' holds the most finishes in the UFC 115-pound division with a total of six. The former Strawweight Champion has been in this position before as she looks to extends her records with a redeeming win.
Godinez found success earlier on this year as she bounced back with an unanimous decision win against Julia Polastri at UFC Mexico City. The Mexican only has three finishes, which are all by submission, as the rest of her victories are from going to the judges scorecards. The #11 contender aims to claim her most credible win of her MMA career which will help her climb up the Strawweight rankings.
Gerald Meerschaert vs Michal Oleksiejczuk (Middleweight Bout) - Meerschaert suffered his second consecutive defeat in his last bout at UFC Vegas 105, losing by unanimous decision to Brad Tavares. 'GM3' has only won by a decision twice in his career, holding six KO/TKO wins and 29 submissions. The Racine-born mixed martial artist has never lost three times-in-a-row as he looks to stick to that algorithm at UFC 319.
Oleksiejczuk snapped his three-fight losing streak with a first-round TKO win over Sedriques Dumas at UFC 314. Unlike his opponent, 'Hussar' is a knockout artist with 15 of his 20 victories ending by KO/TKO. The Polish fighter has faced many veterans of the UFC as he takes on another one and looks to begin a promising run, now that he's with the Fighting Nerds.
King Green vs Diego Ferreira (Lightweight Bout) - Green lost in the first round for a second consecutive time, however this time it was by a wicked knockout against Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 313. With 32 wins in his professional career, the former Lightweight contender has stopped 20 of his opponents, nine by knockout and 11 by submission. The Californian is eager to bounce back and will hope to do so as he faces a veteran instead of a prospect.
Ferreira last fought at UFC 311 where he went the distance with Grant Dawson to lose by unanimous decision. The Brazilian has 12 finishes in his MMA career, earning five KO/TKO victories and seven submissions. Just like his opponent, Ferreira wants to redeem himself as the two could put on a thrilling battle in the most exciting weight division.
main card
Tim Elliott vs Kai Asakura (Flyweight Bout) - Elliott returned to the win column in his last bout after submitting Sumudaerji in the first round at UFC Vegas 83. The Kansas-born fighter has stopped 10 of his 21 conquered opponents, earning three KO/TKO win and seven submissions. The #11 contender is looking to maintain his position in the Flyweight rankings and hopefully boost his chances of a higher ranked opponent in his next battle.
Asakura made his UFC debut for the 125-pound title in his last fight, losing to Alexandre Pantoja by second-round submission at UFC 310. The Japanese fighter isn't often victorious when he goes the distance as with 16 stoppages, 13 have ended by KO/TKO and three by submission. The #15 contender will be hoping to redeem himself and claim his first triumph in the UFC.
Jared Cannonier vs Michael 'Venom' Page (Middleweight Bout) - Cannonier snapped his two-fight losing streak with a comeback knockout win, stopping Gregory Rodrigues in round four at UFC Vegas 102. 'The Killa Gorilla' is a deadly knockout artist with 11 of his 18 victories ending by KO/TKO. The #9 contender will be trying to stay in the top 10 of the 185-pound division and not gradually fall down the rankings.
Page bounced back in his last bout, becoming the first man to defeat Sharaputdin Magomedov, by unanimous decision, at UFC Saudi Arabia. Despite not finishes in the UFC, MVP likes to stop a fight, claiming 13 KO/TKO wins and three submissions. The #15 Welterweight contender has a great chance to enter the Middleweight rankings, putting him in a prime position.
Geoff Neal vs Carlos Prates (Middleweight Bout) - Neal finally returned to the win column after two years when he stopped Rafael dos Anjos by first-round TKO at UFC 308. 'Handz of Steel' doesn't like his battles going to the judges scorecards as 10 of his 16 victories have ended by KO/TKO. The #11 contender will be aiming to be victorious again as he tries to climb back up the 170-pound rankings.
Prates suffered his first UFC loss in his last bout after suffering an unanimous decision defeat to Ian Machado Garry at UFC Kansas City. 'The Nightmare' is a deadly knockout artist with 16 of his 21 triumphs ending by knockout. The Brazilian is still a promising prospect as he tries to switch places with Neal in the Welterweight rankings to get him back on track.
Lerone Murphy vs Aaron Pico (Featherweight Bout) - Murphy remained undefeated in his last fight after going the distance with Josh Emmett to win by unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 105. With 16 wins in his professional career, 'The Miracle' only has seven finishes which have all ended by KO/TKO. The #6 contender will be desperate to maintain his ranking with an opportunity to enter title contention, depending on the outcome of his fight.
Pico makes his UFC debut after earning a first-round knockout win against Henry Corrales at PFL Champions vs Bellator Champions. The Californian has 11 stoppages from 13 victories, nine ending by KO/TKO and two by submission. The Bellator star has a phenomenal chance of entering the Featherweight rankings and being one possible fight away from a title shot in his next bout as he aims to make a good introduction at UFC 319.
Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev (Middleweight Title Bout) - Du Plessis successfully defended the 185-pound belt for a second time after beating Sean Strickland in the rematch by a dominant decision at UFC 312. 'Stilknocks' doesn't often go to the judges scorecards, earning 20 finishes which consist of nine KO/TKO wins and 11 submissions. The South African could get the most credible win of his career as he has the chance to become the first man to defeat his opponent.
Chimaev stayed undefeated and earned his title shot after a quick submission victory in the first round against Robert Whittaker at UFC 308. 'Borz' has only gone the distance twice, earning six knockouts and six submissions in his MMA career. The #3 contender has been seen as the biggest future champion as he finally gets to showcase that in Chicago and become the first fighter to defeat Du Plessis in the UFC.
Who will end the night at UFC Middleweight Champion? Which fight are you looking forward to the most?
Written by Charlie Oxtoby
Instagram: charlie_oxtoby
MMA Instagram: undisputed._.mma
Twitter: Charlie_Oxtoby1
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