UFC 319 live: Khamzat Chimaev vs Dricus Du Plessis start time, fight card, updates and Kai Asakura vs Tim Elliott

Left hook gets through for Asakura. Elliott responds with one of his own.

Asakura with a leaping knee attempt, but Elliott evades. He stalks the Japanese star now. Oh! Counter right hand lands for Asakura.

Elliott shoots for a takedown from range, and he manages to complete it with a bit of improvisation! He quickly tries to take the back, but Asakura stands and is able to shake him off.

But now, out in the open, a well-timed double-leg by Elliott! Asakura closes his guard at once.

Elliott is able to pass to mount and work on a guillotine… Forty-five seconds left in the round…

Tim Elliott def. Kai Asakura via second-round submission (guillotine choke, 4:39)

Asakura stands orthodox. Elliott bounces from orthodox to southpaw and back, early on. He feints a spinning back kick, then flicks out a front kick.

Asakura times a left hook around a kick, but he’s out of range with a cross. Lots of awkward movement from Elliott, who was a title challenger nine years ago, when Demetrious Johnson reigned.

Asakura testing Elliott’s chin in the opening minutes. He steps back to neutralise an instinctive single-leg attempt, then lands a right cross.

Every now and then, Elliott is dipping, risking getting caught with one of Asakura’s signature knees. Slapping right hook from Elliott from a southpaw stance.

Now somewhat of a cartwheel kick from Elliott, who then catches a high kick by Asakura and dumps him to the mat! A couple of elbows from side mount.

Asakura actually throws a series of punches from below, before standing just before the buzzer. Likely his round.

The main card begins with a flyweight tilt between Tim Elliott and Kai Asakura.

Asakura, a former bantamweight champion in Rizin, joined the UFC late last year to immediately challenge flyweight king Alexandra Pantoja.

The Japanese, 31, showed off his electric striking in a couple of moments, but he was soon submitted by Pantoja.

Now, he aims to bounce back against American Elliott, 38, who is seeded 11th at 125lb.

Dricus Du Plessis (C) vs Khamzat Chimaev (middleweight title)

Lerone Murphy vs Aaron Pico (featherweight)

Geoff Neal vs Carlos Prates (welterweight)

Jared Cannonier vs Michael “Venom” Page (middleweight)

Tim Elliott vs Kai Asakura (flyweight)

Oh! Early in round two, Nolan is hurt by a high kick, but he fires back quickly!

Now a low kick by Susurkaev, and Nolan clutches his own knee… He’s then taken down!

Susurkaev is working on an arm-triangle, but Nolan manages to free himself… only to be flattened out on his stomach. Susurkaev has submission options AND ground and pound opportunities.

And he gets a rear naked choke!!

Baysangur Susurkaev def. Eric Nolan via second-round submission (rear naked choke, 2:01)

Susurkaev presses forward early, switching stances. He kicks high then stabs a front kick to the body.

Great knee by Nolan after grabbing the back of Susurkaev’s head at close range. Susurkaev tries to laugh it off.

He soon clinches Nolan against the cage, to the sound of boos. Nolan reverses the position, then lands a spinning back elbow as Susurkaev tries to twist off the cage.

Fun exchanges now. Susurkaev eventually backs up Nolan to the fence, shoots a double-leg, and dumps him down. He ties up Nolan’s legs in typically Russian fashion.

Nolan gives up his back but manages to stand against the fence. He’s dragged down a couple of times, but he keeps rising.

Susurkaev lets go and eats a few hard punches! He ties up Nolan again late in the round, but the American frees himself and rocks Susurkaev with a left hook!

Susurkaev drops onto his backside after the buzzer sounds!

Baysangur Susurkaev vs Eric Nolan is the final prelim of the night, and it’s a short-notice fight for each man.

Susurkaev last fought on TUESDAY, winning on Dana White’s Contender Series to stay unbeaten.

Meanwhile Nolan’s fine form has seen him similarly drafted into the UFC for this one, after a bout fell through on tonight’s card.

This one’s at middleweight.

Meerschaert was unfortunately the victim of Chimaev’s 17-second knockout in 2020.

Both men stand southpaw. Oleksiejczuk with a grazing one-two early. He backs up Meerschaert, who tries a single-leg but backs out. Meerschaert shoots again but is denied.

Another takedown denied by Oleksiejczuk, who then tags Meerschaert with a left hook, and “GM3” is dazed! He stumbles to his back, on the mat, and half-hopes Oleksie will follow him to the canvas.

No dice, and Meerschaert stands.

Oh! But he’s soon dropped again – this time by a cross – and he’s finished by heavy hammer fists!

Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Gerald Meerschaert via first-round TKO (punches and hammer fists, 3:03)

Loopy Godinez def. Jessica Andrade via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Alexander Hernandez def. Chase Hooper via first-round TKO (4:58)

Drakkar Klose def. Edson Barboza via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Karine Silva def. Dione Barbosa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Joseph Morales def. Alibi Idris via second-round submission (triangle choke, 3:04)