UFC 318 Heads to New Orleans with Holloway vs. Poirier 3 for the BMF Title

New Orleans, Louisiana – The UFC is set to make a long-awaited return to New Orleans, Louisiana, with a blockbuster main event for the BMF title as reigning champion Max Holloway faces off with Louisiana’s own Dustin Poirier in a highly anticipated trilogy bout. This event will mark Poirier’s final walk to the Octagon, making it a deeply personal and historic moment in his legendary career. Also featured is a pivotal middleweight clash between No. 10-ranked Marvin Vettori and No. 11-ranked Brendan Allen.

UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 takes place Saturday, July 19, at the Smoothie King Center. The main card airs at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on ESPN+ Pay-Per-View, preceded by prelims at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, Disney+, and ESPN+, and early prelims beginning at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT on ESPN+, Disney+, and UFC Fight Pass.

Max Holloway (26-8), fighting out of Waianae, Hawaii, enters the Octagon with redemption in mind, looking to avenge past losses to Poirier and defend his BMF crown. Known for his all-action style and victories over elite fighters like Justin Gaethje, The Korean Zombie, and Frankie Edgar, Holloway is expected to bring fireworks to New Orleans.

Dustin Poirier (30-9, 1 NC), fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla., via Lafayette, La., prepares for his final Octagon appearance. Over nearly 15 years in the UFC, he has built a legacy with thrilling wins over stars like Conor McGregor, Michael Chandler, and Dan Hooker. Poirier aims to close his career on a high note in front of a hometown crowd.

Marvin Vettori (19-8-1), fighting out of Mezzocorona, Italy, a mainstay in the middleweight division, returns to reclaim his place in title contention. With victories over Roman Dolidze, Paulo Costa, and Kevin Holland, he looks to bounce back in a big way.

Brendan Allen (24-7), fighting out of Delray Beach, Fla., via Covington, La., a Dana White’s Contender Series standout, has emerged as a serious contender in the division with wins over Chris Curtis, Paul Craig, and Bruno Silva. Fighting in his home state, Allen is looking for a statement win against a top-10 opponent.

Additional Bouts:

• Amanda Ribas (12-6) vs. Tabatha Ricci (11-3) – Women’s Strawweight showdown between two ranked Brazilian contenders.
• Kyler Phillips (12-3) vs. Vinicius Oliveira (22-3) – High-octane bantamweight scrap.
• Neil Magny (29-14) vs. Gunnar Nelson (19-6-1) – Veteran welterweights clash in a stylistic battle.
• Adam Fuitt (10-4) vs. Islam Dulatov (12-6) – Welterweight prospects meet in a pivotal test.
• Jimmy Crute (12-4-2) vs. Marcin Prachnio (17-8) – Light heavyweight matchup.
• Ikram Aliskerov (16-2) vs. Brunno Ferreira (13-2) – Middleweight battle with major implications.
• Carli Judice (4-2) vs. Nicolle Caliari (8-3) – Women’s flyweight bout featuring Louisiana’s own Judice.

UFC 318 promises to deliver a memorable night of action and emotion as legends write their final chapters and contenders rise on the global stage—all in the heart of New Orleans.

Roberto Villa

Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Executive Writer, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for Combat Sports and also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s also a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.