Event: UFC 319 — Du Plessis vs. Chimaev
Date: August 16, 2025 • Venue: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Announced attendance/gate: 20,023 fans • $11,014,682 (highest-grossing event in United Center history). Yahoo Esportes Tapolog
Quick Takeaways
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New champion: Khamzat Chimaev wrestled, rode, and blanketed Dricus du Plessis over five rounds (50–44 x3). Yahoo Esportes
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KO of the night—twice: Lerone Murphy (R1 3:21) and Carlos Prates (R1 4:59) produced back-to-back spinning-elbow KOs. ESPN.comUFC Stats
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Statement wins: Michael “Venom” Page solved Jared Cannonier over 15 minutes; Tim Elliott tapped Kai Asakura with a mounted guillotine. MMA WeeklyUFC Stats
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Bonuses: $50K to Chimaev, Murphy, Prates, and Elliott. MMA Fighting
Full Card Results
Main Card (PPV)
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Khamzat Chimaev def. Dricus du Plessis — Unanimous decision (50–44, 50–44, 50–44) — Middleweight title. Yahoo Esportes
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Lerone Murphy def. Aaron Pico — KO (spinning back elbow), R1 3:21. ESPN.comUFC Stats
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Carlos Prates def. Geoff Neal — KO (spinning back elbow), R1 4:59. UFC Stats
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Michael “Venom” Page def. Jared Cannonier — Unanimous decision (29–28 x3). MMA WeeklyMMA Decisions
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Tim Elliott def. Kai Asakura — Submission (mounted guillotine), R2 4:39. UFC Stats
Prelims
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Baisangur Susurkaev def. Eric Nolan — Submission (rear-naked choke), R2 2:01. UFC StatsESPN.com
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Michał Oleksiejczuk def. Gerald Meerschaert — TKO (punches), R1 3:03. ESPN.com
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Loopy Godínez def. Jéssica Andrade — Unanimous decision (29–28 x3). ESPN.comX (formerly Twitter)
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Alexander Hernandez def. Chase Hooper — TKO (punches), R1 4:58. ESPN.com
Early Prelims
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Drakkar Klose def. Edson Barboza — Unanimous decision (29–28 x3). MMA Decisions
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Karine Silva def. Dione Barbosa — Unanimous decision (29–28 x3). ESPN.com
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Joseph Morales def. Alibi Idiris — Submission (triangle choke), R2 3:04 — TUF 33 Flyweight Finale. UFC Stats
Highlights & Analysis
The Chimaev Era Arrives
Chimaev leaned on early takedowns, body locks, and long stretches of top control, suffocating du Plessis across five rounds to take the belt with a sweep of 50–44 scorecards. It wasn’t violent, but it was absolute. Expect immediate chatter about wrestlers and scramblers like Nassourdine Imavov or Caio Borralho as next options—depending on UFC Paris outcomes. AP News MMAmania.com
Two Spinning Elbows, One Night
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Murphy vs. Pico: After Pico’s furious start to the body, Murphy timed a sharp pivot and detonated a clean spinning-elbow counter for a walk-off. Official time 3:21 of R1. Title-shot talk at 145 lbs now feels real. MMA Fighting ESPN.com
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Prates vs. Neal: With one second left in R1, Prates whipped a perfectly set-up spinning elbow that felled Neal at 4:59—a true buzzer-beater and Neal’s first KO loss in the UFC. UFC Statsthescore.com
MVP Outfoxes Cannonier
Page scored the cleaner work through two rounds—varied entries, feints, and long-range counters—then survived heavy top pressure late to seal a 29–28 x3 unanimous decision. MMA Weekly
Crafty Vet Stuff: Tim Elliott
Elliott’s awkward rhythm and clinch-wrestling wore on Asakura before a mounted guillotine at 4:39 of R2. It earned him a $50K bonus and fresh relevance at flyweight. UFC StatsMMA Fighting
Performance Bonuses ($50K)
Khamzat Chimaev, Lerone Murphy, Carlos Prates, Tim Elliott. MMA Fighting
What’s Next
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Khamzat Chimaev (C, MW): Winner of Imavov vs. Borralho makes sense; both present intriguing defensive grappling puzzles. MMAmania.com
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Lerone Murphy: Legitimate claim to Alexander Volkanovski next after a marquee KO. MMA Fighting
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Carlos Prates: Called out Leon Edwards; a Brazil date vs. MVP also got traction post-fight. MMA Fighting MMAmania.com
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Michael Page: Names like Adesanya were floated, but timing points to a high-profile contender bout first. MMAmania.com
Event Notes
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United Center record: UFC confirmed the show set a new arena gate mark: $11,014,682 / 20,023 (sellout). Yahoo Esportes
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Debuts: DWCS quick-turn winner Baisangur Susurkaev went 2–0 in four days with a composed R2 RNC. MMA Fighting
SEO Keywords
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UFC 319 crowned a new middleweight king and delivered two knockouts that will live in clip reels for years. Chimaev’s suffocating style may not win aesthetics debates, but it wins belts. And on a night of highlight violence from Murphy and Prates, Chicago also witnessed savvy veterans—Page and Elliott—turn back surging threats with brains and timing. Onward to UFC Paris and the ripple effects this card set in motion. MMAmania.com
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