UFC 318 live results: Dustin Poirier retirement fight vs. Max Holloway
For the first time in just over a decade, the Octagon heads to the Big Easy for the retirement of a future Hall of Famer as UFC 318 takes place inside the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The main event sees the BMF Championship on the line as current titleholder Max Holloway defends against home state boy Dustin Poirier in Poirier’s retirement bout. It is the third time Holloway and Poirier square off with Poirier ahead 2-0 following wins in February 2012 and April 2019.
The co-main event is a battle of ranked middleweights as former title challenger Paulo Costa returns from a year-long layoff to battle Roman Kopylov. Costa is looking to end a two-fight losing skid, while Kopylov is looking to score his third straight win.
Also on the main card is a welterweight bout between Kevin Holland and Daniel Rodriguez; a featherweight fight pitting Dan Ige against former two-division Bellator Champion Patricio Pitbull; and a lightweight fight between long-time veteran Michael Johnson and Daniel Zellhuber.
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> Women’s Flyweights- Carli Judice (4-2, 1-1 UFC) vs. Nicolle Caliari (8-3, 0-1 UFC)
Caliari comes forward with a jab and a high kick. Judice lands a jab and Caliari lands a right hand. Judice with a front kick. Judice lands a left hand and a knee up the middle. Caliari gets a brief takedown and has the back as they stand. Caliari with a pair of knees. Caliari lands a knee as they break. Judice with another knee up the middle. Caliari looks for a takedown but Judice grabs the back and starts landing. Judice with a sharp elbow in the clinch and a knee as they break. Judice lands a left hand and Caliari lands a counter combination. Judice with a jab and a left hand. Caliari looks for a takedown but Judice defends and ends up on top, but they stand a moment later. Caliari lands a solid right hand. Judice with a solid combination then a knee up the middle as they clinch. 10-9 Judice.
Caliari lands a right hand. They trade and Judice lands a series of punches. Judice with a body kick. Judice lands a combination. Judice continues to land with more volume. Caliari looks for a takedown but Judice defends as they clinch against the fence. Caliari looks for a takedown but Judice defends and Caliari stays on her back trying to bait Judice to the mat, but is stood up. Caliari lands a right hand. Judice lands a body kick. Judice with a knee up the middle and then lands a left hand. Judice with a combo. Judice with a flurry and Caliari is busted up. They trade. 10-9 Judice, 20-18 Judice.
They’re trading and Judice is lighting Caliari up with combinations. Caliari gets a brief takedown and they clinch as they get to their feet and separate. Judice starts landing a flurry and is teeing off on Caliari. Judice lands a big knee to the body and Caliari crumbles to the mat and a couple of punches end it. What a finish by Judice!
Fight Result- Carli Judice def. Nicole Caliari by TKO (strikes) at 1:30 of Round 3
> Middleweights- Brunno Ferreira (13-2, 4-2 UFC) vs. Jackson McVey (6-0, 0-0 UFC)
Ferreira lands a body kick. McVey lands a body kick. They’re really feeling each other out as Ferreira lands a right hand. Ferreira lands a stiff calf kick that McVey didn’t like. Ferreira gets a takedown but allows McVey to take his back. Ferreira is able to escape into side control and lands an elbow. Ferreira gets to the mount. Ferreira gets the arm and locks in an armbar and McVey taps! Impressive finish from Ferreira!
Fight Result- Brunno Ferreira def. Jackson McVey by submission (armbar) at 3:35 of Round 1
> Heavyweights- Ryan Spann (22-11, 8-6 UFC) vs. Lukasz Brzeski (9-6-1 1 NC, 1-5 UFC)
Spann lands a right hand and Brzeski stumbles a little. Spann gets a takedown and quickly gets the mount as he looks for an arm-triangle choke. He lets go and starts landing elbows and punches. Spann gets the arm-triangle choke locked back in but lets go. Brzeski starts rolling and Spann lands a hammerfist. They stand and Spann has a standing guillotine choke locked in. Brzeski goes to his butt trying to escape but he taps! Spann picks up the submission win inside of the first round.
Fight Result- Ryan Spann def. Lukasz Brzeski by submission (guillotine choke) at 2:47 of Round 1
> Light Heavyweights- Jimmy Crute (12-4-2, 4-4-2 UFC) vs. Marcin Prachnio (17-8, 4-6 UFC)
They’re trading early. Crute looks for a takedown against the fence and is able to score a takedown. Prachnio lands some from the bottom as he is throwing elbows. Crute lands from the top. They scramble up and Prachnio lands a knee as they remain clinched. Crute gets it back down and has the neck. They get on their feet and Prachnio lands a knee as they break. Prachnio lands to the body. They trade punches. Crute is looking for a takedown as he has the back. He gets Prachnio down. Crute quickly snatches an arm and looks for an armbar. He has it in deep as Prachnio is trying to kick off. Crute twists and Prachnio taps out! Armbar finish from Crute to pick up the win.
Fight Result- Jimmy Crute def. Marcin Prachnio by submission (armbar) at 4:42 of Round 1
> Welterweights- Adam Fugitt (10-4, 2-2 UFC) vs. Islam Dulatov (11-1, 0-0 UFC)
Dulatov lands a right hand. They both kick at the same time as Dulatov lands a punch. Dulatov with a pair of leg kicks and a right hand. Dulatov with a high kick and Fugitt lands a leg kick. They pressure against the fence but separate. Dulatov lands a flurry and a knee and a right hand as they briefly tie up. Dulatov lands a combination. Fugitt grabs a single leg looking for a takedown. Dulatov escapes and lands. Dulatov drops Fugitt with a left hand and finishes it off with a couple of follow-up shots. What a debut from Dulatov!
Fight Result- Islam Dulatov def. Adam Fugitt by knockout (punches) at 4:06 of Round 1
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> Middleweights- Ateba Gautier (7-1, 1-0 UFC) vs. Robert Valentin (10-5 1 NC, 0-2 UFC)
Gautier lands some leg kicks and starts teeing off with big punches against the fence. Gautier lands and Valentin stumbles to the mat, but gets up. Gautier with an uppercut and is landing big body shots then lands a knee. Valentin is having trouble standing. Gautier with a body shot and lands some more big punches as Valentin crumbles down and it is all over! What a finish from Gautier!
Fight Result- Ateba Gautier def. Robert Valentin by TKO (punches) at 1:10 of Round 1
> Welterweights- Francisco Prado (12-3, 1-3 UFC) vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (12-6, 0-2 UFC)
They trade leg kicks as Prado lands a right hand and scores a takedown. They both attacked for chokes and Prado switched to taking the back of Veretennikov. Prado then transitions to looking for a triangle choke. Prado looks for an armbar and Veretennikov picks him up and slams him down to break it. Veretennikov then starts landing punches from the top. Veretennikov gets inside the guard of Prado and lands before they stand. Veretennikov lands a knee to the body then another. Veretennikov with a left hand on the break. Veretennikov lands a body kick. Veretennikov with a body shot and a spin kick before landing another knee to the body. Prado pushes it against the fence. Veretennikov with another knee. 10-9 Veretennikov.
Veretennikov lands a leg kick and they trade. Veretennikov lands a right hand and Prado briefly goes down. Prado gets up and tries to clinch and look for a takedown but Veretennikov defends and lands on the break. Prado lands a leg kick and a combination. Prado then scores a big takedown. Prado working from the top landing short punches. Prado is looking to set up an arm-triangle choke, but Veretennikov is able to scramble up. Veretennikov lands a jab. Veretennikov lands to the body before Prado lands a flurry, including to the body. Veretennikov lands a knee. Prado with a combo. Veretennikov with another knee and a right hand. Prado lands a right hand. Close round. 10-9 Prado, 19-19.
Veretennikov lands a combo and Prado shoots for a takedown against the fence. Veretennikov is able to reverse to a takedown of his own, but they scramble up and Prado lands an elbow as they separate. Prado lands a leg kick. Veretennikov with a knee in a brief clinch. They trade inside the pocket at Prado lands a right hand. They scramble to the mat as Prado ends up on top. Prado with some elbows from the top and attacks for a choke, but lets go. Veretennikov is able to slip out to his feet. Veretennikov lands and throws a spin kick, but Prado grabs the body. Veretennikov ends up on top as they go to the mat. Prado gets up and they tie up against the fence. Prado lands a knee. Veretennikov jumps for a guillotine but Prado is out of it and landing short body shots. Prado controlling from the top. He ends the fight on top. 10-9 Prado, 29-28 Prado.
Fight Result- Nikolay Veretennikov def. Francisco Prado by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
> Middleweights- #10 Marvin Vettori (19-7-1, 9-6-1 UFC) vs. #11 Brendan Allen (24-7, 12-4 UFC)
They trade kicks. Allen lands a jab as Vettori throws a high kick. Allen with some more kicks. Vettori lands a right hand that clips Allen. Allen with a right hand and a high kick. Allen scores a takedown. Allen with some punches from the top. He takes the back and is landing and gets the body lock on. Allen landing punches as Vettori is busted open. They get to their feet. Allen has the back and takes it down and attacks the neck. He was too high and Vettori gets out and is on top and now inside of Allen’s guard. Vettori controlling from the top now. Vettori takes the back of Allen and looked for a choke but let go. They stand and Vettori lands before they separate. Allen lands a body kick. Vettori lands a combination. Vettori with a body kick. Allen lands a jab. Vettori lands a left hand. They trade late. 10-9 Allen.
Vettori working the jab and leg kick. Allen lands a left hand then a right hand. Vettori with a right hook as Allen lands a body shot. They trade leg kicks. Allen lands a body kick. They trade in close range. Vettori lands a series of combos. Allen lands a big right hand and Vettori backs up. Allen is coming forward and lands a leg kick. They trade inside the pocket. Vettori lands a combination. Vettori’s face continues to show lots of damage. Allen lands a combination. Allen landing some solid punches but Vettori is also landing decently as well. Allen with a high kick. Vettori lands a left hand. 10-9 Allen, 20-18 Allen.
Allen lands a body kick and they trade punches. Vettori lands a left hand. Allen with a leg kick. Allen lands a right hand. Allen with another stiff right hand. Vettori lands a body kick. Vettori lands a big left hand. Allen returns fire and connects. They both land in close range. Allen lands a body kick. Vettori lands a left hand. They start trading in close range and Allen backs Vettori up with a left hand and a knee. Allen gets a takedown but they scramble back to their feet. Allen with a right hand and some elbows. They trade in the pocket. They both land big flurries at the end. Fun fight. 10-9 Allen, 30-27 Allen.
Fight Result- Brendan Allen def. Marvin Vettori by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
> Bantamweights- #12 Kyler Phillips (12-3, 6-2 UFC) vs. #15 Vinicius Oliveira (22-3, 3-0 UFC)
Oliveira with an immediate body kick. Phillips lands a right hand and Oliveira stumbles back. Phillips rushes in and they briefly tie up but separate. Phillips lands a right hand. He lands another. Phillips lands a jab then a body kick. Phillips lands two more big right hands that keep Oliveira off balance. They trade jabs. Phillips with a jumping knee. Oliveira lands a leg kick. Phillips continues to press forward and lands a body kick. Oliveira lands a body kick. Oliveira with a right hand. Phillips with an uppercut. They trade big in close range. Oliveira lands some kicks. Phillips lands a knee. Oliveira with a late flurry. 10-9 Phillips.
Oliveira drops Phillips with a left hand, but he gets right up. Oliveira is attacking and Phillips is stumbling around as Oliveira lands. Phillips grabs the back and they go down with Oliveira on top. They get to their feet and Oliveira is continuing to land with volume. Oliveira lands a leg kick as Phillips hasn’t been able to mount any offense. Oliveira lands some big punches. Phillips lands a combination and a high kick. Oliveira scores a takedown. He ends the round on top. 10-9 Oliveira, 19-19.
Phillips lands a right hand. Oliveira lands a body kick. Phillips with a body kick. Phillips lands a right hand. Oliveira with a right hand and one to the body. Phillips with a high kick. Oliveira lands a combo. Oliveira with a calf kick. Phillips lands to the body followed by a left hand. Oliveira lands another calf kick. Oliveira lands to the body. Oliveira with another leg kick. Phillips lands a spin kick. They trade as Phillips lands a right hand. He lands another. Oliveira lands a right hand. Phillips with a right hand. Oliveira lands and gets a brief takedown. 10-9 Oliveira, 29-28 Oliveira.
Fight Result- Vinicius Oliveira def. Kyler Phillips by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
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> Lightweights- Michael Johnson (23-19, 15-15 UFC) vs. Daniel Zellhuber (15-2, 3-2 UFC)
Zellhuber lands a body kick. Johnson kicks out Zellhuber’s leg and Zellhuber goes to his back, but gets up and Johnson’s shorts tear apart. Zellhuber lands a body kick. They trade kicks and Johnson lands a left hand. Zellhuber with a high kick. Zellhuber with a body kick as Johnson lands a leg kick. Johnson lands a left hand. Zellhuber with a body kick. He lands another. Johnson lands a groin kick and timeout is called. They get back going. Johnson lands a right hand and attacks the body. Johnson connects with a combo. Johnson lands to the body. Zellhuber with a high kick. Johnson lands a left hand. Johnson lands a combination as Zellhuber lands a body kick. Zellhuber with two high kicks and a body kick. 10-9 Johnson.
Johnson with a left hand as Zellhuber lands a series of kicks. Johnson with several body shots. Johnson with a combo as Zellhuber lands a big body kick. Zellhuber lands to the body with a kick again. Zellhuber lands upstairs. Johnson lands a combo. Zellhuber with a body kick. Johnson drops Zellhuber with a left hand and gets inside the guard. He lets Zellhuber back up. Johnson lands a big combo. Zellhuber lands a left hand. Johnson with a combo. Zellhuber lands two body kicks. Johnson lands a left hand. Zellhuber lands a right hand. 10-9 Johnson, 20-18 Johnson.
Johnson lands to the body. Zellhuber with a head kick. Zellhuber with a body kick. Zellhuber lands a side kick. Johnson with a left hand. Zellhuber lands a high kick. Zellhuber with a pair of high kicks. Johnson lands to the body. Johnson lands to the body again. Zellhuber with a high kick. Johnson with a counter left hand. Zellhuber lands a body kick. Johnson lands to the body. Zellhuber lands a body kick. He lands several more body kicks. They trade and Johnson goes for a late takedown but Zellhuber lands a late right hand. 10-9 Zellhuber, 29-28 Johnson.
Fight Result- Michael Johnson def. Daniel Zellhuber by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Featherweights- #11 Dan Ige (19-9, 11-8 UFC) vs. Patricio Pitbull (36-8, 0-1 UFC)
Ige lands a leg kick. Pitbull with a leg kick. Pitbull lands another leg kick. Ige with a quick combo and an inside leg kick. Pitbull with a hard leg kick. Pitbull grabs the back and gets a big takedown but they get up. Pitbull trips Ige back down but they scramble right back up. Ige tries to switch but Pitbull retains control. They get to their feet. Pitbull lands a step-in knee. 10-9 Pitbull.
They trade. Ige lands a right hand. They trade but both are being patient. Pitbull lands a pair of jabs. Pitbull hurts Ige with a punch and starts landing as Ige is trying to recover. Ige lands an elbow as they separate. Pitbull lands a jab. Pitbull scores a takedown. Pitbull lands from the top, mixing in some punches and elbows. 10-9 Pitbull, 20-18 Pitbull.
Ige lands a head kick as Pitbull was going for a takedown and lands some punches to defend and Pitbull lets go and backs off. Ige lands a left hook. Pitbull scores a takedown. Ige is able to scramble out to the feet. Ige landing with more volume as he lands a flurry. Pitbull looks for a takedown as he has the body lock and the back. He lets go. Ige lands a body kick. Ige tries a high kick but Pitbull grabs the leg and lands a takedown. Ige rolls to a leg and tries to land hammerfists. They just trade hammerfists. 10-9 Ige, 29-28 Pitbull.
Fight Result- Patricio Pitbull def. Dan Ige by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Welterweights- #13 Kevin Holland (28-13 1 NC, 15-10 1 NC UFC) vs. Daniel Rodriguez (19-5, 9-4 UFC)
Rodriguez lands to the body trying to back Holland up as they clinch. Both look for position before breaking. Holland lands a leg kick. He looks for a takedown but Rodriguez defends as they go to the fence. Holland lands a combo as they separate. Holland lands a high kick. Rodriguez with an inside leg kick. Holland with a leg kick as Rodriguez lands a body shot. Holland lands a right hand and a jab. Holland with another right hand. Holland with another right hand. They trade leg kicks and Rodriguez lands a pair of left hands. Holland lands a right hand but gets tagged by Rodriguez. Holland with a jab and Rodriguez lands a stiff jab. Rodriguez lands a left hand and Holland counters with a combo. Holland with a high kick. Close round. 10-9 Rodriguez.
Holland lands as Rodriguez rushes in. Holland lands to the body. Rodriguez lands a left hand and Holland stumbles to the mat. Rodriguez gets on top and starts landing lots of punches. Holland retains his half-guard and they get back up. Holland looks for a takedown but Rodriguez easily defends. Rodriguez lands a right hand. Rodriguez lands a combo and Holland falls down. Rodriguez with some shots from the top as Holland is in trouble. Rodriguez backs up and they stand. Holland lands a right hand. Holland gets a takedown. He gets to the half-guard and lands. Holland grabs the neck as they stand and Holland lands a left hand as they break. Rodriguez lands a left hand. Holland looks for a takedown but Rodriguez defends. Holland with a jumping knee. 10-9 Rodriguez, 20-18 Rodriguez.
Holland lands a jab and Rodriguez lands a left hand. Holland with a right hand. Rodriguez lands a leg kick. Holland rushes in and lands. Holland connects and drops Rodriguez with an uppercut. Holland gets on top and lands some elbows. Rodriguez is able to get up and they clinch against the fence. Holland lands some big shots as they break and Rodriguez is hurt badly. Holland with more shots and Rodriguez returns fire. Holland with more uppercuts in the clinch. Holland lands an uppercut and Rodriguez is hurt and Holland is trying to finish it. Rodriguez tries a takedown but Holland is landing. Holland looks for a choke but Rodriguez escapes. Rodriguez gets the mount and starts landing. They scramble as both are exhausted. Rodriguez looks for a choke. Rodriguez gets back into the mount. He lands. Wild fight. 10-9 Rodriguez, 30-27 Rodriguez.
Fight Result- Daniel Rodriguez def. Kevin Holland by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Middleweights- #13 Paulo Costa (14-4, 6-4 UFC) vs. #14 Roman Kopylov (14-3, 6-3 UFC)
Costa runs forward and lands a leg kick. He lands another. He lands a third kick. Kopylov lands a combo. Costa lands a leg kick. Costa lands a right hand and a body kick. Kopylov with a body kick. They trade kicks. Costa mixing kicks high and low. Costa with another body kick. Kopylov lands a left hand. Kopylov lands a body kick. Costa lands to the body. Costa lands and Kopylov’s mouth piece goes flying as he goes down. Costa is landing but Kopylov is able to get back to his feet. Costa with a body kick. 10-9 Costa.
Kopylov with a front kick. Costa with some heavy leg kicks. Costa with a leg kick. Costa lands a right hand. Costa with a high kick. Costa lands and Kopylov lands some counter punches. Costa lands to the body. Kopylov with a body kick. Costa lands some big shots and Kopylov is hurting. Costa with a combo to the body. Costa with a high kick. Kopylov lands a right hand. Kopylov with a body kick. Kopylov with a straight left hand. Costa lands a body kick and Kopylov lands a counter right hand. Costa lands a right hand. 10-9 Costa, 20-18 Costa.
Costa with a leg and body kick. Kopylov connects with a combo and Costa fires back his own combination. Kopylov lands a body kick. Costa lands a right hand and one to the body. Costa with a body kick. Kopylov hurts Costa with a right hand, but Costa is able to shake it off. Kopylov with a combo. Costa lands a body kick. Kopylov with a left hand. Costa lands to the body. Costa looks for a takedown but Kopylov defends. Costa with a body kick. Costa lands to the body. Costa with more body shots. 10-9 Costa, 30-27 Costa.
Fight Result- Paulo Costa def. Roman Kopylov by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
> UFC BMF Championship- C/#5 LW Max Holloway (26-8, 22-8 UFC) vs. #6 LW Dustin Poirier (30-9 1 NC, 22-8 1 NC UFC)
Poirier lands a left hand. Holloway with a right hand and a short leg kick. Holloway works the body and lands a right hand. Poirier with an inside leg kick. Holloway lands a body kick. Holloway drops Poirier with a right hand and Holloway lands and lets Poirier up, and then sends him back down with a left hand. Poirier gets to his feet. Poirier with a left hand and a right hook. Holloway lands a body kick. Poirier lands a left hand. Holloway with a right hand. Holloway lands a combo. Poirier with an inside leg kick. Poirier lands a body kick then a jab. Holloway with a body kick. 10-9 Holloway.
Holloway lands a combo. Holloway with a quick combo inside the pocket. Poirier lands a left hand. They trade leg kicks. Poirier lands a right hand. Holloway with a body kick. Poirier lands a left hand but eats a counter right hand from Holloway. Holloway rocks Poirier with a combination. Holloway starts landing big shots against the fence. Poirier shoots for a takedown but Holloway gets the back and starts landing from the mount. Holloway gets to his feet as Poirier is trying to defend off his back, but Holloway lets him up. Poirier then stuns Holloway with a combination. They trade in close range. Poirier with a left hook to the body then a jab. Poirier then drops Holloway and attacks the neck for a guillotine. Poirier with big elbows from the top to end the round. WOW. 10-9 Holloway, 20-18 Holloway.
They trade jabs. Holloway with a high kick. They trade leg kicks. Poirier with an inside leg kick. Holloway lands a left hand. Poirier lands a right hand. Holloway lands a body kick. Poirier lands a jab. Holloway with a spin kick to the body. Holloway lands a right hand. Holloway lands a combination. Holloway with a head kick. Holloway with a spin kick. Holloway lands to the body. Holloway lands a combo. Poirier lands a left hand followed by a jab. They trade body kicks. 10-9 Holloway, 30-27 Holloway.
Poirier lands a left hand. Holloway lands a right hand to the body. Poirier lands a jab as Holloway circles. Holloway with a double jab and a right hand. They both land as they circle. Poirier lands a left hand and they trade inside the pocket. Holloway with a jab. Holloway lands to the body. Poirier with a jab. Holloway lands a body kick. Holloway works the jab. Holloway lands a combination. Holloway with a body kick as Poirier lands an uppercut. Holloway lands a combo. Poirier with a big left hand. Holloway lands a straight right hand. Holloway with a left hook to the body. Poirier lands a left hand. Poirier with a big left hand. Holloway with a spin kick. Poirier connects late. 10-9 Poirier, 39-37 Holloway.
Holloway lands a combo. Poirier lands a short knee. Poirier with a left hand and Holloway counters with a left hook. They trade punches. Poirier lands a big combination. Holloway mixes to the body. Poirier lands a right hand. Holloway connects to the body and lands a high kick. Holloway lands a body kick as Poirier lands a combo. Holloway lands a right hand. They trade and Holloway lands a right hand. Poirier with two left hands. Holloway with a combination and a body kick. Poirier lands a left hand. Holloway lands a combo. Holloway lands a combination. Poirier with a right hand. They start swinging in the center as both land to end it. 10-9 Holloway, 49-46 Holloway.
Fight Result- Max Holloway def. Dustin Poirier by unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)