The Octagon lands at the United Center in Chicago for a Saturday night stacked with bad blood, big swings, and bigger stakes.
Our UFC betting crew — led by Rohit Ponnaiya — has every main-card fight handicapped with expert UFC 319 predictions, picks, and best bets.
UFC 319 best bets
Du Plessis vs Chimaev
Rohit PonnaiyaBest bet: Chimaev by TKO/KO or Submission
-130 at BET99
Expect Chimaev to drag this fight to the mat, where he'll be able to get into full mount or take the champ's back. Even on the feet, there's a chance Chimaev could win by KO/TKO since he's shown death-touch power against Gerald Meerschaert and Ikram Aliskerov.
Read Rohit's full Du Plessis vs. Chimaev predictions.
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Cannonier vs Page
Danny HowardBest bet: Page by decision
-110 at BET99
Page is still fighting at a high level and is hard to beat without reliable wrestling skills. Cannonier’s size might be an issue as he is naturally the bigger man, but he’s older and slower, and these types of opponents who won’t rush into a firefight are the kind that have soundly beaten him in the past.
Read Danny's full Cannonier vs. Page predictions.
Neal vs Prates
Danny HowardBest bet: Prates to win by KO/TKO/DQ
+125 at BET99
Neal isn’t an elite counter-striker and struggles to keep high-volume strikers off him, which plays into Prates’ forward pressure. Expect Prates to soften Neal up with jabs and combinations, breaking the veteran’s resolve, and eventually finding the finish when an opening presents itself.
Read Danny's full Neal vs. Prates predictions.
Murphy vs Pico
Danny HowardBest bet: Murphy to win by decision
+220 at BET99
For all the good things Murphy does, he is feather-fisted and doesn’t have that killer instinct to close out a fight even when he’s dominating. He’s the MMA equivalent of a points fighter in boxing, where he’ll fight to neutralize and frustrate, opting to play the long game and not take risks while sticking to a disciplined game plan based on keeping the fight on the outside.
Read Danny's full Murphy vs. Pico predictions.
Elliott vs Asakura
Chris FariaBest bet: Fight to not go the distance
-105 at BET99
You don’t see many knockout artists at flyweight, but Asakura’s wild style is definitely conducive to early finishes — 10 of his last 13 bouts have ended inside the distance.
On the other side of the octagon, Elliott has had each of his last two fights end before the bell. However, he’s only been knocked out once in his pro career — way back in 2009. Age catches up to everyone, though, and Asakura certainly has the speed and power to buck that trend.
Read Danny's full Elliott vs. Asakura predictions.
Our best UFC 319 parlay
+683 parlay
Tony SartoriEdson Barboza moneyline
Chase Hooper by submission
Michael Page by decision
+683 at BET99Edson Barboza enters his 31st UFC fight with a significant edge in experience and a stylistic advantage over Drakkar Klose. Though the odds suggest a competitive fight, and the over/under implies it likely goes the distance, Klose is just 1-3 in his last four as an underdog, which doesn't inspire confidence.
Whether it’s a highlight-reel KO or a clean decision, Barboza has the tools to get his hand raised.
Chase Hooper continues to improve, and this matchup with Alexander Hernandez sets up perfectly for another statement win. With the betting line moving toward Hooper and the fight expected to end inside the distance, this looks like a prime opportunity for the surging prospect to exploit a fading opponent.
Simply put, these are two ships passing in the night, and Hooper’s should sail to a submission victory.
Michael "Venom" Page should have a clear edge in speed and striking technique against Jared Cannonier, making this a favorable stylistic matchup.
Page’s unorthodox movement and ability to control range should allow him to stay on the outside and pick Cannonier apart over the course of three rounds.
Read a full analysis of Tony's UFC 319 parlay picks.
