🥊 UFC 318: Poirier’s Last Ride

Sunday, July 20 - Action kicks off at 6AM UTC

We’re going full violence mode.
UFC 318 touches down in New Orleans, and the vibes are all-out war. A card stacked for chaos, headlined by the BMF title and the final walk for one of MMA’s realest: Dustin Poirier.
It’s The Diamond’s last dance and across from him? The BMF king himself, Max Holloway. This one’s got blood, legacy, and heartbreak written all over it.

Elsewhere, Paulo Costa steps out of Instagram and back into the Octagon, looking to derail surging Russian finisher Roman Kopylov in a middleweight scrap with real stakes.

And if you like bombs, don’t miss Dan Ige vs Patricio “Pitbull” Freire - two knockout artists with no reverse gear. Someone’s going night-night.

🧨 Main Event: Dustin Poirier vs Max Holloway

BMF Title | Lightweight | Legacy Fight

Dustin Poirier (30-9-0, 1 NC) takes his final walk to the Octagon, and he’s not playing it safe - he’s running it back with Max Holloway, the man he beat over five rounds in 2019 for the interim title. No warm-up. Just straight violence.

Poirier’s résumé is stacked: wins over McGregor, Chandler, Gaethje - and his tools are still sharp. Heavy hands, punishing leg kicks, and a guillotine that snaps on in a blink. This isn’t a ceremonial exit. It’s a real threat.

Max Holloway enters off a KO loss to Ilia Topuria, but before that? He torched Allen, Zombie, and Gaethje - dropping the latter in Round 5 to claim the BMF belt.

Expect Max to press with pace, Poirier to swing back hard, and 25 minutes of pure legacy violence. One last war for The Diamond. One more climb for Blessed.

Prediction: Holloway by KO/TKO

💥 Co-Main: Paulo Costa vs Roman Kopylov

Middleweight Slugfest | Guaranteed Violence

This one’s gonna be nasty. Roman Kopylov has been on a heater - 6 wins in his last 7, including back-to-back dubs over Cesar Almeida (split) and a buzzer-beater TKO of Chris Curtis. He’s a slick southpaw with heavy kicks, clean boxing, and just enough wrestling to keep guys honest.

He now gets his toughest test yet: the chaos merchant himself, Paulo Costa.
Costa’s coming off back-to-back decision losses to Whittaker and Strickland, but the guy’s still a physical freak with bricks for hands and a granite chin. And crucially - he loves a brawl.

Both of these guys want the same thing: a stand-up war. No takedowns. No hugging. Just violence. Buckle up.

Prediction: Kopylov by KO/TKO

🧠 Kevin Holland vs Daniel Rodriguez

Middleweight Scrap | Certified Chaos

This one's got slobberknocker written all over it. Kevin Holland enters on a 2-fight heater: slick guillotine win over Vicente Luque and a clean decision over Gunnar Nelson before that. When he’s flowing, he’s rangy, unpredictable, and always hunting a finish.

Daniel Rodriguez just slept Santiago Ponzinibbio and edged out Alex Morono for a split decision victory. Southpaw boxer with pop, pressure, and no hesitation to trade in the pocket.

Both guys love a stand-up war. Neither’s shooting. Expect swings, chirps, and a potential banger to steal the show.

Prediction: Holland by Decision

🔥 Dan Ige vs Patricio Pitbull

Featherweight Firefight | Certified Violence

Striker vs striker. Dog vs dog. This one’s gonna bang.
Dan Ige enters off a nasty KO win over Sean Woodson, showing off that trademark pressure and power. He’s had a tough run against elite competition, but when he lands clean - it’s lights out. Expect him to press forward early and test Pitbull’s chin.

Patricio “Pitbull” Freire, one of the most decorated fighters in Bellator history, stalled in his UFC debut - dropping a decision to Yair Rodriguez where he was dropped late in Round 3. Not the debut he wanted… but he’s still got the power, fight IQ, and killer instinct that made him a two-division champ.
The question now: can Pitbull shake off the rust and recapture that title-tier form? Or does Ige’s momentum turn this into another highlight-reel finish?

Either way - this ain’t going to the judges.

Prediction: Ige by KO/TKO

⚡ Michael Johnson vs Daniel Zellhuber

Lightweight Clash | Youth vs Experience

Michael Johnson still isn’t done. The 15-year UFC vet rides in on a 2-fight win streak, including a clean KO over Ottman Azaitar. Fast hands, underrated wrestling, and fight IQ for days - he’s not an easy puzzle to crack.

Daniel Zellhuber is the flashy prospect with length, sharp kicks, and slick combos. He brutalized Francisco Prado two fights ago, but in his last outing, he faded late and dropped a split decision after getting rocked in the third.

He’s hungry to bounce back - but Johnson’s not here to be a stepping stone.

Prediction: Zellhuber by Decision

🩸 Kyler Phillips vs Vinicius Oliveira

Bantamweight | USA vs Brazil

Kyler Phillips is a flashy striker with serious speed and footwork, but he’s struggled with consistency. Vinicius Oliveira brings more experience, nasty Muay Thai, and a finisher’s mindset - if he gets rolling early, he’s a problem. Expect a fast-paced chess match with knockout potential.

Prediction: Phillips by Decision

🧱 Marvin Vettori vs Brendan Allen

Middleweight | Italy vs USA

Vettori is a durable grinder who’s gone the distance with the best, but his game hasn’t evolved much. Brendan Allen is the sharper technician right now - better submissions, better reads, and arguably peaking. If Allen avoids the clinch grind, he could outclass Marvin on the mat or the feet.

Prediction: Allen by Submission

⚔️ Francisco Prado vs Nikolay Veretennikov

Welterweight | Argentina vs Kazakhstan

Prado brings chaos - explosive striking, wild scrambles, and big power. Veretennikov is more methodical but durable, with strong top control if he can survive the early blitz. This one likely ends in Round 1… one way or the other.

Prediction: Prado by KO/TKO

💪 Ateba Gautier vs Robert Valentin

Middleweight | Cameroon vs Switzerland

Gautier is a massive favorite for a reason - freak athlete, heavy hands, and serious killer instinct. Valentin is tough and has some sneaky wrestling, but he’s a step behind physically. If Gautier keeps it standing, this could be over fast.

Prediction: Gautier by KO/TKO

UFC 318 Early Prelims

Adam Fugitt vs Islam Dulatov

Dulatov is a slick technician expected to style here. Fugitt is tough, but likely outgunned on the feet and on paper.

Jimmy Crute vs Marcin Prachnio

Crute brings pressure and submissions but his chin’s a question mark. Prachnio is awkward, dangerous, and always one shot away from changing everything.

Ryan Spann vs Lukasz Brzeski

Spann moves up with big power and finishing instincts. Brzeski has holes in his defense - and Spann should find one early.

Brunno Ferreira vs Jackson McVey

Ferreira is pure violence with all wins by finish. McVey is undefeated but untested - this is a massive step up.

Carli Judice vs Nicolle Caliari

Judice is aggressive with surprising power. Caliari is more seasoned but struggles with volume - live dog if she can survive early.

💸 Best Bets - UFC 318

Chasing value with a side of violence? We cooked up a 6-leg banger that blends vets, snipers, and pure chaos merchants:

• Max Holloway - BMF belt motivation, volume edge, and he’s still got that dog in him.
• Roman Kopylov - Crisper striker, better form, and Costa’s vibes are always sketchy.
• Kevin Holland - On a heater, unpredictable as hell, and fighting smart again.
• Kyler Phillips - Faster, sharper, and can mix it up if it gets gritty.
• Brendan Allen - Cleaner skillset and the momentum to roll through Vettori.
• Ateba Gautier - Built different. Flatlines guys like he’s clocking in for work.

🔒 $11.58 odds at SBX.com - lock it in, ride the chaos, and thank us on Sunday.

🥋 That’s UFC 318 - Now Lock It In

From legacy fights to full-blown brawls, UFC 318 is stacked top to bottom with killers and chaos. Whether you’re backing veterans or riding hype trains, this card is built for violence.

🔥 Bet it all on SBX - fast odds, crypto-ready, and built for fight night.
👉 Join now and turn violence into value.

And once the Octagon cools off, the F1 grid heats up in Spa.
🏁 Check out our Belgian GP preview for drivers to watch, betting leans, and the McLaren power shift in full swing.

All odds are accurate as of 8am UTC, 18 July 2025