Former UFC flyweight title contenders Tim Elliott and Kai Asakura are set to clash inside the octagon at UFC 319 in Chicago on August 16. Both fighters confirmed the matchup via social media.
UFC 319 will be held at the United Center. The event is headlined by the middleweight title defense between champion Dricus Du Plessis and the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev.
Elliott (23-13-1) will be making his return after a 20-month break from competition to face Asakura. The winner of The Ultimate Fighter season 24 last fought in December 2023, securing a submission victory over Sumudaerji in Las Vegas.
The 38-year-old veteran previously challenged Demetrious Johnson for the UFC flyweight title after his TUF win in 2016. Across his two separate stints with the promotion, Elliott holds a combined octagon record of 9-11 and has won five of his last seven bouts.
Asakura (21-5) will be making his UFC debut against Elliott, aiming to rebound from a recent second-round submission defeat to current 125-pound champion Alexandre Pantoja (in RIZIN).
The Japanese fighter joins the UFC as a two-time RIZIN bantamweight champion. During his RIZIN career from 2017 to 2023, where he compiled a 13-3 record, he secured victories over notable opponents including Kyoji Horiguchi, Manel Kape, and Juan Archuleta.
