by UFC 319 is finally upon us and it features one of the best main events fans have seen in a long time as Middleweight Champion Dricus du Plessis ( DDP) defends against Khamzat Chimaev. The two have a combined record of 37-2 and are seen as two of the very best in the sport. We’ll get to that in a bit, but this card is loaded from top to bottom and we have plenty of fights to breakdown.
The Undercard has seven exciting fights. Let’s get right to the picks on the undercard fights.
Reach size in parentheses.
Fight One
Joseph Morales ( 68) vs Alibi Ildris ( 69)
Prediction – Ildris
Reason why – While Morales is a winner of his last three fights, they come against inferior talent in Cage Warriors and Uriah Fabers Combat Promotions. His last two UFC fights back in 2018, did not go his way. Ildris comes in at 10-0 and making his UFC debut. Not much is known about Ildris as his entire career until this point, was spent in the little exposed NAIZA promotion. While some may freeze up in a UFC debut, I feel Ildris will have enough composure to get the likely victory.
Fight Two
Karine Silva (67) vs Dione Barbosa (66)
Prediction – Silva
Reason why – Silva is looking to bounce back from his first UFC loss after winning 5 straight to begin her stint with the promotion. Silva is known to finish fights violently as 17 of her 18 victories came by either TKO or submission. She can be deadly when she is on her game. She is Brazilian and her last name is Silva, so you just know she had to be good!
Barbosa has everything it takes to win this fight as she is a master of the arm bar submission. At 8-3, her career as seen a few ups and downs but she is currently a winner of 2 straight and has fought in the UFC 3 previous times so the big dance shouldn’t scare her. Barbosa can pull off the upset, but I feel she won’t.
Fight Three
Jessica Andrade (62) vs Loopy Godinez (61 )
Prediction – Andrade
Reason for Pick – To be 100% transparent, I’m the furthest from an Andrade fan that you will find. It amazes me that she is not only a former UFC Strawweight Champion, but also a woman who has fought in 4 UFC titles fights, going 1-3 with that one being the fluke Slam victory over Thug Rose. What she also is, is a loser of 5 of her last 7 fights as she had bounced around weight divisions trying to re-spark her career.
Godinez has been bouncing around the UFC since April of 2021, going 8-5 in that stretch as she has struggled to find consistency. As much as I hate to do it, I see the former champ overcoming the slight favorite for the decision win.
Fight Four
Edson Barboza (75) vs Drakkar Klose (70)
Prediction – Barboza
Reason for Pick – It is crazy to think a guy like Barboza, who has been fighting in the UFC since 2010 with 36 fights and 26 of those in the UFC, is still kicking around in 2025. What is sad is how far down the card he has slipped. Will he have the motivation and spirit to give Klose a true fight? I think he does and wins!
Klose is 8-3 in the UFC and 15-3-1 overall. Klose is coming off being knocked out at the hands of Joel Alvarez last December. I think he bounces back here with a solid performance but gets outpointed by Barboza. Klose is the slight underdog here and has to overcome an 5 inch reach disadvantage, that won’t be an easy task.
Fight Five
Chase Hooper (75) vs Alexander Hernandez (72)
Prediction – Hooper
Reason for Pick – Hooper is a great grappler with recent back to back wins over legends Clay Guida and Jim Miller as he improved his overall record to 16-3-1. Hooper is a winner of 5 straight overall and has what it takes to win his sixth straight here.
Hernandez is a good looking fighter with a chiseled physique but it reminds us all, muscles can only get you so far. He has to many holes in his game as shown in his 4 losses over his last 7 fights. Hooper should be able to expose him early and finish him soundly for the win.
Fight Six
Baisangur Susurkaev ( 79 ) vs Eric Nolan ( 77 )
Prediction – Susurkaev
Reason for Pick – Susurkaev makes his UFC debut at 10-0 with 9 brutal finishes coming in the very first round. Is the hype or is he for real? A lot of eye balls will be on the under card to watch him perform.
Fight Seven
Gerald Meerschaert ( 77 ) vs Michal Oleksiejczuk ( 74 )
Prediction –
Reason for pick – The two heavyweight are set to get in there and bang it out with 21 combined knockouts. Meerschaert has been fighting pro since 2007 while Oleksiejczuk didn’t even have his first UFC fight until 2017. Neither guy will be challenging for a UFC title soon, if ever.
This is a total toss up to me, but I will go with the UFC veteran in Oleksjejczuk.
