After UFC 317 offered one of many occasions of the yr, the Smoothie King Middle prepares to host an evening stuffed with motion.
What makes this PPV so prestigious is that Dustin Poirier fights for the final time within the Octagon.
‘The Diamond’ can have his final dance towards former UFC Featherweight Champion, Max Holloway, for the BMF title.
With the headliner being closely targeted on by MMA followers, the primary card has been gaining much less consideration.
Listed below are the 4 different fights on the PPV that you need to regulate earlier than the primary occasion commences.
Dan Ige vs Patricio Pitbull
A battle which brings a variety of pleasure within the Featherweight division as Ige defends his #12 rating towards Pitbull.
The 145-pound contender redeemed his two-fight shedding streak with a third-round TKO win towards Sean Woodson at UFC 314.
Ige turned a fan favorite within the MMA group when he took on Diego Lopes on simply 4 hours’ discover.
The Hawaiian makes his fourth consecutive look in a PPV occasion and goals to take care of his place within the rankings.
’50k’ believes the bout might be a fantastic look ahead to followers and needs to be seen as a top-five struggle.
Pitbull made his UFC debut on the similar time Ige turned victorious within the Kaseya Middle in Miami.
However the former two-division Bellator Champion was defeated by Yair Rodriguez, shedding by unanimous resolution.
The Brazilian held iconic wins in his a number of championship reigns in Bellator, beating the likes of Michael Chandler, Daniel Straus and Daniel Weichel.
Pitbull is a menace on the toes and floor, successful 13 of his fights by KO/TKO and 11 by submission.
After a disappointing efficiency in his final contest, the Mossoro-born fighter will need to take the prospect this time to enter the 145-pound rankings.
Ateba Gautier vs Robert Valentin
A Middleweight bout which might be unknown to some UFC followers, however these fighters have the prospect to make a reputation for themselves at UFC 318.
Gautier made his debut for the organisation at UFC Mexico Metropolis, knocking out Jose Daniel Medina within the first spherical.
‘The Silent Murderer’ earned his contract within the UFC by way of Dana White’s Contender Collection again in September final yr.
The Cameroonians’ final six fights have all ended by knockout, with 5 of these being stopped in spherical one.
Gautier is trying like a promising prospect within the UFC, and one other knockout win might put him as the following future star at 185 kilos.
Valentin is but to triumph within the UFC after shedding his final battle to Torrez Finney by break up resolution at UFC Vegas 105.
The Swiss Middleweight made his means into the UFC, regardless of shedding the The Final Fighter Finale towards Ryan Loder in August 2024.
In comparison with his opponent, ‘Robzilla’ is extra of a submission artist, holding seven submission wins out of 11 MMA victories.
Nonetheless looking for his first UFC win, Valentin has a fantastic alternative to defeat an enormous prospect of the organisation.
Paulo Costa vs Roman Kopylov
What was alleged to occur at UFC 317 now takes place in Louisiana as two knockout artists sq. off in a fiery matchup.
Costa hasn’t fought in over a yr since his break up resolution defeat to Sean Strickland at UFC 302.
‘The Eraser’ entered the UFC undefeated and went on a triumphant run of 5 fights earlier than incomes a title shot towards Israel Adesanya.
The Brazilian has gone the gap much more lately in his profession, however 11 of his 14 victories in MMA have ended by KO/TKO.
To not neglect that the #12 contender has been in some thrilling battles with the likes of Luke Rockhold and Yoel Romero.
With just one win in his final 5 bouts, Costa is in determined want of redemption as one other loss might put him out of the Middleweight rankings.
Kopylov started his successful streak within the organisation when he earned a really late knockout win towards Chris Curtis at UFC Vegas 101.
Earlier than his submission loss to Anthony Hernandez, the Russian went on an unbelievable run of 4 consecutive KO/TKO victories.
The Shchebzavod-born fighter is a showman on the toes with 12 of his 14 wins ending by knockout.
His most noticeable KO win got here towards Claudio Ribeiro at UFC 291, touchdown a thunderous head kick in spherical two.
Kopylov has a fantastic alternative to defeat a long-serving contender of the division and transfer up the 185-pound rankings.
Michael Johnson vs Daniel Zellhuber
An exhilarating method to begin UFC 318 as two thrilling Lightweights are anticipated to ship.
Johnson earned his second consecutive win at UFC Tampa after an enchanting second-round knockout towards Ottman Azaitar.
The 39-year-old has confronted a few of the greatest names within the UFC, together with Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje and Nate Diaz.
Not forgetting that he does maintain a victory over Poirier, which occurred again in September 2016, knocking him out within the first spherical.
The 155-pound veteran is trying to take out the following potential stars of the organisation as he’ll attempt to enhance his successful streak to a few.
Zellhuber final fought in what was a Battle of the 12 months contender in 2024, shedding to Esteban Ribovics by break up resolution at UFC 306.
The ‘Golden Boy’ has fought 5 occasions within the organisation, successful three of his battles, as he has not been victorious since February 2024.
The Mexican has earned 15 skilled wins in his MMA profession, with seven ending by KO/TKO and three by submission.
After such a wild battle in his final bout, Zellhuber will hope to do the identical for the New Orleans followers however finish the struggle as triumphant.
