Latest news with #UFC319


USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Nassourdine Imavov abandons UFC 319 backup role, turns attention to Caio Borralho
Nassourdine Imavov abandons UFC 319 backup role, turns attention to Caio Borralho No backup anymore. Conditions changed. You wanted to talk son, I'm here, I'm gonna break you @BorralhoCaio 🤓 ⏳ — Imavov Nassourdine (@imavov1) June 17, 2025 Nassourdine Imavov says he's no longer the backup for the UFC 319 middleweight title fight. Instead, Imavov (16-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC), the UFC-ranked No. 1 middleweight, wants a scheduled fight of his own against Caio Borralho. The 29-year-old French fighter did not explain why he's abandoning the backup role for Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev, which serves as the UFC 319 main event at United Center in Chicago. "No backup anymore," Imavov wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "Conditions changed. You wanted to talk son, I'm here, I'm gonna break you @BorralhoCaio." Imavov has changed his tune on Borralho (17-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC), after initially dismissing his callout. In April, Borralho claimed Imavov turned down a fight offer, which prompted the Brazilian to sound off. At the time, Imavov didn't see an upside to fighting Borralho, who is further down in the rankings. In the latest MMA Junkie/USA TODAY Sports middleweight rankings, Imavov holds the No. 4 spot with Borralho not too far behind at No. 8. Currently riding a four-fight winning streak that includes wins over Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier, Brendan Allen, and former champion Israel Adesanya, Imavov is knocking on the door of a title shot. Borralho is rapidly climbing the ladder at 185 pounds as well, as he is undefeated through seven UFC bouts, including back-to-back bonus-earning performances in his most recent fights against Paul Craig and Jared Cannonier.


USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
King Green vs. Diego Ferreira booked for UFC 319 in Chicago
King Green vs. Diego Ferreira booked for UFC 319 in Chicago A fight between lightweight veterans has been added to UFC 319. On Tuesday, the UFC announced that King Green will meet Diego Ferreira on Aug. 16 at United Center in Chicago. UFC 319 (pay-per-view, ESPN+) will be headlined by a middleweight title fight between champion Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev. Green (32-17-1 MMA, 13-12-1 UFC) has been on the downswing of his career, having lost three of his past four bouts. Green, 38, is on a two-fight skid after being submitted by Paddy Pimblett last July and brutally knocked out by Mauricio Ruffy this past March at UFC 313. Ferreira (19-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) has lost four of his past six bouts dating back to 2021. The 40-year-old veteran is coming off a lackluster unanimous decision loss to Grant Dawson this past January at UFC 311. Below is the latest UFC 319 lineup: Champ Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev – for middleweight title Jared Cannonier vs. Michael Page Gerald Meerschaert vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk Edson Barboza vs. Drakkar Klose Diego Ferreira vs. King Green JJ Aldrich vs. Karine Silva Bryan Battle vs. Nursulton Ruziboev Kai Asakura vs. Tim Elliott Alexander Hernandez vs. Chase Hooper Jessica Andrade vs. Loopy Godinez


USA Today
13-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jared Cannonier vs. Michael Page added to UFC 319 in Chicago
Jared Cannonier vs. Michael Page added to UFC 319 in Chicago The lineup for the UFC's return to the "Windy City" continues to build with the addition of a former title challenger to the lineup. Jared Cannonier (18-8 MMA, 11-8 UFC) is set to take on Michael Page (23-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) at UFC 319, which takes place Aug. 16 at United Center in Chicago. UFC officials announced the middleweight booking Friday. Although a card placement wasn't announced, the matchup almost certainly will be part of the pay-per-view main card. UFC 319 is headlined by a middleweight title fight between champion Dricus Du Plessis and challenger Khamzat Chimaev. Page had a high-profile UFC debut at UFC 299 15 months ago and outworked Kevin Holland for a unanimous decision at welterweight. He dropped his follow-up to Ian Machado Garry, but in February threw a wrench into the middleweight division with an upset of Shara Magomedov. Now the longtime Bellator standout will look for a second straight at 185 pounds in the UFC. Cannonier fought for the middleweight title in mid-2022, but dropped a decision to then-champ Israel ADesanya. He had back-to-back wins over former title challengers Sean Strickland and Marvin Vettori after that, but fell back in to the pack when he dropped bouts to Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho in 2024. Earlier this year, though, the "Killa Gorilla" got back on track with a fourth-round knockout of Gregory Rodrigues in a bonus-winning performance in his latest UFC main event. A win over Page would be another high-profile one to add to his resume and keep him in contention at 185. With the addition, the latest UFC 319 lineup now includes:


Hamilton Spectator
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Vancouver's Loopy Godinez to face former UFC champion Jessica Andrade in Chicago
Canadian strawweight Loopy Godinez will face former champion Jessica (Bate Estaca) Andrade at UFC 319 in Chicago on Aug. 16. Godinez (13-5-0) is ranked 11th among strawweight (115-pound) contenders while Andrade is ranked fifth among strawweights and ninth among flyweights (125 pounds). Godinez, 31, ended a two-fight losing skid with a win over Brazil's Julia (Psycho) Polastri in March. The Mexican-born, Vancouver-based fighter is 8-5-0 in the UFC. Andrade (26-14-0) won the strawweight title at UFC 237 in May 2019 when she knocked out American Rose (Thug) Namajunas. But she lost to China's Zhang Weili in her first title defence. The Brazilian was stopped by flyweight champion Valentina (Bullet) Shevchenko at UFC 261 in April 2021. Andrade has lost her last two outings and five of her last seven. She was submitted by Canadian Jasmine Jasudavicius last time out, at UFC 315 in May in Montreal. Andrade is 17-12-0 in the UFC. The main event at Chicago's United Centre sees South African Dricus du Plessis defend his middleweight title against No. 3 Khamzat Chimaev of the United Arab Emirates. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2025.


Vancouver Sun
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Vancouver's Loopy Godinez to face former UFC champion Jessica Andrade in Chicago
Canadian strawweight Loopy Godinez will face former champion Jessica (Bate Estaca) Andrade at UFC 319 in Chicago on Aug. 16. Godinez (13-5-0) is ranked 11th among strawweight (115-pound) contenders while Andrade is ranked fifth among strawweights and ninth among flyweights (125 pounds). Godinez, 31, ended a two-fight losing skid with a win over Brazil's Julia (Psycho) Polastri in March. The Mexican-born, Vancouver-based fighter is 8-5-0 in the UFC. Andrade (26-14-0) won the strawweight title at UFC 237 in May 2019 when she knocked out American Rose (Thug) Namajunas. But she lost to China's Zhang Weili in her first title defence. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The Brazilian was stopped by flyweight champion Valentina (Bullet) Shevchenko at UFC 261 in April 2021. Andrade has lost her last two outings and five of her last seven. She was submitted by Canadian Jasmine Jasudavicius last time out, at UFC 315 in May in Montreal. Andrade is 17-12-0 in the UFC. The main event at Chicago's United Centre sees South African Dricus du Plessis defend his middleweight title against No. 3 Khamzat Chimaev of the United Arab Emirates.