UFC 319 Main Card Best Bets for August 16: Two Elite Strikers Will Boost Our Bankroll!
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David Manyun
- August 13, 2025
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to the Windy City this weekend, and we’re expecting some serious gusts of punching wind when a stacked line-up of killers looks set to produce an absolute banger of a fight card!
Michael ‘Venom’ Page, Jared Cannonier, Tim Elliott, and Kai Asakura are involved in two main card bouts, and I’ve spotted some serious betting value worth considering on the top sportsbooks.
Enough talk—let’s jump straight into my favorite UFC 319 main card breakdown, including predictions and the latest odds.
UFC 319 Event Information
- Date & Time: Saturday, August 16, 2025 – 06:00 PM EDT
- Location: United Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Scheduled Fights: 14
- Main Event: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev (UFC Middleweight Title Bout)
Jared Cannonier vs. Michael Page
UFC 319 Middleweight Main Card Bout
Jared Cannonier
He is now the middleweight division’s gatekeeper. That isn’t necessarily a knock on his skills. Still, with failed attempts versus the division’s rising contenders – Caio Borralho and Nassourdine Imavov – of late, the 41-year-old slugger isn’t likely going to jump the queue and warrant a title shot, even if he manages to claim victory this weekend.
The same, however, can not be said for his opponent.
- Cannonier Pro MMA Record: 18-8
- Cannonier KOs: 10
- Cannonier Submissions: 3
Michael Page
Unable to match the youth and vigour of Ian Machado Garry, former Bellator champ Michael Page has seemingly found a new home in the middleweight division. And despite competing just once at 185lbs, the British striking stylist took the unbeaten record from Shara Magomedov last time out.
It’s safe to say that the middleweight division has never looked better, but with UFC 319 putting the title up for grabs in the main event, an impressive performance from ‘Venom’ could easily vault him directly into the title picture.
- Page Pro MMA Record: 23-3
- Page KOs: 12
- Page Submissions: 4
Cannonier vs. Page: Fight Tape Analysis
Watching Page tee up his opponents from range is a thing of beauty. He achieved his classic, and sometimes confusing style (for the opposition) versus Shara, but will the uber-experienced Cannonier fall into the same trap?
I wouldn’t be surprised in the least. Yes, there’s no denying ‘The Killa Gorilla’ is still a powerhouse and constant threat – we just watched him flatline Gregory Rodrigues in the fourth round after all. However, his hard-hitting ways aren’t matched with speed, and at 41, it isn’t going to get any better.
In contrast, and despite being in the latter stages (38 years old) of his career himself, Page hasn’t shown signs of losing those sharp, fast-twitch reactions that brought him to the big stage.
Ultimately, I don’t envision Cannonier attempting many takedowns. So long as Page doesn’t get caught up on the inside, it should easily dance around on the outside and pierce his opponent up with strikes for at least two of the three rounds.
UFC 319 Main Card Odds & Prediction
The UFC odds place MVP as the betting favorite, but a -185 line with BetOnline isn’t bad juice whatsoever.
While the threats of Cannonier’s power always exist, we have to side with the faster, more technical striker that still has a lot to prove under the UFC banner. Page’s jab will be crucial here, and I expect him to sail to a unanimous decision if he doesn’t find one of his highlight reel stoppages. The moneyline at -185 (1.85u returns 1u profit) is solid value and a smart way to boost your bankroll.
Kai Asakura vs. Tim Elliott
UFC 319 Flyweight Main Card Bout
Kai Asakura
He was rudely welcomed to the UFC back in December 2024 when Dana White and the matchmakers placed him in a flyweight title bout with Alexandre Pantoja for his debut! It resulted in a second round rear-naked choke defeat, as the Japanese star soon received the wake-up call that, despite successes outside of the UFC, no other promotion was going to be more challenging.
Whether Asakura receiving a title opportunity in his debut was warranted or not, he’s still an exciting fighter, and yes, he brought it to Pantoja before the eventual stoppage. Now, with an opponent significantly lower in the rankings, perhaps that RIZIN highlight reel Asakura wowed us with could reemerge.
- Asakura Pro MMA Record: 21-5
- Asakura KOs: 13
- Asakura Submissions: 3
Tim Elliott
Aged 38, Tim Elliott is an OG of the UFC with a career dating back to 2012. He’s been fighting some of the world’s best flyweights for over a decade, but could a near two-year absence from the octagon and a hungry 31-year-old opponent with finishing ability place him as nothing more than a lamb to slaughter?
- Elliott Pro MMA Record: 20-13-1
- Elliott KOs: 3
- Elliott Submissions: 7
Asakura vs. Elliott: Fight Tape Analysis
The last time we watched Elliott compete, he was 36 years old. Two years have passed, and to be quite frank, we don’t know how he’s going to perform. The flyweight division is particularly challenging for aging fighters, as speed is crucial in the lighter weight classes, and these factors may not bode well for the veteran fighter.
It’s no secret that Elliott is a ground specialist, and grappling is what helped him become the Ultimate Fighter season 24 winner. He has a jiu-jitsu game to match, and he’s relatively large (5’7”) for the division. With that said, his prime days are long behind him, and his defensive prowess has a lot to be desired. When you couple in the fact that he’s been absent for so long, that sole knockout loss in Elliott’s career could very well be doubled!
Asakura is so sharp and powerful on the feet. When aligned with his ability to defend takedowns, I’m expecting a one-sided affair with the aging Elliott as his opponent.
UFC 319 Main Card Odds & Prediction
The UFC odds place Asakura as the betting favorite, and this should come as no surprise. Sure, the Japanese star lost his debut, but said loss was to the greatest flyweight in the world. Before this, he was a dominant force, and no offense to Elliott, but he isn’t the guy to spark our imagination into believing he can succeed as an underdog in this spot.
Whether it’s a one-pop drop to ground and pound, or a club and sub situation, the sheer speed, volume, and power of Asakura’s strikes will get the job done, and it’ll likely be a rare occasion where Elliott gets finished.
For plus-money on a known finisher versus a ring-rusted part-timer, how can we not? We’re backing Kai Asakura to secure a stoppage victory at +135 (1 returns 1.35u profit).
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
