The hype for UFC 319 is intensifying, although a current champion has a problem with a certain matchup.
Their first battle week interaction has only raised the hype for the collision of Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev for the title of the middleweight.
Although the main event is certainly the biggest conversation point on this card, only the main map has a number of exciting matchups with hunters who know how to do a show.
Before Michael's 'Venom' page seems to continue its middleweight, the PPV opener contains two men who have fought for UFC Gold in the past.
One of the biggest signing sessions of the promotion in recent times was unable to deduct what a historical debut would have been, and he could also stand in his second outing.
Max Holloway asks the matchmakers for booking Tim Elliott as the next opponent of Kai Asakura
On UFC 319, Kai Asakura will participate in his second UFC fight after signing the promotion last year.
With flying weight champion Alexandre Pantoja who needed new opponents, the former Rizin Fighter, who has a huge supporters in Japan, was put directly in a title on UFC 310.
This did not pay for him after he was shortened and submitted by the champion, and Max Holloway is afraid that the same could happen on August 16 in Chicago.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Tim Elliott also fought for the flight weight belt when he challenged Demetrious Johnson and although the veteran is the underdog in this matchup, his style can be difficult for Asakura.
After Alexander Volkanovski suggested that Elliott has a good chance of lifting his hand, Holloway was critical of the UFC because he gave Asakura an opponent who could close his exciting blow when he broke the card in a recent video.
“Why? They should have placed him with a striker. They should have placed him like Kai Kara-France or something. This would have been a much nicer fight … Call me crazy, but I think Tim Elliott just has a big advantage on the ground.
“Tim is on the floor as a super weird bro. I don't know, I think this is just a terrible fight for Kai Bro. I think the matchmaking, they wanted to build Japan and they just send him in a different way man.”
Max Holloway finally grabs his head over his heart for the UFC 319 -head card opener
As he clearly stated when breaking the matchup, Max Holloway thinks Tim Elliott will be a difficult opponent for Kai Asakura.
'Blessed' is clearly a fan of both men, but wants to see that the Japanese star can show some of its striking.
When he gave his last thoughts about the fight before he continued with the rest of the main map, Holloway admitted that he should go against his heart on this occasion.
“My heart says Kai, but my head is just going Tim. This is a heavy fight, man. This is a difficult fight for Kai. I am going with Tim. I think Tim, if Tim does not submit it or pound and pound, I just manage him for a few time and a decision.”