The UFC touched down in the Windy City this weekend, and with the big pay-per-view feel in the air, I’m covering all your betting needs for a Chicago fight card stacked with top-ranked talent from top to bottom.
Let’s waste no more time and dive right into the most noteworthy betting picks for the UFC 319 preliminary card bouts.
Nursulton Ruziboev vs. Bryan Battle
UFC 319 Middleweight Preliminary Bout
Saturday, August 16, 2025 – 06:00 PM EDT at United Center
Fighter Breakdown
Nursulton Ruziboev
With close to 50 pro MMA bouts to his name, experience in cage warfare is nothing new to Nursulton Ruziboev. More impressively, this Uzbekistan native is just 31 years old, and has collected a 4-1 UFC record since joining the promotion in mid-2023.
With Ruziboev’s only loss coming against a top-ranked Joaquin Buckley, it’s clear to see that he’s no easy out. This weekend will pit him against a foe with significantly less experience, but that hasn’t prevented the oddsmakers from placing him as a betting underdog!
- Ruziboev Pro Record: 36-9-2
- Ruziboev KO/TKO Wins: 13
- Ruziboev Submission Wins: 20
Bryan Battle
In step, Bryan Battle. The winner of the Ultimate Fighter Season 29 has flourished since joining the UFC rankings, as he currently holds a 7-1-1 record. With zero defeats in his previous 5 UFC bouts, including a huge dub over Randy Brown last time out, the Missouri native’s trajectory is close to receiving a top-10 ranking, especially if he can debut at middleweight this weekend and make a statement over a rising contender.
- Battle Pro Record: 12-2
- Battle KO/TKO Wins: 4
- Battle Submission Wins: 5
Ruziboev vs. Battle: Fight Tape Analysis
Despite winning tough as a middleweight, Battle has primarily fought at 170lbs of late. His move back to the middleweight division raises questions about whether the welterweight weight cut was causing him issues. If true, and should his desires truly lie with another division, the confidence built from his current win streak could be damaged.
Battle isn’t small for the division by any means, but at 6’1” compared to Ruziboev’s 6’5” stature, he won’t have a size advantage that he’s accustomed to at welterweight. That size advantage and smothering style Battle has fought behind won’t be available, and as Ruziboev has the bigger power and cleaner striking, outside of the aforementioned clinch-style fighting the favorite enjoys, I struggle to see him succeeding.
Battle’s wrestling/grappling threat does come into question, but as mentioned, the size advantages he’s accustomed to will be removed, and that will likely translate into strength, and he won’t simply be able to hold the larger man for long periods.
UFC 319 Preliminary Card Odds & Prediction
The UFC odds make Ruziboev a betting underdog. I’m not surprised at the line because Battle has been on such a tear; however, if there’s one fighter presenting too many unknowns in a matchup this weekend who’s capable of underwhelming as a favorite, I believe Battle is our guy.
UFC Pick: Ruziboev Moneyline (+140) [1u returns 1.4u profit]
Chase Hooper vs. Anthony Hernandez
UFC 319 Lightweight Preliminary Bout
Saturday, August 16, 2025 – 06:00 PM EDT at United Center
Fighter Breakdown
Chase Hooper
He might look like he’s dealing with precocious puberty, but don’t be fooled, he’s no teenage boy; he’s a serious man with serious MMA talents.
Riding the first 3-fight win streak of his 11-fight UFC career, Hooper is truly coming into his own. Sure, he’s most known for the jiu-jitsu/grappling prowess he regularly puts on display, but that striking offense has come a long way, and he’s seemingly unstoppable right now.
- Hooper Pro Record: 16-8
- Hooper KO/TKO Wins: 6
- Hooper Submission Wins: 2
Anthony Hernandez
Anthony Hernandez’s current two-fight streak was desperately needed. He’d previously lost 4 of his last 5 bouts before his current run, and although the competition levels weren’t exactly high, a much-needed confidence boost will usher him into Chicago this weekend with a chip on his shoulder.
- Hernandez Pro Record: 16-3-1
- Hernandez KO/TKO Wins: 4
- Hernandez Submission Wins: 8
Hooper vs. Hernandez: Fight Tape Analysis
Hooper has been taking out UFC legends (Clay Guida & Jim Miller) like they’ve owed him money of late, and while Hernandez isn’t technically a legend, he’s an OG of the promotion with 15 fights to his name, and a potential notch on the record of Hooper that would certainly push him in the right direction of the lightweight ranks.
So, how would Hooper get it done? The grappling is an obvious game plan, but as mentioned, his striking has come a long way. Moreover, we’re looking at a 25-year-old who’s evolving from fight-to-fight, in contrast to Hernandez, who we know is going to throw strikes and avoid the takedowns at all costs.
With the worry of the takedown, I expect Hernandez to become hesitant on his feet, and this will allow Hooper to showcase his evolving strikes. With that said, I do believe he’ll find a takedown eventually, and that’s his world… a world where the submission finish becomes incredibly live for bettors!
UFC 319 Preliminary Card Odds & Prediction
The UFC pricing at the top sportsbooks makes Hooper a significant betting favorite. Still, with only one KO/TKO win in 11 UFC bouts to date, it would be surprising to see him finish his striking-based opponent via this method.
So, take Hooper to win by submission or decision and eliminate some of that juice we have on the moneyline.
UFC Pick: Hooper by Submission or Decision (-182) [1.82u returns 1u profit]
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*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
