UFC 319: Full card preview and four betting tips for Saturday night
Fri, 15 Aug 2025
Fri, 15 Aug 2025
Mixed Martial Arts fans have a stacked Saturday night of action to look forward to with UFC 319 coming live from Chicago’s United Center.
Odds Now’s combat sports tipster Max Boosey offers up his four main fancies from the card.
Let’s start at the top with the main event, where it feels like quite a few good judges are trying to make the argument for a Du Plessis victory at north of 2/1.
I do get it. There’s no doubting the South African’s achievements, and whatever he lacks in orthodoxness, he makes up for in finding a way to win – regardless of his opponent’s preferred styles and methods.
But we’re not talking about any old opponent here. Chimaev is unbeaten for a reason, showing himself to be lethal both on his feet and on the ground.
I think the key here is the favourite’s ability to take people down, which is something Du Plessis hasn’t had to worry about against his last three opponents, but is very much on the cards here.
Once the Russian gets his opponents on the floor, he’s an assassin – just ask Robert Whittaker, his latest victim, who was locked down and defeated before the first round bell.
As good as Du Plessis is, I’m expecting Chimaev to get him on the ground inside the first two rounds and make him tap. A submission win for the favourite appeals hugely at 6/4.
Best bet - Chimaev to win by submission - 6/4 (Bet365)
An intriguing encounter here between two older operators – and I think the value may be with the 13/8 underdog in Cannonier.
There’s no doubting the 41-year-old is outgunned in the footwork stakes by Page, who is a kickboxing master that likes to keep his opponents at range and dictate things from distance.
He has stepped up from welterweight to middleweight in recent times, while his opponent, Cannonier, arrives from the opposite direction, having dropped from heavyweight.
It’s therefore fair to say Cannonier should have the power advantage, though it’s actually in the wrestling phase where I suspect he may find the telling success.
With Page the younger man by four years, tracking him down for a fist fight could be tricky, and I suspect the Killa Gorilla – the better grappler of the pair – will be shrewd enough to recognise his chances of victory increase with the more time spent in the clinch and on the ground.
Add in that potential knockout power, and there’s plenty of reason to chance an upset at 13/8.
Best bet - Cannonier to beat Page - 13/8 (Bet365)
Fight fans have had to wait a little longer than originally planned for this bout, with Neal and Prates originally set to face off back in April before the former pulled out.
However, this welterweight clash still has plenty on the line for both men, with Neal eyeing another tilt towards the top-end of the division and Prates remaining one of the hottest properties around – despite suffering a first UFC loss last time out to Ian Garry in a pulsating affair.
The pair are both considered knockout specialists, and to be honest, I’m struggling to see anything other than both wanting to stay on their feet and trade blows.
Neal deserves a lot of respect for having mixed it with some top fighters, but we have also seen his shortcomings exposed at times against elite operators, which I think his upcoming Brazilian opponent could be.
Prates possesses devastating power, and with this one feeling unlikely to see the bell, getting 13/10 about the favourite winning by stoppage feels generous enough.
Best bet - Prates to win by KO/ TKO/ DQ - 13/10 (Unibet/ BetMGM/ LiveScore Bet)
I wasn’t intending to have any other bets on this card, but I do think the price of UFC icon Edson Barboza here.
The veteran’s days at the very top level are probably behind him, even if he says otherwise, but you still have to factor in the calibre of opponent he has been sharing the octagon with over the last decade.
I don’t think Barboza is finished by any stretch. In a similar vein to what we saw from Jose Aldo late in his MMA career, Barboza should still prove a very tough task for anyone outside of the absolute elite for a few more years yet.
Klose is a useful operator, but he is not a top 15 fighter and given Barboza says he has trained ‘super hard’ for this upcoming bout, I have to think his class will pull him through.
A drift out to 8/11 seems a bit excessive to me, and it’s a price I’m happy to get involved with.
Best bet - Edson Barboza to beat Drakkar Klose - 8/11
2pts - Chimaev to beat Du Plessis via submission - 6/4 (Bet365)
1pt - Cannonier to beat Page - 13/8 (Bet365)
1pt - Best bet - Prates to win by KO/ TKO - 13/10 (Unibet/ BetMGM/ LiveScore Bet)
1pt - Barboza to beat Klose - 8/11 (Various)
Total staked - 5pts
As well as being the CEO of Odds Now, Max is a keen punter who specialises in combat sports.
Born and raised in the UK but now residing in Canada, his Saturday evenings usually revolve around taking in all the action from the biggest cards across the boxing and UFC scene.
Away from the ring, Max is also a keen follower of darts – another of his passions he gets to live and breathe via his work.
As well as being the CEO of Odds Now, Max is a keen punter who specialises in combat sports.
Born and raised in the UK but now residing in Canada, his Saturday evenings usually revolve around taking in all the action from the biggest cards across the boxing and UFC scene.
Away from the ring, Max is also a keen follower of darts – another of his passions he gets to live and breathe via his work.
Max's p/l
7 Days
30 Days
Year 2025
