New Orleans welcomes the UFC for a particular milestone as a legend of the sport prepares for one last dance in the Octagon. In the main event, Dustin Poirier will have his last UFC fight against the current BMF Champion, Max Holloway. The co-headliner sees the #13 Middleweight contender, Paulo Costa, takes on the #14 contender, Roman Kopylov. Here is everything you need to know before the action kicks off at the Smoothie King Center.
early prelims
Carli Judice vs Nicolle Caliari (Women's Flyweight Bout) - Judice picked up her first UFC win after defeating Yuneisy Duben by first-round TKO at UFC Vegas 104. Crispy had a 100% finish rate with all four of her victories ending by first-round KO/TKO. The Louisiana fighter will be eager to earn another knockout win, this time in front of her home state.
Caliari only just lost her UFC debut, suffering a split decision defeat to Ernesta Kareckaite at UFC Vegas 101. Just like her opponent, the Brazilian also had a 100% finish rate as out of eight wins, five have ended by KO/TKO and three by submission. Still in search of her first win in the organisation, Caliari looks to achieve her objective in enemy territory.
Brunno Ferreira vs Jackson McVey (Middleweight Bout) - Ferreira redeemed himself in his last fight after stopping Armen Petrosyan by second-round submission at UFC 313. The Hulk has stopped every conquered opponent he has faced, holding nine KO/TKO wins and four submissions. The Brazilian has looked rather close to earning a place in the Middleweight rankings, this could be the opportunity with a big statement victory.
McVey makes his UFC debut in New Orleans after a first-round TKO win against Mataeo Garner at LFA 210. The Moose has a 100% finish rate on his undefeated record, stopping three of his opponents by KO/TKO and three by submission. McVey has the opportunity to make an impressive introduction to the organisation as he hopes to keep his perfect record.
Ryan Spann vs Lukasz Brzeski (Heavyweight Bout) - Spann made his Heavyweight debut in his last bout, but was unsuccessful as he lost by second-round TKO against Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC Vegas 104. Superman has stopped 19 of the 22 fighters he holds wins over, earning six knockouts and 13 submissions. After failing to enter the rankings on his first attempt, the Memphis-born fighter will be trying to earn another chance at the top 15.
Brzeski is currently on an unfortunate run with two consecutive first-round knockout losses to Mick Parkin at UFC 304 and Kennedy Nzechukwu at UFC 310. Out of the nine victories, The Bull has earned seven finishes with six ending by KO/TKO. The Pole only has one win in his six UFC fights as this could be the last straw of staying in the UFC.
Jimmy Crute vs Marcin Prachnio (Light Heavyweight Bout) - Crute stands on a five-fight winless streak after drawing his last bout against Rodolfo Bellato at UFC 312. The Australian has stopped nine of his 12 beaten opponents, earning five KO/TKO wins and four submissions. Crute is possibly in danger of being cut from the UFC as he is in desperate need of a win at the Smoothie King Center.
Prachnio failed to begin a winning streak at UFC 304 as he suffered a third-round submission loss to Modestas Bukauskas. The Warsaw-born fighter has 17 wins in his MMA career with 11 of those victories ending by KO/TKO. Prachnio is aiming to get back on track in this PPV event and pick up his fifth win with the organisation.
Adam Fugitt vs Islam Dulatov (Welterweight Bout) - Fugitt just managed to get back in the win column after going the distance with Josh Quinlan to win by split decision at UFC Vegas 93. The American has earned eight stoppage wins with five of those by KO/TKO and three by submission. Currently at 2-2 in the UFC, Fugitt is looking for that positive record in the organisation.
Dulatov is unbeaten in his last 11 fights and earned a contract into the UFC after defeating Vanilto Antunes by first-round knockout in Dana White's Contender Series. The Ripper holds a 100% finish rate with seven knockouts and four submissions, 10 of those finishes have ended in the first round. The German is aiming for an impressive start in the Welterweight division as fans will expect a one-round battle.
preliminary card
Ateba Gautier vs Robert Valentin (Middleweight Bout) - Gautier couldn't have made a better first impression in the organisation after earning a first-round knockout against Jose Daniel Medina at UFC Mexico City. The Silent Assassin's last six fights have ended by KO/TKO and has successfully gone the distance once in his career. The Cameroonian will aim to continue his rich knockout run with another outstanding performance.
Valentin came very close to capturing his first UFC win when he lost to Torreez Finney by split decision at UFC Vegas 105. With 11 triumphs in his MMA career, 10 of Robzilla's wins have ended in a finish with three by KO/TKO and seven by submission. The Swiss fighter has the chance to cause a big upset victory and take out the next biggest prospect at Middleweight.
Francisco Prado vs Nikolay Veretennikov (Welterweight Bout) - Prado is on a two-fight losing streak after suffering an unanimous decision loss to Jake Matthews in his last bout at UFC 312. The Argentinian has stopped every enemy he has conquered, earning six knockouts and six submissions. Prado is aiming to get back in the win column as he has not been victorious for two years.
Veretennikov began a losing streak after a second-round TKO defeat to Austin Vanderford at UFC Seattle. The Kazakhstan fighter has earned 12 victories with nine ending by KO/TKO as he likes to stay on the feet. Veretennikov is still searching for his first UFC win as he could be cut from the organisation if he is triumphant at UFC 318.
Marvin Vettori vs Brendan Allen (Middleweight Bout) - Vettori fought for the first time in 21 months, only to lose by unanimous decision against Roman Dolidze at UFC Vegas 104. The Italian Dream has 11 finishes out of 19 victories, with two ending by KO/TKO and nine by submission. The #10 contender is wanting to keep his spot in the rankings and further improve as he's won once in his last four fights.
Allen suffered his second consecutive defeat when he met Anthony Hernandez at UFC Seattle, losing by unanimous decision. All In is a big submission threat as 14 of his 24 triumphs in MMA have ended with the opponent being chocked or tapped out. The #11 contender is looking for redemption, just like his opponent, as he tries to settle the score after both men were involved in an altercation in casino.
Kyler Phillips vs Vinicius Oliveira (Bantamweight Bout) - Phillips' three-fight winning streak was snapped in his last fight when he lost to Rob Font by unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 99. With 12 wins in his career, The Matrix has picked up five knockouts and two submissions. The #12 contender is hoping to maintain his position in the top 15 as he's yet to lose two consecutive times.
Oliveira increased his winning streak to five after defeating Said Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision in his last fight. LokDog has stopped 18 of his opponents, earning 16 KO/TKO victories and two submissions. The #15 contender has been a promising prospect at 135 pounds and a win in Louisiana could be a big step up for him as a future potential title challenger.
main card
Michael Johnson vs Daniel Zellhuber (Lightweight Bout) - Johnson began a winning streak at UFC Tampa after he secured second-round knockout against Ottman Azaitar. The Lightweight veteran has stopped half of the opponents he's defeated, holding 10 KO/TKO wins and two submissions. Fighting with the UFC since December 2010, Johnson is looking to prove that high experience does matter when it comes a fight in this organisation.
Zellhuber's three-fight win streak was snapped in his last bout after an entertaining fight with Esteban Ribovics ended with a split decision loss. Golden Boy has stopped 10 of his 15 conquered opponents, earning seven KO/TKO wins and three submissions. The Mexican is aiming to take out a veteran and make a statement in the Lightweight division.
Dan Ige vs Patricio Pitbull (Featherweight Bout) - Ige earned his fifth knockout win in the UFC after defeating Sean Woodson in the third round, keeping his position in the Featherweight rankings at UFC 314. 50k has 12 finishes in his MMA career, stopping seven enemies by KO/TKO and five by submission. The #11 contender is once again on a mission to maintain his spot in the top 15, which could hopefully lead to a higher ranked opponent in his next fight.
Pitbull made his UFC debut in his last bout, but was unsuccessful after an unanimous decision loss to Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314. The Brazilian has 36 wins to his record, 13 have ended by KO/TKO and 11 by submission. The former two-division Bellator Champion still has the chance to enter the 145-pound rankings as he's aiming to prove that fighters from other MMA promotions can compete in the UFC.
Kevin Holland vs Daniel Rodriguez (Welterweight Bout) - Holland entered the 170-pound rankings in his last fight after defeating Vicente Luque by second-round submission at UFC 316. Trailblazer very rarely goes the distance as 13 of his victories have ended by KO/TKO and 10 by submission. The #13 contender is aiming to keep his place in the top 15 but hopefully rising up to a higher rank if he succeeds in Louisiana.
Rodriguez began his third win streak in the UFC after claiming a third-round TKO win over Santiago Ponzinibbio at UFC Des Moines. D-Rod has stopped 13 of his 19 enemies he's triumphed over, nine by KO/TKO and four by submission. The Alhambra-born fighter was once a contender in the Welterweight division as he looks to regain a spot in the top 15.
Paulo Costa vs Roman Kopylov (Middleweight Bout) - Costa has not fought since UFC 302 where he suffered a split decision loss to former UFC Middleweight Champion, Sean Strickland. The Eraser is a knockout artist with 11 of his 14 MMA triumphs ending by KO/TKO. The #13 contender has only won once in his last five fights as he's trying to redeem himself, as well as stay in the Middleweight rankings.
Kopylov made it two consecutive wins after a late knockout in the third round against Chris Curtis at UFC Vegas 101. Just like his opponent, the Russian is a danger on the feet as 12 of his 14 wins have ended by knockout. The #14 contender is hoping to rise up the 185-pound rankings while defeating a former title challenger of the division.
Max Holloway vs Dustin Poirier (Lightweight Title Bout) - Holloway failed to regain the UFC Featherweight title in his last bout after suffering a third-round knockout loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308. Blessed has earned 14 stoppage wins in his MMA career, 12 have ended by KO/TKO and two by submission. The BMF Champion is preparing to keep his title as he has the tough task to defend the belt in enemy territory.
Poirier could not capture the UFC Lightweight title in his last fight after losing by fifth-round submission to Islam Makhachev at UFC 302. The Diamond has 23 finishes out of 30 victories, holding 16 knockouts and seven submissions. The former Interim Lightweight Champion fights for the last time in his career, and is hoping to bow out with the BMF title, while defeating Holloway for the third time in the UFC.
Who will end the night as the BMF Champion between Holloway and Poirier? Which fight are you looking forward to the most?
Written by Charlie Oxtoby
Instagram: charlie_oxtoby
MMA Instagram: undisputed._.mma
Twitter: Charlie_Oxtoby1
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