It is safe to say that UFC 319 is not planned for this former title -which participated as the biggest favorite of the map.
Last Saturday evening there were numerous impressive versions in Chicago, when the UFC 319 Pay-per-View went off the United Center and the first event of the promotion in the city marked before the Pandemie.
The dominant victory of Khamzat Chimaev on Dricus du Plessis stole the headlines, but when it came to finishes, it was the undercard that was supplied in kicking.
It is not surprising that a few consecutive spinning back lebog knockouts emerged as the most important point of conversation, and the work of a 38-year-old underdog somewhat overshadowing that supplied the greatest upset of the night.
Kai Asakura breaks silence on the loss of UFC 319, leaving 0-2 in the Octagon
The UFC 319 -head card was opened with a flight weight conflict, while former Rizin champion Kai Asakura took his second walk to the Octagon to compete against Tim Elliott.
After Asakura was suffocated by Alexandre Pantoja in his immediate title shot on debut last December, the Japanese star wanted to start his path back to the 125-pound gold by noting a first UFC victory that many expected for him on August 16.
Against the expectations in Elliott, however, found its own choke against Asakura, which was tight enough to force a tick late in the second round and shockingly send the newcomer to a 0-2 UFC-LEI.
The result has left many Asakura's opportunities to find success in the largest stage in MMA. Although such opinions can be a “hard” assessment, the 31-year-old welcomed them in an apologetic first statement after the UFC 319.
“For everyone who supported me, I am really sorry,” wrote Asakura on X. “To be honest, I am disappointed in myself.
“Things often do not go as planned, but I keep crawling forward with grit, never give up. I will make this loss that I can ever look back on as valuable experience, which proves with results by becoming stronger.
“I will take the hard opinions, grow and come back better,” he concluded.
応援してくれた皆さん、本当に申し訳ありません正直、自分に落胆しています
思うようにいかないことが多いけど、諦めずに泥臭く這い上がっていきますこの負けも、いつか必ずいい経験だったと思えるように、強くなって結果で証明します
厳しい意見も受け止めて、成長して戻ってきます pic.twitter.com/qhha00yx0i
– 朝倉 海 海 kai asakura (@kai_1031_) August 18, 2025
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UFC 319 was a difficult night for prominent newcomers
Asakura was not the only new UFC face that has passed a devastating setback in Chicago.
While the Japanese star falls short in its second performance in the Octagon, UFC 319 marked the arrival of Aaron Pico, an ex-caller striking who wanted an immediate impact.
He was thrown directly into the deep against the unbeaten Lerone Murphy, who turned out to be an obstacle to the American debutant.
Murphy brutally brutally hit UFC 319 with a rotating elbow in the first round. The move immediately slept the 28-year-old and caused a scene in question because he was unconscious for a considerable period.