UFC 319 live results: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev
A big week for the UFC, which featured the signing of a new media rights deal, closes out with one of the most anticipated fight cards of the year as the Octagon returns to the United Center in Chicago, Illinois for the first time in six years for UFC 319.
The main event is one of the biggest fights of the year as UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis defends the title against undefeated challenger Khamzat Chimaev. Du Plessis is making his third title defense after defeating Sean Strickland in January, while Chimaev returns for the first time since October looking to improve on his perfect 14-0 record.
In the co-main event, undefeated featherweight contender Lerone Murphy welcomes the UFC debut of wrestling standout and former Bellator fighter Aaron Pico.
Also on the main card is a welterweight bout between Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates; a middleweight fight pitting Jared Cannonier against Michael Page; and a battle of former flyweight title challengers as Tim Elliott takes on Kai Asakura.
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> TUF 33 Flyweight Finale- Alibi Idiris (10-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Joseph Morales (12-2, 1-2 UFC)
They trade right away as Morales comes forward. Idiris lands a front kick to the body. Morales lands as they clinch and lands an elbow on the break. They tie up against the fence. Idiris lands some knees in the clinch. Idiris tries to trip it down but Morales reverses up and lands a knee. Morales lands an elbow and Idiris lands a right hand as they separate. Morales lands a body kick. Morales scores a takedown. Idiris lands from the bottom. Morales is looking for a choke as he lands some body shots. Morales gets the mount. Idiris gives up his back. Morales has the body triangle on as they stand. Morales with punches from the back. Morales lets go and lands a knee. He looks for a kimura as he takes the back when they go to the mat. Morales has the hooks in and has a choke locked in but Idiris survives the round. 10-9 Morales.
Idiris lands a right hand after they both swing and miss. Morales looks for a takedown but Idiris defends. Morales lands a small flurry as he was coming forward and Idiris misses a spinning attack. They tie up against the fence. They separate and Morales lands to the body. Idiris lands a high kick and Morales continues to land with volume. Morales lands to the body and Idiris is hurt. Morales drops Idiris with a right hand. Morales jumps on the back of Idiris and starts landing. Idiris is able to reverse into the guard of Morales. Morales looking for a triangle choke and it is locked in. Idiris taps! Morales picks up the win to win this season of The Ultimate Fighter!
Fight Result- Joseph Morales def. Alibi Idiris by submission (triangle choke) at 3:04 of Round 2 to win the TUF 33 Flyweight Finale
> Women’s Flyweights- #11 Karine Silva (18-5, 4-1 UFC) vs. Dione Barbosa (8-3, 2-1 UFC)
Barbosa lands a leg kick. Barbosa lands a right hand. They trade right hands. Barbosa lands a leg kick. Barbosa lands a left hook and works the jab. They trade and Barbosa is landing with more volume. Silva looks for a takedown but Barbosa defends. Barbosa lands a right hand and an elbow. Silva with a body kick and a jab as Barbosa lands a double jab. Barbosa gets a big takedown and gets the back right away looking for a choke. Silva defends it as Barbosa lands some punches. Barbosa goes for the armbar late but the horn sounds. 10-9 Barbosa.
Silva lands a leg kick. Barbosa lands an uppercut and Silva lands a combination. Silva scores a takedown. They both land punches while tied up and working to their feet. Silva trips Barbosa down to the mat. They stand and Silva lands a knee in the clinch. Barbosa lands some knees as she is in clinch control. Silva drags it down but ends up on her back. Silva looking for a triangle choke from the bottom. Silva with elbows from the bottom. Silva landing lots of shots from her back. Barbosa lands from the top. 10-9 Silva, 19-19.
Silva lands a body kick. Barbosa lands a body kick. Silva lands a right hand. She lands a left hand then a leg kick. Silva lands a combination. They tie up and Barbosa is able to score a takedown. Both look for triangle chokes and Silva looks for a guillotine choke and it was in deep but Barbosa is able to escape. Silva is on top and lands. Barbosa is able to reverse to the top and both are landing on the mat. Silva with clubbing fists from the bottom. Barbosa lands from the top. Close fight. 10-9 Silva, 29-28 Silva.
Fight Result- Karine Silva def. Dione Barbosa by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Lightweights- Edson Barboza (24-12, 18-12 UFC) vs. Drakkar Klose (15-3-1, 9-3 UFC)
Barboza with some early hard leg kicks. Klose lands an inside leg kick as Barboza lands a jab. Barboza lands a right hand then a leg kick. They trade leg kicks as Klose lands a right hand and clinches up against the fence. Barboza is able to land some foot stomps and a body shot as they break. Klose lands a jab and a right hand then a left hand. They tie back up against the fence. Barboza lands a knee to the body. They separate. Barboza with a hard calf kick. Barboza with a spin kick to the body. Klose lands an uppercut. Barboza with a leg kick and a left hook to the body. Klose lands a jab and they clinch up. 10-9 Klose.
They trade in the center in close range. Barboza with a spin kick. Klose lands a right hand. Klose with a calf kick. Klose lands a right hand and then lands a few big shots against the fence that hurt Barboza. Klose with some foot stomps. They separate and Barboza lands a leg kick. They clinch back up against the fence. They break apart. Klose with a leg kick. They trade and Klose lands a solid right hand. Barboza lands a right hand and a spin kick to the body followed by a left hook. Klose lands a few big right hands that tag Barboza and they clinch back up. Barboza lands a knee to the body. They end the round there. 10-9 Klose, 20-18 Klose.
Klose lands a right hand. Barboza lands a body kick and Klose lands a right hand before they clinch up. They separate and Barboza lands a leg kick. Klose with a right hand. Barboza lands a right hand. Klose with a right hand. Barboza lands a leg kick and Klose lands a series of punches inside the pocket. Barboza with a heavy leg kick. Klose lands two solid leg kicks and a right hand. They tie back up against the fence. They separate and both throw spinning attacks. 10-9 Barboza, 29-28 Klose.
Fight Result- Drakkar Klose def. Edson Barboza by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
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> Lightweights- Chase Hooper (16-3-1, 8-3 UFC) vs. Alexander Hernandez (16-8, 8-7 UFC)
Hooper throwing front side kicks early. He lands a body kick then a head kick and a spinning back fist. Hernandez lands a right hand. Hernandez lands a left hand and a right hand as Hooper continues to attack with front side kicks. Hernandez lands a left hand. Hooper lands a right hand. Hernandez lands as Hooper shoots for a takedown, but Hernandez defends. Hooper shoots for a long takedown and Hernandez slips away. Hooper with a leg kick. Hernandez connects as both came forward. Hooper lands in close range. Hernandez drops Hooper with a big right hand and lands punches and it is stopped right before the round ends!
Fight Result- Alexander Hernandez def. Chase Hooper by TKO (punches) at 4:58 of Round 1
> Women’s Strawweights- #5 Jessica Andrade (26-14, 17-12 UFC) vs. #11 Loopy Godinez (13-5, 8-5 UFC)
Andrade with a pair of leg kicks and a left hook. Godinez lands a combo in close range. Andrade with a leg kick. Godinez lands another combination. They trade inside the pocket. Godinez lands a right hand. Godinez lands a combo. Godinez with a jab. Godinez with a hard leg kick. Godinez lands a right hand and then a jab. Andrade lands an uppercut as Godinez lands a knee to the body. Andrade connects as she rushes forward. Godinez lands a combo ending with a body kick. Godinez lands a right hand. Andrade lands a quick flurry as she rushes in. Andrade stuns Godinez with a big combination. Andrade lands a big combo. Godinez lands a right hand. 10-9 Godinez.
They trade and Godinez gets a takedown and is in the mount position. Godinez lands from the top and gets to the back and lands before they scramble up. Godinez lands a left hook. Andrade with a leg kick. They trade and Andrade lands to the body. Godinez lands a right hand. Andrade fires back with a right hand and then lands a left hook. They trade and Godinez looked for a takedown, but Andrade defended it. Andrade rushes in and both land. Godinez lands a left hand and then looks to take it down against the fence. They separate late. 10-9 Godinez, 20-18 Godinez.
They are both throwing as Andrade is coming out pressuring and lands. Andrade keeping her foot on the gas as she lands a flurry. Andrade lands a right hand. Godinez connects with a right hand and lands a jab. They both land as they trade inside the pocket and Andrade lands a quick flurry and Godinez with a knee. Andrade with a big flurry but Godinez connects with a knee to slow it down. Godinez lands a left hand. Andrade throws a flurry. Andrade with a big right hand and Godinez has a cut opened. Andrade lands a combination, but Godinez connects with a right hand. Godinez lands a right hand and a knee. Andrade lands a combo and a leg kick. Andrade with a right hand. Godinez shoots for a takedown, but Andrade defends and lands. Andrade with a big right hand. 10-9 Andrade, 29-28 Godinez.
Fight Result- Loopy Godinez def. Jessica Andrade by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Middleweights- Gerald Meerschaert (37-19, 12-11 UFC) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (20-9 1 NC, 8-7 1 NC UFC)
Meerschaert with a leg kick. Oleksiejczuk lands a left hand. Meerschaert shoots for a takedown but Oleksiejczuk defends. Oleksiejczuk lands a left hand. Meerschaert looks for a takedown but Oleksiejczuk defends. Oleksiejczuk lands some big punches and drops Meerschaert, but he backs off and lets him up. Oleksiejczuk drops Meerschaert again and starts landing big shots from the top and it is all over! Oleksiejczuk gets the big finish in the first.
Fight Result- Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Gerald Meerschaert by TKO (punches) at 3:03 of Round 1
> Middleweights- Baisangur Susurkaev (9-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Eric Nolan (8-3, 0-0 UFC)
Nolan lands a pair of jabs. Susurkaev lands a leg kick then a high kick. Nolan connects with some shots. Susurkaev with a high kick. Nolan lands a right hand. Susurkaev lands a right hand and Nolan lands a knee as they clinch. Nolan with another knee. Nolan has clinch control. They break and Susurkaev lands a counter right hand and some punches and kicks. Susurkaev scores a takedown. Susurkaev lands from the top and they get up. Susurkaev pushes it to the fence and lands some knees. They break and Nolan rocks Susurkaev with a big knee and has Susurkaev in trouble as the round ends. 10-9 Nolan.
Susurkaev hurts Nolan with a body kick. Nolan then lands to the body and Susurkaev lands a knee to the body. Nolan rolls for a leg lock and Susurkaev ends up on top and is landing. Susurkaev works to the back of Nolan and is landing as he has the hooks in. Susurkaev with lots of big punches and he goes for a choke. He has it locked in and Nolan taps! Susurkaev gets the win after being in big trouble late in the first.
Fight Result- Baisangur Susurkaev def. Eric Nolan by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:01 of Round 2
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> Flyweights- #11 Tim Elliott (20-13-1, 9-11 UFC) vs. #15 Kai Asakura (21-5, 0-1 UFC)
Elliott coming out with his front leg in motion at all times. Asakura lands a right hand. Asakura lands a combo to the body. Asakura lands a big right hand. Elliott lands a couple of leg kicks. Asakura lands another sharp right hand. Asakura with a left hook and then lands to the body. Asakura with a stiff jab. Asakura lands a right hand. Asakura with a knee and both land left hands. Elliott lands a right hand. Asakura lands but Elliott is able to score a takedown and is in side control. Elliott with some knees to the body. Elliott lands a pair of elbows to the body as Asakura scrambles up. 10-9 Asakura.
Asakura lands some high and leg kicks early. Elliott lands a left hand. He lands another one. Asakura lands a combo. Asakura with a right hand. Elliott lands. Asakura lands a left hand. Asakura lands a combo. Elliott gets a brief takedown and jumps on the back as they stand, but Asakura escapes. Asakura lands but Elliott ducks under and scores a takedown. Asakura gets Elliott inside his guard. Elliott lands and looks for a guillotine choke and as it in from the mount. Asakura taps! What an upset win from Elliott!
Fight Result- Tim Elliott def. Kai Asakura by submission (guillotine choke) at 4:39 of Round 2
> Middleweights- #9 Jared Cannonier (18-8, 11-8 UFC) vs. #15 WW Michael Page (23-3, 2-1 UFC)
Page working the jab early. Page lands a jab. Cannonier is able to push Page to the fence. Page is defending the underhooks and lands a pair of knees. Page throws Cannonier off of him as they break apart. Page drops Cannonier with a massive right hand but lets Cannonier get right up. Cannonier looks for a takedown against the fence but Page is defending it. Cannonier with some short knees. They separate. 10-9 Page.
Page lands a right hand. Cannonier with an inside leg kick. Page lands another right hand. Page ducks under Cannonier throwing some offense. Page lands a combo and Cannonier ends up falling down and rolling and gets up. Page with a right hand. Cannonier lands a right hand. They clinch up and Cannonier gets a takedown, but Page gets right back up. They separate. Page lands a right hand. Cannonier misses a right hand but pushes Page against the fence. They break. 10-9 Page, 20-18 Page.
Page lands a leg kick. Page lands a right hand. Cannonier gets a takedown. Cannonier gets the mount and starts landing. Cannonier with an elbow from the top. Cannonier landing and looks to attack the arm. Cannonier looking to work for an arm-triangle choke. He lets go and goes back to the half-guard and lands an elbow. Cannonier ends the fight on top. 10-9 Cannonier, 29-28 Page.
Fight Result- Michael Page def. Jared Cannonier by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Welterweights- #11 Geoff Neal (16-6, 8-4 UFC) vs. #12 Carlos Prates (21-7, 4-1 UFC)
Neal with an inside leg kick. He lands another before going high with a kick. Prates lands a low kick. Neal with a left hand. Prates with a spin kick to the body then a low kick. Neal lands a quick flurry against the fence. Prates lands a leg kick. Prates with a combo. Prates lands a leg kick. Prates with more leg kicks. Neal lands a left hand. Prates lands a combo and Neal lands a left hand. Neal lands a right hand and Prates circles away. Prates lands a jab. Neal lands a combo ending with a right hand and Prates lands a body shot then a knee to the body of Neal. Neal lands inside. Prates lands a left hand. Prates lands a knee as Neal grabs the body lock. They break apart. Prates lands a left hand and a leg kick. Prates drops Neal with a spinning elbow right at the end of the round and Neal was out and it is all over! What a finish from Prates!
Fight Result- Carlos Prates def. Geoff Neal by knockout (spinning back elbow) at 4:59 of Round 1
> Featherweights- #6 Lerone Murphy (16-0-1, 8-0-1 UFC) vs. Aaron Pico (13-4, 0-0 UFC)
Pico lands a jab and a right hook and a body shot as they clinch against the fence. They separate and Pico lands a leg kick and a left hook to the body. They clinch and Murphy lands an elbow and has a choke locked in as they go to the mat. Pico escapes and is on top. They get to their feet and separate. Pico throws and Murphy lands a knee. Pico with a left hook to the body. Murphy then lands a spinning elbow and Pico goes down out cold! What a knockout by Murphy!
Fight Result- Lerone Murphy def. Aaron Pico by knockout (spinning elbow) at 3:21 of Round 1
> UFC Middleweight Championship- C Dricus Du Plessis (23-2, 9-0 UFC) vs. #3 Khamzat Chimaev (14-0, 8-0 UFC)
Chimaev gets a takedown right away. Chimaev gets the crucifix position and starts landing. He’s landing lots of punches as Du Plessis is trying to escape. It’s a lot of small shots to the ear that Chimaev is landing. Du Plessis gets out of the position as Chimaev stays in side control. Chimaev is just holding Du Plessis on the mat. Du Plessis is trying to get up but having no success, but not much else is happening. Chimaev gets the back and Du Plessis is able to escape for a moment but Chimaev ends up back in side control. 10-9 Chimaev.
Chimaev shoots for a takedown and has the back and lands a couple of knees. Chimaev drags Du Plessis down to the mat. Chimaev with short knees but not a lot of action is happening. Chimaev looked for a choke but Du Plessis was able to defend it. Chimaev with short knees. Chimaev with more short knees. Not a lot of damage taking place here. 10-9 Chimaev, 20-18 Chimaev.
Du Plessis lands and Chimaev shoots for a takedown and gets the back of Du Plessis and has it down. They briefly get up but Chimaev gets it down and is in side control. Chimaev gets the crucifix position and lands some short punches. Chimaev landing better in this position so far as opposed to the first. Chimaev landing and gets the mount and lands. Du Plessis gives up his back and Chimaev looks for a choke but Du Plessis is defending. 10-8 Chimaev, 30-26 Chimaev.
Chimaev lands a body kick and goes for a takedown but Du Plessis sprawls but Chimaev keeps chasing it and has the back as they go to their knees. Chimaev keeps dragging Du Plessis on the mat from the back. Du Plessis tries to roll and Chimaev ends up in side control. Chimaev has the back and they are separated and stood up. Du Plessis lands a body kick and Chimaev grabs him and gets a takedown and has the back and starts landing knees. 10-9 Chimaev, 40-35 Chimaev.
Du Plessis lands a pair of body kicks. Du Plessis lands a combo. Chimaev shoots for a takedown and gets the back and drags it to the mat. Chimaev landing from the crucifix position but lets Du Plessis out and takes the back. Chimaev lands from the back but Du Plessis is able to reverse to the top. He looked for a guillotine choke but Chimaev escapes and is inside the guard of Du Plessis. They are stood up. Chimaev with a leg kick. Du Plessis lands a body kick. Du Plessis connects with a punch. Chimaev tries a takedown but Du Plessis sprawls to defend and lands some elbows. Du Plessis gets Chimaev down and has the mount and the back and looked for a choke. 10-9 Chimaev, 50-44 Chimaev.
Fight Result- Khamzat Chimaev def. Dricus Du Plessis by unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-44) to win the UFC Middleweight Championship
MMA writer & live coverage specialist, contributor to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter