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July 19, 2025 | Posted by Robert Winfree
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MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
(c) Max Holloway (155 lbs.) vs. #6 Dustin Poirier (156 lbs.) – for symbolic BMF title
#13 Paulo Costa (185 lbs.) vs. #14 Roman Kopylov (185 lbs.)
#13 Kevin Holland (170 lbs.) vs. Daniel Rodriguez (170 lbs.)
Patricio Freire (145 lbs.) vs. #11 Dan Ige (145 lbs.)
Michael Johnson (155 lbs.) vs. Daniel Zellhuber (156 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)
#15 Vinicius Oliveira (136 lbs.) vs. #12 Kyler Phillips (135 lbs.)
#11 Brendan Allen (185 lbs.) vs. #10 Marvin Vettori (186 lbs.)
Francisco Prado (170 lbs.) vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (169 lbs.)
Ateba Gautier (185 lbs.) vs. Robert Valentin (186 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)
Islam Dulatov (171 lbs.) vs. Adam Fugitt (171 lbs.)
Jimmy Crute (205 lbs.) vs. Marcin Prachnio (205 lbs.)
Lukasz Brzeski (242 lbs.) vs. Ryan Spann (252 lbs.)
Brunno Ferreira (186 lbs.) vs. Jackson McVey (185 lbs.)
Nicolle Caliari (126 lbs.) vs. Carli Judice (125 lbs.)

Hello everyone and welcome to 411mania’s LIVE coverage o UFC 318, I’m Robert Winfree and I’ll be your host for the event. This is the final ride for a legend of the sport, a three time title challenger and all around action hero, Dustin “the Diamond” Poirier. Poirier has been fighting for a fairly long time, dating back to his featherweight career in the WEC, but he’s ready to call it a career tonight no matter the outcome. Naturally he’s looking for another classic fight to add to his already stacked resume of great fights and he’s drawn a third bout with Max Holloway. Holloway is making a permanent move to lightweight now, he’s also 0-2 against Poirier lifetime as Holloway’s UFC debut was him stepping in on very short notice against Poirier way back in 2012. On that night the inexperienced Holloway submitted to a mounted triangle armbar and until his fight with Ilia Topuria that was the only time Holloway had been finished as a professional. For whatever value it has, the purely symbolic BMF title which Holloway still holds is up for grabs. It’s a fitting end to Poirier’s career, assuming he sticks to retirement. The pickings get a tad slimmer after that though. The co-main event has ranked middleweights but Paulo Costa is just 1-4 in his last five bouts taking on Roman Kopylov who’s 6-1 in his last seven. Kevin Holland vs. Daniel Rodriguez might be fun, Dan Ige is usually good for a fight, and Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber isn’t the worst lightweight fight on paper. On the prelims Vinicius Oliveira vs. Kyler Phillips should be good, Ateba Gautier looked solid in his UFC debut as well. So let’s get into the action.

UFC 318 comes to the world from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. This is the first time the UFC has been to New Orleans since June of 2015 when Dan Henderson and Tim Boetsch fought in the Fight Night main event. On the call we’ve got Jon Anik, Daniel Cormier, and Paul Felder with Heidi Androl as the roving reporter. We do have the newer rules in play, so all elbows are good and the new definition of a downed fighter is in play. Let’s hope someone figures out how to use it properly in the near future.

Carli Judice has gone 1-1 in the UFC but she is coming off of a win and could get her first UFC winning streak up and running with another one. Nicolle Caliari dropped her UFC debut back in January but now has another chance to get that all important first UFC win under her belt. The odds really like Judice at -380 to a +300 comeback on Caliari.

Women’s Flyweight Bout: Nicolle Caliari (8-3, 126 lbs.) vs. Carli Judice (4-2, 125 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Judice is four inches taller with a significant six inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Judice and they touch gloves. Caliari looks to engage early with a hook. Body kick from Judice. They punch into a clinch then trade knees before breaking. Judice with a front kick. Judice starts showing the jab now as she’s looking to maintain distance. Another front kick from Judice. Stepping knee from Judice. Caliari has had enough of getting battered and shoots a double leg, that hits the fence and she slips to the back standing. Judice turns chest to chest and they trade a few strikes there before they separate. Another stepping knee from Judice then a right hand. Left hand from Judice. Caliari lands a left to the body then tries a takedown but Judice defends, Caliari tries to switch to a headlock but that goes badly and Judice has the back standing. Again they get chest to chest, Judice lands an elbow then they clash on knees and break. Judice with a front kick then a couple of stiff left hands. Caliari isn’t afraid to throw but her timing and distance are off thus far. They trade body shots then Judice smothers a takedown. Another front kick from Judice. Caliari with a right to the body. Caliari with a pretty solid right hand. Caliari with a left hand then a front kick. Knee to the body from Judice and they clinch up. They trade knees while jockeying for position against the fence. That’s where the round will end.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Judice

ROUND TWO: Judice gets back to showing front kicks and left hands, Caliari’s right eye is swollen visibly at this point and it could become a real issue. More lefts from Judice, she’s landing then slipping and countering nicely. Right hook then a left hand from Judice. Another left from Judice. Caliari tries to clinch, she eats a knee and then gets turned into the fence. Judice with another knee to the body then she pulls free. Caliari fails a takedown and Judice makes her regain her feet. Left hand from Judice. Caliari lands an overhand right. They clinch but break quickly. Knee to the body from Judice then Caliari lands a couple of punches. Judice has started adding stance switches but still does her best work southpaw. Knee from Judice again then a right hook. Caliari misses reaching for a punch and eats a counter left. Judice with a few punches in close then she avoids a tie up. Three punch combination from Judice, she’s starting to tee off a bit now and Caliari is running out of ideas. Another left from Judice to close out the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Judice, 20-18 Judice overall

ROUND THREE: Judice shows long punches and kicks again. Jab from Judice. They trade lefts. Judice avoids a clinch and then lands a left to the body. Nice to see Judice go back to the body, she kind of got away from her front kicks in the second. Brief takedown from Caliari but Judice bounces up into a clinch and lands knees then a right hand before separating. Another left to the body from Judice, Caliari didn’t like that. A stepping knee from Judice finally drops Caliari and that’ll prompt the stoppage as she curls up on the mat.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Carli Judice via TKO, knee to the body and punches, at 1:30 of Round 3

The Final Round Finish Club thanks Ms. Judice for her work. Mic time for Judice, she plays with the crowd as she’s a native of Louisiana before talking us through the finish. She’s happy to show what she can do on the highest level like this and expects to continue to grow.

Brunno Ferreira has gone 3-1 in his last four fights and he did beat Arme Petrosyan his last time out, he’s looking for another winning streak here against a fairly late notice replacement opponent. Jackson McVey is undefeated coming into his UFC debut and he’ll be trying to maximize his only chance at giving a good first impression. Ferreira is a heavy favorite at -500 to McVey’s +380.

Middleweight Bout: Brunno Ferreira (13-2, 186 lbs.) vs. Jackson McVey (6-0, 185 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: McVey is a significant six inches taller with five inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for McVey while Ferreira does a bit of stance switching while moving but he’s still primarily orthodox. Ferreira with a body kick. McVey shows a few kicks. Ferreira is doing a lot of circling to his left, like he doesn’t know the other direction exists almost. Inside leg kick from Ferreira then he blocks the counters. Another inside leg kick from Ferreira, McVey didn’t like that one. They tie up, McVey gets the back standing and drags things down then they wrestle around and Ferreira slings McVey over the top then gets on top in side control. Some strong control from Ferreira then he passes to full mount. Ferreira grabs an armbar, nice transition, and gets the tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Brunno Ferreira via Submission, armbar, at 3:35 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Ferreira for his work. Mic time for Ferreira and the translator, he plays with the crowd and mentions showing off his jiu-jitsu black belt. He further talks us through the finish to close.

Ryan Spann has gone 1-3 in his last four which includes a loss in his last fight when he moved to heavyweight, now he’s in his sophomore outing in that weight class and is looking for his first taste of victory in it. Lukasz Brzeski has gone just 1-5 in the UFC and is on a two fight losing streak, he really needs a win as another loss probably boots him out of the promotion. The odds are with Spann at -245 to a +200 comeback on Brzeski.

Heavyweight Bout: Lukasz Brzeski (9-6-1 1 NC, 242 lbs.) vs. Ryan Spann (22-11, 252 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Spann is two inches taller with an inch of reach advantage. Right hand from Spann to get things going. Brzeski with a left hook. Spann keeps coming forward, he ducks a punch and hits a double leg into half guard. Now Spann passes to mount with an arm triangle attack but Brzeski shrimps to catch full guard. Spann with some punches as he’s looking to posture up. After a few short elbows Spann passes to half guard, then full mount in short order. Spann with a few more short elbows then he grabs an arm triangle and moves to side control with it. Brzeski rolls to a hip to release the arm triangle, Spann then hits him and grabs a guillotine on the way up and that forces the tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Ryan Spann via Submission, guillotine choke, at 2:47 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Spann for his work. Spann gets an interview, he’s very happy to have gotten the win and thanks God before talking about being patient tonight. He talks us through the finish and mentions working on his wrestling and trusting the work he’s put into that aspect. Asked about the future he wants to go home, which gets a little laugh from the crowd.

Jimmy Crute has gone 0-3-2 in his last five fights, his last win coming in October of 2020. Crute badly needs to win here because he’s another guy who could find himself out of the UFC with another poor performance. Marcin Prachnio has traded ins and losses while going 3-3 in his last six fights, most recently he lost a fight and now he’s trying to avoid his first losing streak since 2020. Despite both men being on pretty bad runs the odds like Crute to the tune of -340, which means that +270 payout on Prachnio has to be super tempting.

Light Heavyweight Bout: Jimmy Crute (12-4-2, 205 lbs.) vs. Marcin Prachnio (17-8, 205 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Prachnio is an inch taller while Crute has an inch of reach advantage and is eight years younger. Southpaw for Prachnio but he’ll do a bit of stance switching while moving around. Both men swing a few punches then Prachnio fires a calf kick. They both miss punches in close. Body kick from Prachnio then Crute counters with a right hand. Another bit of a right from Crute. Little flurry from Prachnio mostly lands. Counter right from Prachnio. Crute tries a takedown, Prachnio defends until they hit the fence. Crute still looks for a takedown and eventually finishes a double leg into full guard. They trade some strikes on the mat then Prachnio kicks Crute off and stands into a clinch. Judo toss from Crute then he tries a guillotine as they stand but Prachnio gets free and lands knees before they reset. A couple of body shots from Prachnio. Right hand then a left hook from Prachnio. Crute pushes into another clinch on the fence, they jockey for position while Prachnio fires a few knees. Crute slips to the back standing and rides Prachnio down to a ride. Armbar from Crute, that was nice but he really struggles to find the finishing angle. Prachnio scrambles around but Crute eventually gets things tight enough to force the tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Jimmy Crute via Submission, armbar, at 4:42 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Crute for his work. Mic time for Crute, he thanks God first and talks about working hard to get to this point then says he wants to fight Dustin Jacoby in Perth. Not an unreasonable call out. He talks us through the finish to close.

Adam Fugitt has traded wins and losses while going 2-2 in the UFC, a pattern he’s trying to break as he’s coming off of a win and getting that first UFC winning streak up and running would be a decent boost to his career as he ends a layoff of almost exactly one year. Islam Dulatov brings an 11 fight winning streak into his UFC debut and now looks to make the most of his chance at leaving a first impression. Dulatov is the biggest favorite on the prelims at -575 to a +425 comeback on Fugitt.

Welterweight Bout: Islam Dulatov (11-1, 171 lbs.) vs. Adam Fugitt (10-4, 171 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Dulatov is two inches taller while Fugitt has two inches of reach advantage, Dulatov is also a full decade younger. Southpaw for Fugitt. Both men feint a bit then Dulatov lands a right hand. Inside leg kick from Dulatov. Dulatov with a right hand then he misses a head kick. Fugitt lands an inside leg kick. Right hand from Dulatov to counter a high kick. They clinch up then Fugitt pushes things to the fence. Dulatov is able to push free and they reset. Knee from Dulatov, then another one to the head. Bit of a one two from Dulatov. Fugitt tries a single leg, that hits the fence though. Dulatov looks to defend in the clinch then they trade punches and separate. Solid right hand from Dulatov. Right hand again from Dulatov then a left to follow up but Fugitt did land an inside leg kick. Dulatov checks an inside leg kick then drops Fugitt with a left hook and a few more follow up blows on the mat put Fugitt out.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Islam Dulatov via KO, punches, at 4:06 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Dulatov for his work. Mic time for Dulatov, he got to show off being methodical here and still go for the kill. He talks us through the finish and puts over his team. He’ll be doing a photoshoot on Monday as he’s still pretty enough to keep his modeling job.

Ateba Gautier is on a six fight winning streak including a successful UFC debut back in March, now he’s looking to continue that success and prove he’s a viable prospect. Robert Valentin has gone 0-2 in the UFC and really needs to find that critical first taste of success in the promotion. The odds are firmly with Gautier at -410 to +320 for Valentin.

Middleweight Bout: Ateba Gautier (7-1, 185 lbs.) vs. Robert Valentin (10-5 1 NC, 186 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Gautier is two inches taller with four inches of reach advantage, in fact Gautier’s 81 inches of reach is the longest in the entire division. Immediate attack from Gautier, he batters Valentin with punches but Valentin seems to recover after a knockdown. Gautier has Valentin against the fence and is looking for entries and combinations. A left hook from Gautier then a knee, Valentin is in serious trouble. Gautier punches Valentin down and lands a few more punches to get the finish.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Ateba Gautier via TKO, punches, at 1:10 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Gautier for his work, and will need to reload on gift baskets at this rate. Mic time for Guatier after that mauling, he says the only way to beat him is to run away. He talks us through the finish and thanks his team for their work. Asked about the future he’d like to fight again soon then thanks his team and family.

Francisco Prado has gone just 1-3 in the UFC and is on a two fight losing streak, he really needs to right the ship here and get back on the winning side of things. Nikolay Veretennikov has gone 0-2 in the UFC and really needs to get that first UFC win under his belt. Close one here, -130 on Prado to +110 for Veretennikov.

Welterweight Bout: Francisco Prado (12-3, 170 lbs.) vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (12-6, 169 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Veretennikov is three inches taller and has five inches of reach advantage, Prado is 12 years younger though. Prado with a quick takedown to counter a leg kick and he gets on top in half guard. Bit of an arm triangle attack from Prado, Veretennikov tries to counter with a guillotine so now Prado starts looking towards a Von Flue choke. Eventually they both bail on chokes and Veretennikov scrambles to his knees but Prado is on his back now. Prado is a little high though and slips off, he tries to grab a triangle choke in transition but Veretennikov is pressuring into him to complicate things. They both land a few punches then Prado grabs for an armbar but Veretennikov slams his way free which hurts Prado. Veretennikov with punches to Prado as he stands over him before Prado gets full guard. Some elbows to the body from Veretennikov then he stands and Prado wrestles up into a front headlock. Knees from Veretennikov as they clinch then they break and reset. Right uppercut then a left hook from Veretennikov. Veretennikov with a body kick, Prado is hurt to the body. High wheel kick from Veretennikov then a knee to the body, Prado is getting broken down. Prado grabs a clinch, they wrestle a bit then hit the fence. Both men seem a little fatigued after the pace, Veretennikov tries a kimura throw but settles for landing a knee before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Veretennikov

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves again. Bit of a calf kick from Prado. Knee from Veretennikov then a leg kick. A right hand from Veretennikov clubs Prado down but Prado bounces up. Veretennikov fights off a takedown but they wind up clinched on the fence. Both men show some knees in the clinch then Prado lands an elbow but Veretennikov responds with a right hand as they break. Some jabs from Veretennikov now then Prado lands a calf kick. One two from Veretennikov. Prado lands a left to the body. Veretennikov misses a spinning kick and Prado gets a takedown into half guard. Prado is trying to attack a Von Flue choke again but they both bail on the mutual position and Prado settles into half guard. Elbow from Prado. Prado tries an arm triangle but Veretennikov escapes and they reset on the feet. They trade rights. Veretennikov with a few jabs. Right to the body from Veretennikov. Prado swings a few hooks in close the lands a left to the body. Body kick from Veretennikov. Prado with a left hook but Veretennikov lands a knee to the body. Veretennikov with a right hand. They clinch again, Veretennikov with a knee then they break. Prado lands a right hand. Body kick from Veretennikov to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Prado, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: A few short lefts from Veretennikov to start the round. Jab from Veretennikov. Prado tries a takedown, that hits the fence though and Veretennikov kind of head throws him when Prado over commits to a takedown. A few punches from Veretennikov then Prado wrestles up and lands an elbow. Prado with a calf kick. Veretennikov pushes into a clinch and lands a kick as Prado pulls away. They trade punches, Veretennikov then stupidly tries to spin and Prado takes him down. Half guard for Prado. Prado passes into full mount and starts dropping elbows and punches. Veretennikov gives up his back then slips away as he bases up. Again Veretennikov tries the wheel kick, his coach is going to tear him apart for this. Prado gets a clinch off of that but Veretennikov counters the takedown and gets on top himself. Pretty quick escape from Prado and they’re up in another clinch. Knee from Prado. Veretennikov with a knee to the body. Prado avoids an outside trip then Veretennikov tries to jump for a guillotine but Prado is in half guard on the safe side. Man Veretennikov can’t make a good decision in there to save his life. Prado gets his head free and threatens an arm triangle but wont find anything before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Prado, 29-28 Prado overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Nikolay Veretennikov via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)

Well I don’t agree but the second round was close enough I guess. No interview for Veretennikov.

Marvin Vettori fought for the middleweight title back in 2021 but he’s just 1-3 in his last four fights and is on a two fight losing streak, he really needs to halt that skid here to prove he’s still an elite level middleweight. Brendan Allen had a seven fight winning streak snapped last year and now he’s dropped back to back fights to Nassourdine Imavov and Anthony Hernandez. If Allen wants his middleweight campaign to regain momentum he needs to get back on the winning side of things. The odds are with Allen at -205 against Vettori’s +170.

Middleweight Bout: #11 Brendan Allen (24-7, 185 lbs.) vs. #10 Marvin Vettori (19-7-1, 186 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Allen is two inches taller with an inch of reach advantage. Southpaw for Vettori. Both men show a few kicks early then Allen lands a jab. Body kick from Allen, Vettori then responds with an inside leg kick. They trade punches in close. Uppercut from Allen then a bit of a high kick but Vettori’s chin is nuts. Single leg from Allen then he gets on top and lands punches. Allen to the ride position as Vettori moves to his knees, choke from Allen but Vettori defends. Vettori’s nose is busted up. Allen goes for an arm in rear choke, those have been gaining steam in no gi grappling but he bails on it to land strikes as Vettori tries to wall walk. Vettori does get up but Allen mat returns him but gets too high on the back and Vettori slides him over the top. Allen tries for a leg attack but Vettori gets on top in full guard. Vettori lands a few punches but can’t quite get around the guard of Allen. Allen gets to his knees, Vettori gets the back with both hooks in. Vettori bails on the hooks to keep the back as they stand. Allen blocks a few punches then they break. Body kick from Allen then they trade punches in close. Jab from Allen. Vettori lands a left hand. They trade punches in close, Vettori is more willing to throw in volume though and that’s to his benefit. Vettori with a body kick. Allen lands a few jabs then a right to the body. Vettori lands a left hand, he’s got a decent read on the timing right now. Both men land in close again as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Allen but a close one

ROUND TWO: Vettori gets back on pressure to start the round. Body kick from Allen. Vettori keeps poking out his jab then Allen lands a right hand. Right to the body from Allen. Allen lands a left hook then a body kick. One two from Vettori. They trade rights. Right hand from Allen as they break a brief clinch. Another body kick from Allen. They trade rights. Both men land punches in close. Allen with a right hand. They trade again, Vettori might be hurt after the right hand and he’s backing up. Allen hits the body again and keeps Vettori near the fence. Counter punches from Allen now, he’s starting to draw out Vettori’s offense. Allen with another body kick. They trade lefts. Right hand from Allen. Vettori lands a left hand then a glancing follow up right hook. Another left from Vettori. Allen lands a right hand. Bit of a right from Allen then a body kick. Again Allen with the glancing right hand. Vettori avoids a right hand then lands a left. Another left from Vettori. Allen lands another right of his own. Allen is still backing Vettori up pretty consistently. Bit of a head kick from Allen. They trade lefts again then feint away the last couple of seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Allen, 20-18 Allen overall

ROUND THREE: Inside leg kick from Allen. Jab from Vettori then Allen lands a right hand. Another right hand from Allen. Allen with an inside leg kick then a jab. More pressure from Allen, both men keep probing with the lead hand. Left hand from Vettori. Allen lands a left hook. Vettori blocks a high kick. Bit of a left from Vettori. Allen with a right to the body. Both men avoid a few punches. Right to the body from Allen then a body kick. Jab from Vettori. Stiff jab from Allen. Both men miss power hand punches. Front kick from Allen then Vettori lands a left hand but Allen responds with a right hand. Left hook from Allen. Both men seem to agree to a brawl and start throwing in close then Allen lands a knee that gets Vettori backing up. Takedown from Allen, Vettori wrestles up quickly though. Jab from Allen. They trade in close again. Allen with a right hand then a left hook, a head kick as well. Elbow from Allen in close. Vettori is moving away consistently now. Allen digs a left to the body then they both swing in close as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Allen, 30-27 Allen overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Brendan Allen via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)

Mic time for Allen, another Louisiana boy, and he says he lives just 45 minutes from the venue and he wouldn’t lose here. He feels he’s the best in the world and can beat anyone in the division. He puts over Vettori for the fight then feels the fight wasn’t that close scoring wise. To close he puts over his team and thanks the fans again before saying he’ll bring a belt to Louisana.

Kyler Phillips had a three fight winning streak broken his last time out when he couldn’t quite get by Rob Font, now he’s back in action and looking to defend his ranking while also avoiding his first losing streak. Vinicius Oliveira is on a five fight winning streak including three wins in the UFC, he’s been looking pretty good while doing so and now he looks to take another step up in the rankings. Fairly close one here, -150 on Oliveira to +125 for Phillips.

Bantamweight Bout: #15 Vinicius Oliveira (22-3, 136 lbs.) vs. #12 Kyler Phillips (12-3, 135 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Oliveira is an inch taller but Phillips has an inch and a half of reach advantage. Both men come out aggressive, Oliveira is fighting southpaw. Phillips with a right hand that bothers Oliveira, he looks to pressure but Oliveira slows that flurry with a brief clinch. Both men avoid power hand punches. Right hand from Phillips. Bit of a counter left from Oliveira. Phillips misses a wheel kick. Leg kick from Oliveira but Phillips counters with a right hand. Right to the body from Oliveira. Oliveira has gone orthodox now, he’s going to be switching a bit now I guess. A few jabs from Oliveira, Phillips with a bit of a right hand. Oliveira with a calf kick. Phillips avoids a body kick. Bit of a front kick from Phillips. Glancing one two from Oliveira then he misses a couple of kicks. Phillips with a bit of a right hand then a body kick. Oliveira with a body kick of his own. Both men land punches in close. Knee from Phillips. Phillips avoids a couple of body kicks. Oliveira swings a few punches that mostly land then he follows with a calf kick. Phillips blocks a few punches. Oliveira jabs the body then lands a calf kick. Bit of a right from Oliveira, his relentless pressure is getting to Phillips at this point. Oliveira with a blocked high kick to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Phillips

ROUND TWO: Oliveira gets back to marching forward. Phillips shows the jab but is mostly looking to circle and snipe. Oliveira drops Phillips with a left hand, he’s all over him with punches and drops him briefly again but Phillips bounces up and gets a clinch. Phillips tries to get the back btu Oliveira slips him over the top and gets on top. Punches from Oliveira as he’s in the guard of Phillips. A few more punches from Oliveira land then he attacks an arm triangle. Oliveira can’t pass the guard though and he’s not quite that much of a gorilla so he bails to land punches and pass but Phillips wrestles to his knees. Bit of a right from Oliveira as they stand and break. Oliveira just keeps coming forward and swinging punches. Knee from Oliveira, Phillips tries to clinch but Oliveira throws him off. Hard calf kick from Oliveira. Phillips is still trying to really recover, Oliveira with a calf kick then a few punches. Oliveira with another flurry then he ducks under a wheel kick. Another calf kick from Oliveira. Phillips with a right hand but Oliveira then swings back at him. Oliveira might punch himself out at this rate. Phillips tries a takedown, settles for a clinch but then Oliveira trips him down to get on top. Full guard for Phillips. Oliveira lands a few punches to the body but can’t quite pass the guard. The round will end with Oliveira still on top.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Oliveira, borderline 10-8, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Oliveira with a calf kick to start the round. Phillips is trying to get his movement working again. Front kick from Oliveira. Bit of a body kick from Phillips. Glancing high kick from Oliveira. Another calf kick from Oliveira. Clubbing right from Oliveira then a right to the body. Phillips avoids a front kick. Oliveira gets close and lands a right to the body. Oliveira has Phillips on the fence at this point and lands another calf kick. Right to the body from Phillips. Another calf kick from Oliveira then they both avoid punches. Front kick from Oliveira then a bit of a left hook. Right to the body from Oliveira. Oliveira with another calf kick. Phillips misses an uppercut then kind of lands a wheel kick. Left to the body from Oliveira then a front kick. Right hand from Oliveira then he misses a wheel kick. Phillips lands a right hand. Oliveira just wont stop coming forward and Phillips can’t find his offense. Front kick from Oliveira. Bit of a flurry from Oliveira. Phillips avoids a few strikes then tries a takedown but Oliveira defends. Oliveira lands a calf kick. Bit of an elbow from Phillips then Oliveira cracks him with a right hand. Combination from Oliveira. Phillips avoids a few punches but Oliveira then lands a calf kick and a right hand. Bit of a takedown from Oliveira then they trade as they wrestle up the Oliveira closes the round with a body kick.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Oliveira, 29-28 Oliveira overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Vinicius Oliveira via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

We’re short on time so no interview for Oliveira.

That’s it for prelims, onto PPV for the main card.

Michael Johnson has gone 15-15 in the UFC and he’s been with the promotion since 2010, he is riding his first winning streak since 2018 right now though and he wont be looking to give that up easily. Daniel Zellhuber has gone 3-2 in the UFC and he’s earned some kind of bonus in each of his last three fights, now despite coming off of a loss he’s getting the most recognizable name he’s faced yet. The odds like Zellhuber as the biggest favorite on the card at -700 to +500 for Johnson.

Lightweight Bout: Michael Johnson (23-19, 155 lbs.) vs. Daniel Zellhuber (15-2, 156 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Zellhuber is three inches taller with three and a half inches of reach advantage, he’s also 13 years younger. Southpaw for Johnson per usual. A bit of feinting from both men early, just range finding mostly. Body jab from Johnson, Zellhuber responds with a front kick. Cut kick from Johnson but Zellhuber kicks his way back up quickly. Bit of a front kick from Zellhuber. Johnson lands a left to the body. Solid body kick from Zellhuber. Another body kick from Zellhuber. Johnson jabs the body then blocks a high kick. Bit of a high kick from Zellhuber. Body kick from Zellhuber then Johnson lands an inside leg kick. Bit of a right hand from Johnson. Zellhuber misses a spinning back kick then lands a body kick. Johnson throws an inside leg kick, that goes into the groin so we’ve got a time out. No doubt on that one based on the replay but Zellhuber only takes about 30 seconds then we’re back to fighting. Bit of a right from Johnson. A couple of front kicks from Zellhuber. Johnson avoids a spinning back kick and hits the body a few times. Zellhuber lands a couple of jabs. They trade in close, Johnson still has fast hands. Body kick from Zellhuber, even when these are blocked he’s happy to beat up the arms. A few more blocked kicks from Zellhuber close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Johnson but a close one

ROUND TWO: Both men get back to feinting. Bit of a high kick from Zellhuber. Body kick from Zellhuber, then another one. Johnson with a left to the chest then he hits the body once Zellhuber misses a spinning kick. Front kick from Zellhuber. Zellhuber with a body kick. Johnson jabs the body then they trade. Another middle kick from Zellhuber. Bit of a high kick from Zellhuber. Johnson falls short on a few punches. Another body kick from Zellhuber then a bit of a high kick. Left hand from Zellhuber sits down Zellhuber, he gets on top in full guard but Zellhuber stalls things there. Johnson stands free and makes Zellhuber stand back up. Both men block punches in close. Left hook from Zellhuber. Knee from then a glancing punch. Glancing right from Zellhuber. High kick from Zellhuber partially lands. Johnson hits the body again. Both men avoid punches. Body kick from Zellhuber, then another one. Another body kick from Zellhuber. Johnson with a few body punches. Bit of a head kick from Zellhuber. Johnson lands a left hand. Again Johnson lands a left hand. Zellhuber with another body kick. Front kick from Zellhuber. Zellhuber misses a wheel kick. One two from Zellhuber. Johnson avoids a few kicks to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Johnson, 20-18 Johnson overall

ROUND THREE: Zellhuber opens the round with a body kick. Johnson avoids a high kick. Front kick from Zellhuber. Bit of a high kick from Zellhuber. A couple front kicks from Zellhuber. Johnson lands to the body. Zellhuber shows a few side kicks. Johnson blocks a high kick then he misses a right hand. Body kick from Zellhuber. Left to the body from Johnson. Zellhuber with a front kick then a right hand. Another front kick from Zellhuber. Jab from Zellhuber, Johnson then lands a left to the body. Johnson blocks another head kick. Bit of a head kick from Zellhuber. Another high kick from Zellhuber is blocked. Johnson hits the body again. Jab from Zellhuber then Johnson lands a left hand. Side kick from Zellhuber then one to the knee as well. Another side kick to the knee, Johnson doesn’t like that. Body kick from Zellhuber. Another series of body kicks from Zellhuber then a high kick. Counter right from Zellhuber, Johnson tries a takedown but Zellhuber lands a few punches as they wrestle up and the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Zellhuber, 29-28 Johnson overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Michael Johnson via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Mic time for Johnson, he jokes about finally winning a decision before putting over Zellhuber and hopes people made some money on him given how much of an underdog he was. He talks about working the body on the bigger man because it’s harder to defend it.

Dan Ige just broke a two fight losing streak and he’s trying to defend his ranking while also getting his first winning streak since 2023 up and running. Patricio “Pitbull” Freire is pretty much the best fighter to go through Bellator but at age 38 with all the miles and fights he’s had it seems he got the UFC a little too late. Pitbull is trying to get his first UFC win after a really lackluster UFC debut earlier this year. Ige is your favorite at -220 to +180 on Pitbull.

Featherweight Bout: Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (36-8, 145 lbs.) vs. #11 Dan Ige (19-9, 145 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Ige is an inch taller with four inches of reach advantage. Some feinting from Ige early. Freire with a calf kick. Another calf kick from Freire. Right to the body from Ige. Both men miss punches in close. Freire blocks a high kick. Bit of a leg kick from Freire, Ige responds with a right to the body. Freire avoids a punch and tries a single leg, slips to the back then mat returns Ige a few times. Ige works to wrestle around, he tries for a switch but Freire moves to a cradle to settle things a bit against the fence. Not much is going on here, eventually Ige stands and gets free. Bit of a right from Freire to counter a calf kick. Ige starts showing southpaw a bit, still mostly orthodox. Freire avoids a few punches. Jumping knee from Freire partially lands. Ige has a few punches blocked. They both miss power hand punches to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Freire

ROUND TWO: Freire blocks a few punches but Ige is looking to up the pace this round. Right to the body from Freire. Ige has a few punches blocked but does land a bit of a right hand. Left to the body from Ige. Bit of a right from Freire. Glancing counter right from Ige, his output is winning him the round so far if nothing else. Bit of a calf kick from Ige, Freire responds with a jab. Hard right from Freire staggers Ige, he follows up with a few uppercuts. Ige is backing up and Freire gets him to the fence and fires elbows. Freire looks to unload, Ige is still firing back though and lands an elbow. Jab from Freire. A few uppercuts in close from Freire then he blocks counter punches. Takedown from Freire, nicely timed, and he’s on top in side control. Freire looks for mount, gets caught in kind of half guard but he drops shoulder strikes. Ige gets butterfly guard, Freire passes to half guard and drops elbows to the body and head to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Freire, 20-18 Freire overall

ROUND THREE: Ige comes out jabbing then lands a right to the body. Head kick from Ige, Freire was coming in and ate that and he’s bleeding now as they clinch. They break, Freire is bleeding from the nose from that kick. Left bolo punch from Ige lands. Freire hits a takedown, Ige quickly elevates and looks to scramble then they wind up on the feet and separated. Left to the body from Ige. Freire with a jab. Ige front kicks, that goes into the groin so we’ve got a time out. Replay confirms it went low but Freire only takes 27 seconds then we’re back to fighting. Bit of a left from Ige. Both men fire punches in close then Freire lands a knee during a brief clinch. Right hand from Freire. Left to the body from Ige. Freire ducks under a punch and tries a takedown then slips to the back standing. Ige fights off a few takedowns but can’t get out of the clinch. Bit of an elbow from Ige as he spins free. Freire catches a high kick and gets a takedown, Ige rolls to 50/50 guard right away though and they start fighting over leg attacks. Ige with some body punches but he needs to find something better here. They just trade strikes on the mat as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Ige, 29-28 Freire overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Patricio “Pitbull” Freire via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

No interview for Freire after the win.

Kevin Holland has been up and down during his pretty busy UFC run so far, but he recently has gone 2-0 since committing to the welterweight division and now he’s trying to defend a ranking while also proving he’s ready to fight up in the ranks instead of down. Daniel Rodriguez has gone 9-4 in the UFC overall and he’s on a two fight winning streak, now he’s getting a shot at some ranked opposition and could wind up with one of his bigger wins. The odds are with Holland at -575 to a +425 comeback on Rodriguez.

Welterweight Bout: #13 Kevin Holland (28-13 1 NC, 170 lbs.) vs. Daniel Rodriguez (19-5, 170 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Holland is two inches taller with a serious seven inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Rodriguez. Holland opens with some oblique kicks to the knee. Bit of a rush from Rodriguez, he partially lands a left hand and they clinch up. A few body punches from Rodriguez the Holland lands a knee before they break. Both me continue probing with some kicks. Right hand from Holland. Rodriguez avoids a few punches then lands a left hand. Inside leg kick from Rodriguez. Holland with a front kick. Left to the body from Rodriguez. Bit of a front kick from Holland. Jab from Holland after he missed a right hand. Combination from Holland in close then he lands a right hand. Side kick up high from Holland. Rodriguez misses a blitz attack. Front kick from Holland. Rodriguez with a couple of lefts as he pushes forward. Right to the body from Holland but he got clipped but a right hook counter and has to back away from a follow up attack. Rodriguez avoids a right hand they both men miss elbows in close. They trade jabs, Rodriguez landed the better one. Left hand from Rodriguez. Holland fires back but can’t quite land clean. Bit of a left from Rodriguez. Holland fires a couple of high kicks that are blocked to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Rodriguez

ROUND TWO: Holland with a check left hook to start the round. Rodriguez with an inside leg kick. Holland with some kicks to the leg and knee then Rodriguez with a left to the body. Rodriguez with a left hand that freezes Holland, Rodriguez knocks him over and looks to finish on the ground. Holland tries to tie up, Rodriguez stands out of his half guard and he makes Holland stand. Another left from Rodriguez lands. Holland tries a takedown, Rodriguez defends then lands a left elbow. Another couple of lefts from Rodriguez and Holland is down again, Rodriguez follows him down and lands some more punches from guard. Rodriguez passes to half guard and lands a few more punches. Holland is tying things up and buying time to recover. Rodriguez avoids a high guard play then makes Holland stand again. Bit of a left from Rodriguez. Holland lands a right hand. Counter left from Rodriguez lands. Holland hits a double leg into half guard. Some body shots from Holland before Rodriguez wrestles up and they separate. Both men swing punches then Holland clinches up again. They break and Rodriguez lands a left hand. Another left from Rodriguez, Holland reaches for a single leg but Rodriguez sprawls then they clinch up. Holland is cut around the hairline from all the abuse this round. Jumping knee from Holland as they break the clinch, then Rodriguez lands a left hand to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Rodriguez, borderline 10-8, 20-18 Rodriguez overall

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the final round. Left to the body from Rodriguez. Bit of a jab from Rodriguez. One two from Rodriguez. Holland has a few kicks blocked. Left to the body from Rodriguez. They clinch then break without incident. Jab from Rodriguez then one to the body. Holland bulls forward and lands an elbow. Both men with some sloppy punches in close. Holland with an uppercut in close, that drops Rodriguez and he gets on top. Rodriguez scrambles up into a clinch. Holland with punches on the break then an elbow in close. Rodriguez blocks some punches then they both swing punches. They keep tying up and trading uppercuts, both men swing punches. Another uppercut from Holland freezes Rodriguez for a second but he recovers and avoids an elbow. Bit of a takedown from Rodriguez, Holland moves to the ride though and looks for the back. Choke attack from Holland but the angle is wrong and Rodriguez gets on top. Wild fight. Holland tries to play his guard, Rodriguez passes to side control though. Full mount for Rodriguez, he postures up and starts throwing punches. Punches and hammer fists from Rodriguez, Holland kicks off the fence though and wrestles to his knees but Rodriguez grabs a top side guillotine and uses it to get top side control. Back to mount for Rodriguez, he just wont be denied tonight and postures up to land punches. The round will end with Rodriguez in full mount.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Holland, 29-28 Rodriguez overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Daniel Rodriguez via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Well that was a crazy last two rounds. Mic time for Rodriguez, he says the fight was close and notes he did this on short notice. He admits to being hurt in the third but he fought back, then puts over Holland’s toughness surviving the fight.

Paulo Costa has gone just 1-4 in his last five fights, that lone win being over a retiring Luke Rockhold and his loss to Marvin Vettori being forced up to light heavyweight because Costa didn’t want to cut weight. Costa is currently on a two fight losing streak, has been out for over a year, and hasn’t beaten someone under the age of 35 since his fight with Uriah Hall in 2018. Roman Kopylov has gone 6-3 in the UFC, is 6-1 in his last seven fights and is on a two fight winning streak. Kopylov is getting another chance to fight up in the ranks and Costa might be his highest profile opponent despite all the aforementioned issues with Costa. The odds like Kopylov at -205 to a +170 comeback for Costa.

Middleweight Bout: #13 Paulo Costa (14-4, 185 lbs.) vs. #14 Roman Kopylov (14-3, 185 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Costa is an inch taller while Kopylov has three inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Kopylov. Both men miss some power hand punches. Both men doing a lot feinting early. Bit of an inside leg kick from Costa. Costa with a body kick. Bit of a left from Kopylov. Kopylov with a body kick. Inside leg kick from Kopylov. Jab from Kopylov but Costa landed a body kick. Costa misses a right hand. Kopylov avoids a right hand. Left hand from Kopylov lands. Costa jabs the body then lands a right to the body as well. Kopylov blocks a high kick. Inside leg kick from Costa. Kopylov jabs the body. Costa misses a right hand then Kopylov lands a body kick. Right to the body from Costa. Costa lands a right hand that drops Kopylov, Kopylov grabs a single leg to slow things down. They stand up and separate. Body kick from Costa. Right to the body from Costa. They stare away the final seconds of the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Costa

ROUND TWO: Costa comes out and fires an inside leg kick. Left to the body from Kopylov. Costa with a body kick, then another one. Inside leg kick from Costa. Another body kick from Costa. Counter right from Kopylov lands. Costa with a right to the body. Bit of a high kick from Kopylov. Costa with another body kick. Kopylov with another left to the body. Costa digs a few body shots in close, Kopylov is not reacting well to his feints. Right from Costa bothers Kopylov then a body kick to follow up. Costa lands a knee in close then another body kick. Solid right hand from Costa. Kopylov just looks out matched and like is starting to shut down. Jab from Kopylov. Kopylov with a body kick. Another jab from Kopylov, he might be getting his way back into things. Costa with a couple of front kicks. Kopylov lands a left hand. Another body kick from Costa. They both land punches in close. Bit of a hook kick from Kopylov. They trade to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Costa, 20-18 Costa overall

ROUND THREE: Kopylov lands a left to the body. Jab from Kopylov. Costa lands an inside leg kick. A lot of forward motion from Kopylov this round and he lands a left hand. Another left from Kopylov, Costa responds with a left hook. Body kick from Kopylov. Costa with a right to the body. Both men miss power hand punches. Body kick from Costa. Left to the body from Kopylov, Costa returns it. Stiff right hand from Kopylov, Costa is wobbled but shakes it off quickly. Bit of a right hook from Kopylov. Left to the body from Kopylov. Kopylov with a body kick. Another left to the body from Kopylov. Inside leg kick from Costa. Kopylov punches Costa to the fence and lands a few punches before Costa fires back with a right hand then a body kick. Body kick from Kopylov then a left hand. Left to the body from Costa. Kopylov fights off a double leg. Bit of a blitz from Kopylov. Costa lands a right hand. Kopylov lands a left hand then avoids a clinch. Right hand from Costa lands then a right to the body. Bit of a high kick from Kopylov. Costa with another combination then he avoids a high kick to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Kopylov but a close one, 29-28 Costa overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Paulo Costa via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)

Mic time for Costa after the win, he plays a bit with the crowd then thanks God. He puts over Kopylov as a tough opponent and he had to work hard to earn this win. Asked about the future he wants to fight Khamzat Chimaev and insults him a few times for talking to his wife and he promises he wont stop until he gets to Chimaev.

Dustin Poirier is one of the action heroes of the sport, he made his professional debut in 2009 and is calling it a career tonight. During that time Poirier has thrice fought for the lightweight title, held the interim title, beat Max Holloway twice, stopped Conor McGregor twice, and he’s never had a losing streak of any kind. Poirier is trying to get one more win in his home state here and then ride off into the sunset. Max Holloway is a former featherweight champion and has been with the UFC since 2012 when he filled in on short notice against Poirier, the two met again in 2019 for the interim title with Poirier again getting the win. Holloway has made a full move to lightweight recently and he’s looking to make the case for a title shot if he can get a win here despite coming off of a knockout loss to current lightweight champion Ilia Topuria. Pretty close odds here, -140 on Holloway to +120 for Poirier.

Lightweight “BMF” Bout: (c) Max Holloway (26-8, 155 lbs.) vs. #6 Dustin Poirier (30-9 1 NC, 156 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Holloway is two inches taller while Poirier has three inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Poirier while Holloway starts orthodox but will likely switch around as he feels like it. They touch gloves to get us going. Both men with some lead hand fighting. Bit of a left from Poirier, Holloway fires back with a right hand. Holloway shows a side kick to the knee. A few body jabs from Holloway, they’re both still trying to get a feel for things. Poirier with an inside leg kick. Body kick from Holloway, then another one. Right from Holloway drops Poirier, he fights back up and blocks some punches but he got hurt there. Right uppercut then a leg kick from Poirier. Bit of a right from Poirier. Body kick from Holloway. Bit of a left from Poirier then Holloway fires another body kick. Poirier avoids a spinning back kick. They both miss power hand punches. Jab from Poirier. Holloway with a bit of a right hand. Right to the body from Holloway. Poirier with a couple of punches in close. Inside leg kick from Poirier. Poirier with a body kick then a jab. Holloway lands a right to the body. Holloway misses another spinning back kick to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Holloway

ROUND TWO: Poirier pushes forward to start the round and lands a bit of a jab. Right to the body from Holloway. Left hand from Poirier. Again a bit of a left from Poirier. Body kick from Holloway. Right to the body from Holloway. They trade in close then Poirier lands a knee to the head, Holloway didn’t like that but he then fires a body kick. Counter right from Holloway lands. Poirier is doing a better job closing distance this round. Jab from Poirier. A couple of rights from Holloway wobble Poirier, he backs Poirier to the fence and looks to unload. Poirier tries a takedown, Holloway smothers him and gets on top in full mount. Punches from Holloway, Poirier is able to get a butterfly hook in play to block full mount. Full half guard now for Poirier. Holloway lands a few short elbows. Poirier looks for a leg attack, Holloway steps out of it and stands, he takes a few up kicks before Poirier regains his feet. Now Poirier lands a three punch combination and Holloway backs up briefly. Left hand from Poirier. Hard left to the body from Poirier, Holloway seems a little out of sorts. Right hook from Poirier and he drops Holloway, he jumps for a guillotine and rolls to top guard and he drops elbows as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Poirier but a close one, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Holloway was wobbly going to his stool after the last round, he might still be a little dazed. They touch gloves again. Poirier gets back to forward pressure and lands a bit of a left hand. Inside leg kick from Poirier, Holloway returns it. Poirier looks to jab his way in close then lands an inside leg kick. They trade power hand punches. Both men land rights. Poirier with a couple of jabs. Body kick from Holloway. Poirier with another jab. Holloway slips a few punches. Right hand from Poirier. That jab from Poirier is starting to work more now. Spinning back kick from Holloway. Bit of a body kick from Holloway. Poirier with a left hand. Right hook from Poirier. Poirier is starting to counter Holloway’s kicks with his lead hand. Right hand from Holloway. Some more jabs from Poirier then Holloway with a blitz attack that lands. Poirier moves forward again and lands a jab. Holloway lands a body kick. Poirier blocks a few punches then lands an inside leg kick. Left from Poirier then a right hand behind it. They trade body kicks to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Holloway, 29-28 Holloway overall

ROUND FOUR: They touch gloves again. Glancing left hand from Poirier. Bit of a jab from Holloway then a right to the body. Both men fall short with power hand blows. Poirier with a jab. A few more jabs from Poirier land. Left hand from Poirier. One two from Poirier. Poirier with an inside leg kick then another jab. Both men land power hand punches. Poirier starts moving forward with punches, partially successful. Stiff jab from Holloway. Bit of a right hook from Poirier. Holloway with a right to the body. Bit of a flurry from Holloway. Poirier with another jab then blocks a few punches. Body kick from Holloway but Poirier counters with a right hook. Another couple of body shots from Holloway. Body kick from Holloway. Poirier with a stiff jab. Left hook from Holloway. Poirier with a hard left hand but he’s struggling to follow up as Holloway keeps circling. Another left from Poirier. Holloway with a one two. Left to the body from Holloway. Both men land in close. Glancing left hand from Poirier bothers Holloway for a moment. Holloway with a few rights to the body. A left hand from Poirier closes the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Poirier but another close one, 38-38 overall

ROUND FIVE: They touch gloves again. Poirier looks to get his jab going. Holloway misses a left hook. Bit of a knee from Poirier. Both men block punches. Jab from Poirier, Holloway responds with a left hook. Bit of an uppercut from Holloway. Poirier with a left hand then a right behind it. Poirier eats a couple of body shots. Solid right hand from Poirier. Holloway is circling away again. Jab from Poirier, Holloway then hits the body in response. Bit of a right from Poirier. Again Holloway goes to the body with punches. Left hand from Poirier. Poirier lands a few jabs but ate a body kick. Right hand from Holloway. Poirier lands a left. Body kick from Holloway. They trade jabs. Bit of a left from Poirier. They trade rights in close. Holloway with a body kick then a couple of solid right hands. Poirier with a cracking left hand. Holloway with a couple of body shots again. Poirier lands the jab, Holloway with a one two. They trade lead hand blows. Poirier with a combination of punches. 10 seconds left, and they get close then just unload on each other until the clock runs down.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Holloway, 48-47 Holloway overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Max Holloway via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46 x2)

Well that was a fun fight, as expected. Holloway gets an interview, he plays with the crowd then says he wants another fight with Ilia Topuria and says he’s done talking since this is Poirier’s retirement. For the record, I think Topuria knocks Holloway out again if they fight.

Poirier gets his retirement interview, he got the fight he expected and puts over Holloway as one of the best and a good guy overall. He puts over the fans and is so grateful to get this moment back in Louisiana, he’s just a kid living his dream. They show a retirement video package for Poirier, we get talking head bits from Volkanovski, Adesanya, Pimblett, Anthony Smith, Amanda Nunes, and others. He feels grateful for his life and the journey, he thanks the UFC brass for everything they’ve helped provide him and he thanks the fans as well. Poirier takes his gloves off and leaves them in the cage.

On that note UFC 318 comes to a close. We’ll be unpacking all the fallout from his event on the 411 Ground and Pound MMA Podcast, plus looking ahead to UFC on ABC 9 in Abu Dhabi. I’ll be back for that event and I hope you will as well. Until then thank you for reading, live or after the fact. Stay safe out there and keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.

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