UFC 319 reportedly receives violent middleweight fight

Originally posted on MMA on SI | By Mathew Riddle | Last updated Jun 10, 2025 8:58 AM ET

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UFC 319 is starting to take shape, with reports of a middleweight clash heading to the card.

The Chicago PPV is headlined by a middleweight title fight between champion Dricus Du Plessis and the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev.

Only a few fights have been announced so far, but it's looking likely that a fan-favorite scrapper is headed to the event against a dangerous opponent.

UFC 317 gets major title eliminator after fighter's 11th cancellation

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

UFC report: Bryan Battle vs. Nursulton Ruziboev set for UFC 319

As per a report, Bryan Battle is set for a middleweight clash with Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC 319 on August 16

The news was first reported by Home of Fight's Jake Noecker on June 9, and later concurred by Marcel Dorff, a reputable figure in the MMA space.

| BREAKING: Bryan Battle is set to take on Nursulton Ruziboev at #UFC319 on August 16th in Chicago! This will be a 170lb fight, per sources.

Full story coming to @Home_of_Fight pic.twitter.com/12hsT5lesI
— Jake Noecker (@JakeNoeckerMMA) June 9, 2025

Battle (12-2 1NC), a perennial welterweight, will be making a return to middleweight after competing at welterweight for his last several fights; repeated weight misses probably influenced this decision.

'The Butcher' won The Ultimate Fighter season 29, and has put together a 7-1 1NC record since debuting in the UFC in 2021. Most notably, he knocked out Takashi Sato with a head kick in 44 seconds in 2022 and flatlined Gabe Green in 14 seconds in 2023.

Remember when...

UFC welterweight Bryan Battle (@BryanBattle10) knocked out Takashi Sato with a head kick. (Aug. 6, 2022)

This was the The Ultimate Fighter 29 winner's UFC welterweight debut.#UFCVegas88 pic.twitter.com/kfj2Ca6qIX
— Curtis Calhoun (@CalhounOnMMA) March 14, 2024