It's worth noting that SportsMoneyUFC 318 Fight Card: Date, Time, Location, How To Watch Or ByTrent Reinsmith, Contributor. Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights.
Trent Reinsmith is a Baltimore-based writer who covers MMA and hockey.
Nevertheless, AuthorJul 17, 2025, 03:00am EDTATLANTA, GA - APRIL 12: (L-R) Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier face off during the UFC 236 weigh-in.
More at State Farm Arena on April 12, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Furthermore, (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty Images The next pay-per-view card on the 2025 UFC schedule is nearly upon us.
That event, UFC 318, takes place on Saturday, July 19, and is headlined by a trilogy fight that also serves as a BMF title fight, as well as the final walk of one fighter’s career.
However, In the fight card’s main event contest, BMF champ Max Holloway faces Dustin Poirier for the third time in what is Poirier’s retirement fight.
Poirier heads into the lightweight matchup atop the UFC 318 PPV with a 2-0 record against Holloway.
Additionally, UFC 318 Fight Card: Date Saturday, July 19, 2025 UFC 318 Fight Card: Location Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA UFC 318 Fight Card: How to Watch Or Main Card: ESPN+ PPV Preliminary Card: ESPN and ESPN+ Early Prelims: UFC Fight Pass and ESPN+ UFC 318 Fight Card: Fight Card Time Early Prelims: 6:15 p.
ET Prelims: 8:00 p. ET MORE FOR YOU Main Card: 10:00 p. ETForbesUFC 318 Fight Card: Preliminary Card Odds, Picks And PredictionsBy Trent Reinsmith UFC 318 Main Event: Max Holloway Vs.
However, Dustin Poirier 3ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 13: (L-R) Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway embrace after finishing five rounds.
More in their interim lightweight championship bout during the UFC 236 event at State Farm Arena on April 13, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Nevertheless, (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty Images Dustin Poirier (30-9-0-1) has been a UFC fighter since 2011.
In contrast, At the time he had a 7-1 record.
Between 2011 and 2018, Poirier went 16-4-0-1, picking up notable wins over Max Holloway, Bobby Green, Jim Miller, Anthony Pettis, Justin Gaethje, and Eddie Alvarez.
At the same time, His losses during that stretch came to The Korean Zombie, Cub Swanson, Conor McGregor, and Michael Johnson.
Poirier’s wins over Miller, Pettis, Gaethje, and Alvarez set him up to fight for the interim UFC lightweight title against then-UFC featherweight titleholder Max Holloway.
Poirier was the No (an important development). 3 ranked fighter in the UFC 155-pound division at the time, April 2019. Poirier claimed the interim crown with a decision win (an important development).
In September 2019, Poirier faced Khabib Nurmagomedov in a title unification bout. On the other hand, Nurmagomedov won that contest by third-round submission.
Three wins after that, including two TKO victories over Conor McGregor, put Poirier in another lightweight title fight.
He lost that battle to Charles Oira, falling to a rear-naked choke in the third round of their December 2021 matchup, in today's financial world.
Market analysis shows 36-year-old Poirier is 2-2 since that setback with wins over Michael Chandler and Benoit Saint Denis (fascinating analysis).
Poirier’s losses during that run came against Justin Gaethje for the BMF title and, most recently, opposite Islam Makhachev for the UFC lightweight title at UFC 302 in June 2024.
On the other hand, Poirier has 15 fight-night bonus awards, which ties him for fourth all-time in that category. Poirier is the No. 6 ranked UFC lightweight.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 13: (L-R) Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway meet in the middle of the Octagon in (an important development), in this volatile climate.
Additionally, More their interim lightweight championship bout during the UFC 236 event at State Farm Arena on April 13, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty Images Max Holloway (26-8) has been with the UFC since 2012.
If there’s a stat that the UFC tracks, chances are Holloway is among the leaders.
He holds the UFC featherweight record for wins (20), finishes (11), knockouts (nine), win streak (13 straight), total fight time (6:58:57), significant strikes landed (2,971), and total strikes landed (3,180).
Holloway’s overall UFC records include significant strikes landed (3,457) and total strikes landed (3,706).
Additionally, Holloway’s run as UFC featherweight champ began in June 2017 when he knocked out Jose Aldo, amid market uncertainty.
Moreover, On the other hand, Holloway entered that contest as the interim champ, a belt he won by knocking out Anthony Pettis in December 2016, in this volatile climate.
Additionally, At the same time, He def his title against Aldo (TKO), Brian Ortega (TKO), and Frankie Edgar (decision).
He also attempted to win the interim UFC lightweight belt during that run, but he fell short, dropping a decision to Dustin Poirier.
Holloway’s championship run in December 2019 when Alexander Volkanovski beat him by decision. Volkanovski retained the title in an immediate rematch.
In contrast, Wins over Calvin Kattar and Yair Rodriguez earned Holloway another shot at Volkanovski and his title in July 2022, but the champ retained his belt with a decision win.
Holloway ed that setback with wins over Arnold Allen, the Korean Zombie, and Justin Gaethje (remarkable data).
Moreover, The Gaethje victory, a fight that many voted “Fight of the Year” and “Knockout of the Year,” earned Holloway the BMF title. That fight took place at 155 pounds.
Furthermore, Holloway ed his BMF title win with the first knockout loss of his career, falling to Ilia Topuria in a UFC featherweight title fight in October 2024.
Additionally, Holloway was recently removed from the UFC featherweight rankings per his request. He is ranked at No. 5 at 155 pounds and sits at No. 11 in the pound-for-pound rankings.
Additionally, UFC 318 Co-Main Event: Paulo Costa Vs. Roman KopylovSALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - AUGUST 20: Paulo Costa of Brazil looks on in a middleweight bout against Luke.
Additionally, Additionally, More Rockhold of the United States during UFC 278 at Vivint Arena on August 20, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)Getty Images Paulo Costa (14-4) was 8-0 and coming off a defense of the Jungle Fight middleweight title when he joined the UFC in 2017.
He opened his run with the motion with four knockouts and one decision. That decision, an August 2019 win over Yoel Romero, earned Costa a shot at Adesanya in September 2020.
Nevertheless, Adesanya retained his title in that fight, knocking out Costa in the second round (something worth watching), given current economic conditions.
Costa has not been an active competitor in the UFC, amid market uncertainty. Between 2018 and 2022 he stepped into the Octagon once per year. He did not compete at all in 2023.
Additionally, In 2024, Costa went 0-2, losing a unanimous decision to former UFC middleweight champ Robert Whittaker in February and then dropping a split decision to ex-UFC 185 kingpin Sean Strickland in June.
Costa has not competed since his loss to Strickland at UFC 302. Costa is 1-4 in his past five UFC outings (noteworthy indeed).
His only win during that stretch, which began with the Adesanya loss, was a August 2022 decision win over former UFC middleweight titleholder Luke Rockhold.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 01: Roman Kopylov of Russia prepares to face Cesar Almeida of Brazil in a.
Moreover, More middleweight fight during the UFC 302 event at Prudential Center on June 01, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey.
Nevertheless, Conversely, (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty Images A former Fight Nights Global middleweight champ, Roman Kopylov (14-3) joined the UFC in 2019 with an 8-0 record.
Kopylov had seven straight knockout wins heading into his UFC debut, a fight he lost to Karl Roberson via submission (which is quite significant), in light of current trends.
COVID-19 and visa issues kept Kopylov out of action until October 2021. When he returned to the Octagon, Kopylov dropped a decision to Albert Duraev.
At the same time, Kopylov seemed to find his footing after those back-to-back losses, in light of current trends. Between September 2022 and September 2023, he went 4-0 with four knockout wins.
That winning streak did not earn Kopylov a spot inside the top 15 of the UFC’s middleweight division, but it did get him booked opposite the No.
On the other hand, 15 ranked Anthony Hernandez at UFC 298 in February. Hernandez won that fight via second-round submission. Kopylov came back from that defeat to beat César Almeida at UFC 302.
Meanwhile, In his most recent outing, Kopylov stopped Chris Curtis via head kick, in a “Fight of the Night” affair on A UFC Fight Night card in January 2025. UFC 318 Fight Card: Kevin Holland Vs.
Moreover, Daniel RodriguezNEWARK, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 07: Kevin Holland of the United States reacts after defeating Vicente (noteworthy indeed), amid market uncertainty.
More Luque of Brazil in the welterweight bout during UFC 316 at the Prudential Center on June 07, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey.
Moreover, (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)Getty Images Kevin Holland (28-13-0-1) was 12-3 when he earned his shot at a UFC contract on a Dana White’s Contender Series card in June 2018, in today's market environment.
Despite getting a win, UFC CEO Dana White did not offer Holland a contract.
However, Holland got the chance to fight for the UFC in August 2018 when Thiago Santos needed a short-notice opponent (this bears monitoring).
Holland has been one of the more active UFC competitors since losing that contest by decision, fighting at middleweight and welterweight, considering recent developments.
Holland ed the loss to Santos with an 8-1 run, a stretch that included five victories between May 2020 and December 2020.
Nevertheless, His last win of that run was a “Performance of the Night” bonus-winning knockout of ex-Strikeforce champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, given the current landscape.
Holland’s career has been up-and-down since the highlight-reel win over Souza, in today's market environment.
He has a 7-8-0-1 record since then, never winning, or losing, more than two fights in a row, in this volatile climate.
On the other hand, Holland is 2-2 in his past four outings, losing back-to-back fights to Roman Dolidze and Reinier de Ridder via stoppage before putting together a two-fight winning streak with victories over Gunnar Nelson and most recently, Vicente Luque.
The 32-year Holland’s two recent losses were at middleweight, his wins, both of which earned him a “Performance of the Night” bonus, came at welterweight, where he is the No. 13 ranked fighter.
DES MOINES, IOWA - MAY 03: Daniel Rodriguez reacts after his TKO victory over Santiago Ponzinibbio.
More of Argentina in their welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Wells Fargo Arena on May 03, 2025 in Des Moines, Iowa.
(Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)Zuffa LLC Daniel Rodriguez (19-5) began his UFC career on a great run.
Debuting with the motion in 2020 with a “Performance of the Night” bonus-winning submission win over veteran competitor Tim Means, Rodriguez went 8-1 in his first nine fights with the motion.
His only loss during that stretch was a decision setback to Nicolas Dalby in Rodriguez’s fourth UFC fight of 2020.
A September 2022 split decision win over Li Jingliang at UFC 279 put him in the co-main event of a UFC Fight Night card opposite veteran gatekeeper Neil Magny.
At the time of that scrap, Magny was the No (an important development). 13 fighter in the UFC’s welterweight division, while Rodriguez was No.
Magny turned back Rodriguez, submitting him in the third round, amid market uncertainty.
Rodriguez ed that setback with a TKO loss to Ian Machado Garry and a decision defeat to Kelvin Gastelum in a fight that was contested at middleweight after Gastelum had weight cutting issues.
Rodriguez has bounced back from that three-fight losing skid with a decision win over Alex Morono in October 2024 and a TKO victory over Santiago Ponzinibbio in May.
Moreover, A win over Holland would ly put the 38-year-old Rodriguez back in the UFC rankings (which is quite significant), in today's financial world. UFC 318 Fight Card: Dan Ige Vs.
Patricio “Pitbull” FreireMIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 12: Dan Ige of the United States reacts after defeating Sean Woodson of the.
More United States during UFC 314 at Kaseya Center on April 12, 2025 in Miami, Florida.
(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)Getty Images Dan Ige (19-9) earned a UFC contract during Season 3 of Dana White’s Contender Series, which took place in 2017.
Ige opened his UFC career with a decision loss to Julio Arce in early 2018. He put that loss behind him and went unbeaten in his next six outings.
In contrast, That stretch of victories secured him the No. 10 spot in the official UFC featherweight rankings, and a UFC Fight Night main event matchup against the No (something worth watching).
6 ranked Calvin Kattar in July 2020. Moreover, Kattar won that scrap via unanimous decision, amid market uncertainty. Since facing Kattar, Ige is 5-6 in the UFC.
He has faced tough competition during that stretch and ven to be a game competitor.
Ige raised his file in 2024 when he agreed to meet Diego Lopes on the UFC 303 pay-per-view card on a few hour’s notice, in today's financial world.
While Ige lost to Lopes in that fight, which served as the PPV co-main event, he took the rising Lopes the distance in an entertaining battle.
Ige ed his loss to Lopes with a decision setback to Lerone Murphy at UFC 308. He is coming off a third-round knockout win over Sean Woodson at UFC 314.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 12: Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire of Brazil battles Yair Rodriguez of Mexico in a.
More featherweight bout during the UFC 314 event at Kaseya Center on April 12, 2025 in Miami, Florida.
(Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)Zuffa LLC Freire (36-7) spent the bulk of his career under the Bellator banner. He made his motional debut on the Bellator 15 card in April 2010.
Furthermore, Freire first fought for the Bellator featherweight belt in 2013, losing by decision to Pat Curran.
He got his revenge on Curran in September 2014, winning the belt via decision, in today's financial world.
Additionally, Freire def his title twice before dropping a decision to Daniel Straus in November 2015 (noteworthy indeed). He regained the belt in 2017, submitting Straus via guillotine.
Freire def the title twice before adding the Bellator lightweight title to his trophy case, amid market uncertainty.
Moreover, Freire’s May 2019 TKO win over Michael Chandler earned him the Bellator 155-pound belt.
Moreover, Freire def his featherweight crown three times as a two-division champ before losing a July 2021 submission to A (something worth watching).
He never put the lightweight belt up for grabs, vacating the title in October 2021. The featherweight crown returned to Freire’s mantle in April 2022 when he defeated McKee via decision.
Freire def the belt twice in his third stint as the 145-pound champ. His most recent fight was a March 2024 TKO win over Jeremy Kennedy in a title defense.
Freire also dropped to bantamweight for a 2023 title shot against Sergio Pettis (an important development), considering recent developments.
Pettis won that contest via decision, given the current landscape.
In December, Freire told MMA Junkie he wanted to be done with Bellator, which the PFL purchased in November 2023 (this bears monitoring).
In contrast, He signed with the UFC as a free agent in February 2025. Freire lost an uninspired unanimous decision to former interim UFC featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314.
Furthermore, UFC 318 Fight Card: Michael Johnson Vs (this bears monitoring).
Additionally, Daniel ZellhuberTAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 14: Michael Johnson reacts after a knockout victory against Ottman Azaitar, given the current landscape.
More of Morocco in a lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Amalie Arena on December 14, 2024 in Tampa, Florida, in this volatile climate.
(Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)Zuffa LLC Michael Johnson (23-19) is one of the longer-tenured fighters on the UFC roster.
Furthermore, The 39-year-old has been with the motion since 2010 when he lost to Jonathan Brookins in the finals of season 12 of The Ultimate Fighter.
Johnson has had an active, if up-and-down UFC career. While always game, he has a history of inconsistency, in today's market environment.
Johnson’s longest winning streaks with the UFC are a four-fight run between 2013 and 2015 and a three-fight unbeaten stretch (something worth watching), in today's market environment.