A flyweight clash is brewing as former UFC title challenger Tim Elliott is scheduled to take on Kai Asakura at UFC 319 in Chicago on August 16th. Both fighters confirmed the booking via social media, setting the stage for an intriguing matchup in the 125-pound division.
The event, UFC 319, is slated for the United Center in Chicago and features a middleweight championship headliner with Dricus Du Plessis defending his title against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev.
Elliott (23-13-1) is slated to return to action against Asakura after what has been described as a significant layoff. The winner of The Ultimate Fighter season 24 competition, Elliott last competed in December 2023, securing a submission victory over Sumudaerji in Las Vegas.
The 38-year-old veteran previously fought for the UFC title against Demetrious Johnson in 2016 following his TUF win. He has won five of his last seven fights in the octagon, holding a combined UFC record of 9-11 across his promotional runs.
Asakura (21-5) will be looking to bounce back from his UFC debut. He faced the current flyweight champion, Alexandre Pantoja, in December 2023, suffering a second-round submission loss.
The Japanese standout entered the UFC octagon as a highly accomplished fighter, having held the RIZIN bantamweight title twice. His successful 13-3 run in RIZIN between 2017 and 2023 included notable victories over fighters such as Kyoji Horiguchi, Manel Kape, and Juan Archuleta.
