UFC 319 is set to answer a lot of questions.
The Pay-Per-View card (as it turns out, one of the last half-dozen or so UFC PPV events, with the promotion dropping the format upon its move to Paramount+ next year) sees Dricus Du Plessis headlining against Khamzat Chimaev, with middleweight gold on the line. For years, fans have wondered if Khamzat would some day hold a UFC title. Early on he seemed like a lock, prior to running into a myriad of health issues.
Those appear to be in the past now, as do the visa issues that prevented him from competing stateside. We’ll get our answer to the Chimaev question Saturday, while also learning whether Dricus Du Plessis has what it takes to defeat the unbeaten phenom, and establish himself as a champion who could potentially clear out the division.
While there are other deserving contenders – Reinier de Ridder, Anthony Hernandez, Nassourdine Imavov, Caio Borralho – Chimaev is unquestionably the most formidable at this point.
The Aaron Pico question will be answered this Saturday as well. A blue chip prospect for Bellator MMA, Pico was considered a future title contender prior to that promotion being sold. A fight with Patricio Pitbull was heavily anticipated, but never came to fruition (though both are now employed by the UFC). Instead, he arrives in the co-main event at UFC 319 opposite the unbeaten Lerone Murphy. A win, and Pico is instantly in title contention. A loss, similar to Patchy Mix falling flat in his own recent debut, and the talented Jackson-Wink fighter will have to take the slow road.
Pico, it should be noted, was to have made his debut against Movsar Evloev, only for Evloev to forgo a May date, sign on for UFC Abu Dhabi in July, then pull out of the bout due to injury.
With a mixture of star power and intriguing match-ups, UFC 319 is one of the better cards of the year. The pre-fight press conference goes down Thursday, getting underway at 6PM ET, 3PM PT. Catch the live stream above.
