UFC 319 and Abu Dhabi Betting Lines Overview

Dana White made a handful of announcements for upcoming UFC fights yesterday.

UFC 319 is set to deliver a thrilling night of mixed martial arts action on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. This event marks the UFC’s return to the Windy City for the first time since UFC 238 in 2019.

The headline bout features UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis defending his title against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev. Du Plessis, holding a professional record of 23-2, has been a dominant force in the division. Chimaev, with a flawless 14-0 record, is making his first title challenge and his return to fighting in the United States since 2022. Nassourdine Imavov has been named as the official backup fighter for this main event, ensuring the bout proceeds as planned.

Broadcast Details

• Date: Saturday, August 16, 2025
• Venue: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
• Main Card: 10:00 PM ET on Pay-Per-View
• Prelims: 8:00 PM ET on ESPN/ESPN+/Disney+
• Early Prelims: 6:00 PM ET on ESPN+/Disney+

Here are the lines for UFC 319 and UFC Abu Dhabi:

UFC 319

Dricus Du Plessis                         +165

Khamzat Chimaev                       -190

Note: This fight line initially opened upon speculation in August with Chimaev -200 and DDP +170.

The UFC is set to return to Abu Dhabi on July 26, 2025, with a compelling middleweight main event featuring former champion Robert Whittaker against rising contender Reinier de Ridder. This UFC Fight Night will take place at the Etihad Arena and will be broadcast on ABC, marking the promotion’s 21st event in Abu Dhabi and the first since UFC 308 in October 2024.

Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker (26-8) is aiming to rebound after a first-round submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308. Prior to that setback, Whittaker had secured victories over Paulo Costa and Ikram Aliskerov, reaffirming his status as a top contender in the middleweight division.

Reinier “RDR” de Ridder (20-2), a former two-division champion in ONE Championship, has quickly made his mark in the UFC. Since joining the organization, he boasts a 3-0 record, with notable finishes over Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland, and a recent knockout victory against Bo Nickal at UFC Des Moines. Standing at 6’4″ with a 78-inch reach, de Ridder presents a significant physical challenge in the middleweight division.

This bout carries significant implications for the middleweight title picture. Current champion Dricus Du Plessis is slated to defend his title against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319. A victory for either Whittaker or de Ridder could position them as the next title challenger.

Event Details

• Event: UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. de Ridder
• Date: Saturday, July 26, 2025
• Venue: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
• Broadcast: ABC (U.S.), ESPN+
• Start Times: Prelims at 12:00 PM ET, Main Card at 3:00 PM ET

The event will also feature several other intriguing matchups:

• Light Heavyweight: Nikita Krylov vs. Bogdan Guskov
• Middleweight: Shara Magomedov vs. Marc-André Barriault
• Light Heavyweight: Ibo Aslan vs. Billy Elekana
• Flyweight: Asu Almabayev vs. Ramazon Temirov

As the UFC returns to Abu Dhabi, fans can anticipate a night of high-stakes matchups that could reshape the middleweight landscape.

UFC Abu Dhabi:

Robert Whittaker                           -175

Reinier De Ridder                        +150

Shara Magomedov                      -260

Marc-Andre Barriault                   +220