The next big UFC event is just a couple of weeks away, with UFC 318 set to fire off in New Orleans, Louisiana on July 19th.

Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway headline a loaded main card, giving UFC 318 a real shot to upstage an explosive UFC 317. The UFC has been delivering above and beyond lately, and this card is no different.

If you’re ready to place your bets on this massive event, I’ve got you covered with my preferred UFC picks, fight predictions, and an inspection of the latest odds.

Where To Watch UFC 318?

UFC 318 can be viewed on ESPN, ESPN+, and Disney+, with the main card going live on PPV.

What Time Does UFC 318 Start?

You can start watching UFC 318 with the Early Prelims getting the party started at 6:00 pm EST. The Prelims follow at 8:00 pm EST, and the main card gets going at 10:00 pm EST.

Where Is UFC 318?

UFC 318 will go down at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

UFC 318 Main Card Odds

Check out the latest UFC 318 odds for the Main Card, courtesy of the top sports betting sites: 

Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier 3 leads the charge when looking at the latest UFC 318 odds. This is an epic trilogy fight, even though Poirier is up 2-0 in the series. Despite that, he’ll also enter as the tentative underdog, even though some sites have these guys both at -110.

You can get value with Poirier at -105 right now, but no matter which way you bet on the main event, the value is looking pretty solid. There are two other main card bouts priced ar -235 or lower, and we have some elite finishers in play.

I have my UFC 318 picks ready to go for the main card, but I understand if you want even more insight. I’ll break down each fight down below, but I also suggest utilizing the best sports betting handicappers online to maximize your betting upside for this huge event.

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UFC 318 Predictions For The Main Card

The UFC 318 main card gets going at 10:00 pm EST on PPV.

Max Holloway (-120) vs. Dustin Poirier (EVEN)

The UFC is sending Duston Poirier off in style, as his retirement fight doubles as a trilogy bout with Max Holloway. Holloway (26-8) is down 0-2 against Poirier, having previously dropped a Decision and being submitted, but he’s as tough as they come, which is why the line is so close.

Holloway is the light favorite just because he’s three years younger and still has something to fight for, while he also has the edge in height and reach. There’s always the possibility that his striking ends things early (12 career KOs), while his resume is as good as they come. It’s also not crazy to think Poirier’s heart just isn’t “in it” as he calls it a career.

All fair points, but Poirier obviously knows how to keep Holloway at bat, and with this being his final MMA bout, he definitely has incentive to go 3-0 against one of the toughest UFC stars of all-time. We also get superior betting value with The Diamond (30-9), who has gone just 2-3 over his last five bouts, but has lost to some massive names and offers as much finishing ability (15 KOs, 8 submissions), as anyone.

I am leaning into the narrative with this one.

Bet: Dustin Poirier (EVEN)

Dan Ige (-155) vs. Patricio Pitbull (+135)

This is another UFC 318 main card pick that is tougher than expected, largely because Dan Ige (19-9) is one of the toughest dudes on the circuit. His record isn’t amazing and he doesn’t always finish opponents at an alarming rate, but this is not a guy you should bet on getting knocked out.

Ige surprised me with a TKO victory over Sean Woodson in his last match, as he appeared to be trending in the wrong direction after losing to the likes of Lerone Murphy, Diego Lopes, and Bryce Mitchell across three of his previous four fights.

Lasting a full three rounds with an explosive fighter like Lopes isn’t shameful, but Ige simply isn’t always reliable in terms of putting fights to bed. That is one reason to pause before clicking his name on your betslip for UFC 318, seeing as his opponent is an absolute nightmare.

Patricio Pitbull may be 38 now, but he’s only been finished three times across a staggering 34 fights and has 24 wins by stoppage of his own. He got one of those as recently as 2024 against Jeremy Kennedy, but his overall form (1-3 over his last four) and age make him a tough value bet to target.

The man has dominated Bellator for years, but he lost a Decision in his UFC debut and is a bit too long in the tooth for me to get behind. Given Ige’s toughness, defense, and huge six-inch reach advantage, I like Ige’s ML and a “goes the distance” prop for this fight.

Bet: Dan Ige (-155)

Ateba Gautier (-400) vs. Robert Valentin (+330)

The first two UFC 318 main event predictions aren’t easy to gauge, but this one is. Ateba Gautier is a big favorite and a physical specimen. He lacks experience with just eight fights under his belt, but he’s gone 7-1 and the 23-year old has been highly explosive.

With six KOs in seven wins, Gautier is a good bet to end things early, just like he did in his UFC debut in March, where he KO’d Jose Medina. That was his sixth consecutive knockout win, and I don’t see much reason to believe his streak will get snapped by Robert Valentin (10-5).

Valentin has been the more accurate striker and has more experience, but he also gives up four inches in reach and isn’t nearly as explosive. He’s also 0-2 so far inside the UFC, while he’s been finished three times already in his career.

Bet: Ateba Gautier (-400)

Roman Kopylov (-235) vs. Paolo Costa (+200)

This may be Paolo Costa’s last shot in the UFC. Once considered one of the top rising stars in mixed martial arts, Costa (14-4) hit a wall after a TKO loss to Israel Adesanya and he simply has never fully recovered.

Costa is just 1-3 since that defeat, with his lone victory coming in 2022 against a washed up Luke Rockhold. We know the finishing ability (11 KOs) is there, though, and Costa can at least hang his hat on the fact that all of his losses have come against fellow elite strikers and/or supremely tough dudes.

That doesn’t really change with someone like Roman Kopylov (14-3), who is just as nasty in terms of finishing ability (12 KOs) and his one loss in his past eight bouts came via submission against Anthony Hernandez.

Still, Kopylov’s resume isn’t as stacked as Costa’s. On top of that, these guys measure up pretty well in terms of profile, with Costa grading out as the more impactful striker. I like the combination of narrative and value here. It could come back to bite me, but a Costa win is something I don’t mind rolling the dice on for +200.

Bet: Paolo Costa (+200)

Daniel Zellhuber (-400) vs. Michael Johnson (+330)

The last fight on the UFC 318 main card pits Daniel Zellhuber (15-2) against Michael Johnson (24-19), which is priced as a bit of a gimme match for Zellhuber. I tend to agree with the odds and that logic, as Johnson has almost as many losses as wins, and is now 39 years old.

Johnson has a major leg up in terms of experience and resume, but Zellhuber is far younger, is the better athlete, is going to inflict more damage, and also has a four-inch reach edge. He’s only gone 3-2 under the UFC banner to this point, but he’s looked good enough that I don’t mind paying to bet on him to get his 16th win.

It’s fair to note Johnson still has some power, as he earned a KO win in his last fight, but his submissions defense has been weak for some time, and he hasn’t finished opponents consistently enough. Zellhuber has the skill-set to give him major trouble, and a 10th career submission loss could be in the cards.

Bet: Daniel Zellhuber (-400)

UFC 318 Preliminary Card Odds

Check out the latest UFC 318 odds for the Preliminary Card.

The pricing for the UFC 318 Prelims looks solid, with a showdown between Brendan Allen and Marvin Vettori easily taking the cake in terms of must-see matches.

Allen is a monster, but Vettori can take a ton of punishment, so getting him at +230 might be a value that’s too good to pass up. A lot of these other fights either offer solid value for the underdog or are at least appropriately priced, but I don’t see a ton of spots where I’d go away from the betting favorite.

I have two UFC 318 upset picks for the preliminary matches, but as usual, I’ll go more into why I like each fighter to win below.

UFC 318 Predictions For The Preliminary Card

Catch the Prelims starting at 5:00 pm EST on Disney+ and ESPN+.

Brendan Allen (-270) vs. Marvin Vettori (+230)

This is a huge fight and if I had to guess, one that will be under heavy consideration for the Fight of the Night bonus when it’s all said and done. Brendan Allen (24-7) is favored despite not finding much success lately, as he’s dropped two fights in a row with losses to Anthony Hernandez and Nassourdine Imavov.

Those aren’t exactly bad losses, of course, and it’s worth noting that Allen had won seven straight before those two tough Decision defeats. The dude is as battle tested as anyone, and he’s one of the better ground warriors in the UFC (14 submissions), while he also offers solid striking.

It’s a tall order for Marvin Vettori (19-8-1), but The Italian Dream has never been finished in 28 fights, and I doubt he is going to start now. Allen would usually work this fight to the ground, but Vettori’s defense is elite and he can end things there (9 submissions), himself.

Vettori is a little older and loses two inches in reach, but his takedown numbers are a bit better and he’s also the more impactful striker. Allen could obviously win, but factoring in toughness and value, passing on Vettori at +230 simply isn’t something I want to do.

Bet: Marvin Vettori (+230)

Vinicius Oliveira (-170) vs. Kyler Phillips (+145)

This is another fight that’s tough to call, and the pricing is indicative of that. Vinicius Oliveira comes into UFC 318 as a mild favorite, and that isn’t shocking thanks to a 22-3 record and far more experience than his opponent.

Oliveira has an insane 16 KO wins to his name, but just one of them has come in the UFC and his resume isn’t overly imposing. He also grades out as the weaker striker when compared to Kyler Phillips (12-3), who also owns a two-inch reach advantage and also scores more takedowns on average.

Phillips doesn’t have the KO count or wins that Vinicius does, and he has 10 fewer fights, but he does have way more experience inside the UFC, and he’s faced a litany of big names. The results have been good, too, as he edged out Yadong Song in 2021, and has recent wins over Raoni Barcelos and Pedro Munhoz.

Ultimately, I think Oliveira is a bit over-hyped and I like the value associated with Phillips at +145.

Bet: Kyler Phillips (+145)

Brunno Ferreira (-650) vs. Jackson McVey (+475)

Next up we have a bout between Bruno Ferreira (13-2) and Jackson McVey (6-0), where Ferreira is a massive favorite to win. Ferreira has definitely been up and down lately, but he’s fresh off of a submission win over Armen Petrosyan in March and has the skill-set to dominate Jackson McVey.

Ferreira is no stranger to ending fights early, as all 13 of his wins have come via stoppage. He’s plenty versatile, too, and he’ll be battling a young up and comer making his official UFC debut.

McVey is also quite versatile and has won all of his fights by stoppage, but the lack of experience against top shelf competition hurts him here. I like Ferreira to win and, per usual, it’s probably going to come early.

Bet: Brunno Ferreira (-650)

Jimmy Crute (-300) vs. Marcin Prachnio (+250)

The -300 moneyline isn’t super inviting, but neither is the idea of betting against Jimmy Crute at UFC 318. He is a sizable favorite despite Marcin Prachnio’s profile almost mirroring his, while his recent form isn’t sparkling.

Crute hasn’t registered a win since 2000, as he’s dropped three losses and two other fights ended in a Draw. Not great, Bob! Still, we know Crute is a versatile fighter with solid finishing ability, while the 36-year old Prachnio has been less impressive inside the UFC.

He does have slate-tilting upside thanks to 11 career KOs, but he’s also been finished six times and Crute has the advantage if this thing gets to the ground. I don’t love Crute’s recent form, but he’s the better fighter and I think this is a bout where box score watchers will come away disappointed.

Bet: Jimmy Crute (-300)

Islam Dulatov (-550) vs. Adam Fugitt (+400)

It should be business as usual for Islam Dulatov (11-1), who has ended all of his 11 wins early. He’s proven to be quite tough, too, with his lone career defeat coming via Decision way back in 2019 in his professional debut.

He’s been on fire ever since, as he’s won 11 fights in a row, and he’s done it in convincing fashion every single time. Dulatov has yet to prove he can do it on the UFC level, but he did score a KO win in Dana White’s Contender Series, so it’s likely he can keep it rolling at UFC 318.

He’ll face Adam Fugitt (10-4), who does have some finishing ability of his own, but has been stopped three times in four losses, and has suspect form inside the UFC. He’s just 2-2 since arriving here in 2022, while both of those losses have been finishes.

The talent gap could be pretty big here, and Dulatov may have a bright future ahead of him. This feels like a stepping stone, rather than a true test. The ML price isn’t fun, so I’d just bet on a KO or for this one to finish inside the distance.

Bet: Islam Dulatov (-550)

Carli Judice (-250) vs. Nicolle Caliari (+210)

The only UFC 318 bout featuring women has Carli Judice (4-2) as the clear favorite to get past Nicolle Caliari (8-3). Caliari has more experience, but she grades out as the weaker fighter in every regard.

Judice had an impressive TKO win in his last fight, and has finished her opponent in all four of her victories to this point. Two losses in the UFC is cause for pause, but she looks like the better talent.

This is a spot where you ignore the record and lean on a fighter’s upside. Judice clearly is punishing opponents and a six-inch reach edge doesn’t hurt her case, either. The -250 moneyline isn’t too wild, but I’d be down for a KO bet here, just as well.

Bet: Carli Judice (-250)

Gunnar Nelson (-350) vs. Neil Magny (+285) 

The last fight with UFC 318 odds is this showdown between Gunnar Nelson (19-6-1) and Neil Magny (29-14), which could honestly go either way. Magny has loads of experience and has been around forever, while he also offers an absurd eight-inch reach edge.

Magny has just 12 wins by stoppage in 29 victories, of course, and he’s been finished 10 times. His recent form also isn’t great, as he’s gone just 1-3 over his last four fights. At 37, the end is near, and he simply isn’t a fun guy to bet on.

Nelson isn’t much younger, but he is as tough as they come. He’s lived to tell about fights with Kevin Holland, Gilbert Burns, and Leon Edwards -all vicious MMA stars who were unable to finish him. He also boasts a strong submission game and is in overall better form.

Magny could always get the upset, but everything points to Nelson for me.

Bet: Gunnar Nelson (-350)

The Best UFC 318 Picks

The following list represents our best UFC picks for this weekend’s event:

• Dustin Poirier (EVEN)
• Marvin Vettori (+230)
• Islam Dulatov (-550)

I stand by all of my UFC 318 picks, but if you’re only targeting a few bets, the three above are the ones I would start with. Poirier is a vicious finisher who has twice beaten Max Holloway, and has every reason in the world to make it 3-0 in his retirement fight. Due to that, his price is too good to bypass.

The same goes for Vettori, who is tough as nails and highly skilled. He’s facing a good and aggressive fighter, but if this thing goes the distance, I like Vettori’s chances to inflict just enough damage to get the Decision and return immense value at +230.

Dulatov is a much safer play, and you admittedly shouldn’t be hammering his -550 ML. But I think he’s one of the safest bets on the board due to his finishing ability and the talent gap with his opponent. That means you can go hard at his moneyline if you want, but targeting a KO bet is probably the way to go.

UFC 318 Card

Check out the updated UFC 318 fight card: