🎬 UFC 318 Preview: Holloway vs. Poirier III & Costa vs. Kopylov

Main Event: Max Holloway (BMF Champion) vs. Dustin Poirier
In a matchup steeped in history, Max “Humbled” Holloway (26‑8) will defend his BMF (Baddest Motherf*cker) title against longtime rival Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier. This trilogy fight marks Poirier’s official UFC farewell at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on July 19, 2025. Their previous two fights—2012 by submission and 2019 by decision—both went to Poirier, giving him a 2–0 lead heading into the trilogy UFC+15MMAmania.com+15Talksport+15.

🎯 Betting Odds & Analysis

• • Holloway: –118 favorite

• Poirier: –102 underdog UFC

Oddsmakers see this as a virtual pick’em, reflecting their respect for both fighters. Poirier’s emotional farewell and history in New Orleans might sway some bettors toward an upset. His past victories make him a tempting value bet at –102, while Holloway’s size advantage and diverse striking arsenal offer a safer pick for bettors expecting redemption.

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🔥 Co-Main Event: Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov (Middleweight Showdown)

This middleweight clash pits Brazil’s explosive powerhouse Paulo “The Eraser” Costa against Russia’s rising contender Roman Kopylov. Originally scheduled for UFC 317, it was moved to this card.  Costa’s aggression meets Kopylov’s versatility, making this a high-stakes fight with potential ranking implications.

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🥊 The Rest of the Card at a Glance

(From main card to early prelims)

Main Card (10 p.m. ET on PPV):

• Kevin Holland vs. Daniel Rodriguez – Welterweight grudge match

• Dan Ige vs. Patricio “Pitbull” Freire – Featherweight showdown

• Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber – Lightweight matchup

Prelims (8 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+):

• Kyler Phillips vs. Vinicius Oliveira – Bantamweight

• Marvin Vettori vs. Brendan Allen – Middleweight battle

• Francisco Prado vs. Nikolay Veretennikov – Welterweight rising stars

• Ateba Gautier vs. Robert Valentin – Middleweight showcase

Early Prelims (6:15 p.m. ET on UFC Fight Pass):

• Neil Magny vs. Gunnar Nelson, Jimmy Crute vs. Marcin Prachnio, Adam Fugitt vs. Islam Dulatov, Ryan Spann vs. Lukasz Brzeski, Brunno Ferreira vs. Jackson McVey, Carli Judice vs. Nicolle Caliari

• With 14 fights across PPV and prelims, UFC 318 is stacked from top to bottom.

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📍 Event Details & Build-Up

• Date & Venue: Saturday, July 19, 2025, at New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center

• Broadcast Info: Prelims start at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN2/ESPN+, followed by the main card at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV

• Media Day Buzz: Fighters like Holloway, Poirier, Costa, Pitbull, and Holland made waves at the July 16 media day. Notably, Joe Rogan is reportedly not part of the commentary team for this one.

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🚨 Hype & Headlines

• Poirier’s Tribute Fight: Hosted in his hometown, Poirier will walk out to Lil’ Wayne and calls it “the final chapter” of his 14‑year career.

• Holloway’s Mission: After his dramatic buzzer-beater KO of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 and recent KO loss to Ilia Topuria, Holloway wants redemption and a return to lightweight title contention .

• Fan Reaction: Despite its star power, some fans are skeptical, calling the event possibly “the worst PPV ever” due to underwhelming co-main matchups.

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💵 Betting Takeaways

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📝 Final Thoughts

UFC 318 marries legacy and spectacle: Poirier’s emotional farewell in front of his home crowd, Holloway’s quest to cement his legacy, and Costa vs. Kopylov’s middleweight grind—all culminating in a unique slice of MMA drama. Whether you’re tuning in for the trilogy, betting insight, or discovering ascendant talent, this event offers something compelling.

If you’re placing bets, monitor closer to the fight for any late odds shifts or prop opportunities—this card’s emotional stakes and history-fed animosity could drive surprising outcomes in and out of the cage.

Let me know if you want deeper betting breakdowns, fighter bios, or prop-market analysis!

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