Former UFC flyweight contenders Tim Elliott and Kai Asakura are scheduled to clash inside the octagon when the UFC returns to Chicago on August 16. Both athletes independently confirmed the booking via their social media channels.
UFC 319 is set to be held at the United Center. The event features a highly anticipated main event pitting 185-pound champion Dricus Du Plessis against the undefeated force Khamzat Chimaev for the middleweight title.
Elliott (23-13-1) will be making his first walk to the cage in 20 months for this bout against Asakura. The veteran fighter, who won The Ultimate Fighter season 24, is coming off a victory in his last outing, a submission win over Sumudaerji in December 2023 in Las Vegas.
The 38-year-old previously challenged Demetrious Johnson for the UFC flyweight championship back in 2016, following his TUF triumph. Across his two tenures with the promotion, Elliott holds a combined octagon record of 9-11 and has been successful in five of his most recent seven appearances.
Asakura (21-5) looks to secure his first UFC win after a promotional debut loss. He was defeated by reigning 125-pound champion Alexandre Pantoja via second-round submission in his most recent fight before this booking.
The Japanese standout joins the UFC roster having previously held the RIZIN bantamweight title twice. During his impressive 13-3 run in RIZIN between 2017 and 2023, Asakura secured notable victories over prominent fighters such as Kyoji Horiguchi, Manel Kape, and Juan Archuleta.
