UFC 318 lands on Saturday, July 19 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, featuring the emotional third clash between Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier. This fight marks Poirier’s farewell to the UFC, headlining the BMF title trilogy. The co-main boasts Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov, and additional bouts include Kevin Holland vs. Danial Rodriguez and Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber. Prelims begin at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the main card at 10 p.m. ET.
📅 Event Overview
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Date: Saturday, July 19, 2025
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Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
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Prelims: 6 p.m. ET (ESPN2 / Fight Pass)
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Main Card: 10 p.m. ET (ESPN+ PPV)
🥊 Main Card Lineup
| Division | Matchup | Stakes |
|---|---|---|
| BMF Title (155 lb) | Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier 3 | Poirier's final UFC fight and potential end to trilogy; Holloway chasing redemption and a title shot Talksport+15Talksport+15MMAmania.com+15New York Post+3MMAmania.com+3MMA Fighting+3Yahoo Esportes |
| Middleweight | Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov | Costa seeks bounce-back after UFC setbacks |
| Welterweight | Kevin Holland vs. Danial Rodriguez | Holland aims to regain top-15 status |
| Lightweight | Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber | Zellhuber looks to rebound after injury-setback |
⚡ Undercard Highlights
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Dan Ige vs. Patricio Pitbull – Adds striking depth to the card ESPN.com+15MMA Fighting+15UFC+15
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Other solid matchups include Kyler Phillips vs. Vinicius Oliveira, Marvin Vettori vs. Brendan Allen, and more, ensuring non-stop action MMA Fighting+15MMA Fighting+15MMAmania.com+15
🤔 What to Watch For
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📍 Poirier’s Emotional Farewell: It’s the legacy moment for a 14-year veteran, capping a decorated career Talksport
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Holloway Rebound Quest: A win could put “Blessed” back in championship discussions MMAmania.com+6MMAmania.com+6Talksport+6
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Zellhuber vs. Johnson: Zellhuber’s pre-fight trash talk and heel hook threat adds spice and intrigue Talksport+15MMAmania.com+15MMAmania.com+15
📺 Viewing Details
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USA: ESPN2 (Prelims), ESPN+/PPV (Main Card)
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International: Typically on UFC Fight Pass or regional partners
UFC 318 is packed with narrative-driven drama—the emotional BMF trilogy cap, career finales, and revenge matches. It's an unmissable night for hardcore MMA fans, casual viewers, and anyone who follows legacy moments.
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