What’s next for new UFC middleweight champ Khamzat Chimaev
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In back-to-back main card fights, Carlos Prates and Michael ‘Venom’ Page both proved why they are so exciting to watch every time they step inside the Octagon. Prates knocked out Geoff Neal in the first round to bounce back from the first defeat of his UFC career and get his welterweight momentum back on track.
Klose (16-3-1 MMA, 10-3 UFC) picked up arguably the biggest win of his career when he outworked feared striker Barboza (24-13 MMA, 18-13 UFC) for a unanimous decision on the preliminary card at United Center. It was an emotional return to the win column for Klose, who dedicated the fight to his brother, who was murdered in 2024.
Elliott (21-14-1 MMA, 10-11 UFC) upset Asakura (21-6 MMA, 0-2 UFC) with a second-round submission to open up the main card at United Center in Chicago. Elliott, a former flyweight title challenger, pulled the upset against the 3-1 favorite.
To secure a quick title shot, the ex-Bellator standout was looking to become the first man to beat Lerone Murphy in the pay-per-view’s co-main event. Instead, though, Pico was viciously knocked out by Murphy’s spinning back elbow in round one.
UFC will host a pay-per-view event at Chicago’s United Center, with a middleweight title bout highlighting the card.
CHICAGO – UFC 319 ceremonial fighter weigh-ins take place Friday, and you can catch a live video stream of the proceedings here on MMA Junkie at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT). The ceremonial weigh-ins take place at Radius Chicago. It's not far from United Center, which hosts Saturday's card ( ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).
Sky forward Angel Reese reveals mixed emotions on MMA after attending UFC 319 in promotion's return to Chicago