UFC 318 Holloway vs Poirier 3, Betting Tips, Predictions & Previews

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Ben Beard

Ben Beard heads up TipMan Tips, him and his team break down stats and trends to find value and help punters stay ahead. 🏇⚽

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UFC 318 Overview

📅 Event Overview

  • Date: Saturday, July 19, 2025

  • Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana

🕕 Schedule & UK Times

SegmentCT (US)UK (BST)
Doors open4:00 pm10:00 pm
Early Prelims5:00 pm11:00 pm
Prelims7:00 pm1:00 am (Sunday)
Main Card9:00 pm3:00 am (Sunday)
Main Event ETA~10:00 pm~4:00 am BST

🏆 Main Event: Holloway vs. Poirier III

Max Holloway (27‑8‑0) vs. Dustin Poirier (30‑9‑0)

  • Trilogy bout – Poirier won their previous two meetings (2012, 2019)

  • BMF Title on the line

  • Poirier’s retirement fight – taking place in his home state of Louisiana

  • Odds: Holloway slight favourite at 8/11 ; Poirier available at 11/10

Head‑to‑Head Notes:

  • Poirier: Power striker with 16 KOs, sharp boxing and excellent counter game

  • Holloway: Volume king with endless cardio, smart movement, and elite striking accuracy

🎯 Full Fight Card

Main Card (PPV)

  • Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier (BMF Title – LW)

  • Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov (MW)

  • Kevin Holland vs. Daniel Rodriguez (WW)

  • Dan Ige vs. Patricio Pitbull (FW)

  • Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber (LW)

Prelims

  • Kyler Phillips vs. Vinicius Oliveira (BW)

  • Marvin Vettori vs. Brendan Allen (MW)

  • Francisco Prado vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (WW)

  • Ateba Gautier vs. Robert Valentin (MW)

Early Prelims

  • Adam Fugitt vs. Islam Dulatov (WW)

  • Jimmy Crute vs. Marcin Prachnio (LHW)

  • Ryan Spann vs. Łukasz Brzeski (HW)

  • Brunno Ferreira vs. Jackson McVey (FLW)

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UFC 318 Holloway vs Poirier 3, Betting Tips

20 Jul 5:00 - 🥊 Holloway vs Poirier 3 - UFC 318
20 Jul 5:00
🥊 Holloway vs Poirier 3 - UFC 318

Poirier Submission

Method Of Victory
14/1

Reason for Tip

Dustin Poirier has long been one of the most dangerous grapplers in the lightweight division, and although his striking often takes the spotlight, the submission route looks a very live angle here. He already holds a submission win over Holloway from their first meeting in 2012 and has eight career tapouts to his name. Max has never been stopped via strikes, but his one career submission loss came to Poirier — a detail that could resurface if the Diamond drags him into deeper waters. Given Holloway’s volume style can leave him open to counters and clinch entanglements, this could be the moment where Poirier rolls back the years and catches a reactive choke or neck crank in the later rounds. At current odds, the submission angle is a juicy high-risk, high-reward play Tipman sees as a sharp value angle for bettors chasing upside.

20 Jul 5:00 - 🥊 Holloway vs Poirier 3 - UFC 318
20 Jul 5:00
🥊 Holloway vs Poirier 3 - UFC 318

Poirier Decision

Method Of Victory
11/4

Reason for Tip

For those seeking a more measured approach, Poirier by decision looks the smarter way to side with the Diamond. Fighting in his home state of Louisiana in what could be his retirement bout, expect a tactical and emotionally-charged performance from one of MMA’s most seasoned operators. He holds a 2–0 edge over Holloway in previous bouts and has the power, ring control, and octagon IQ to land the cleaner, more telling moments across five rounds. Max is notoriously durable and rarely even hurt, making a finish unlikely — but Poirier has edged out plenty of elite opponents on the cards before, including Max himself in 2019. With Tipman’s models suggesting this goes the full five, the value sits firmly with a Poirier decision at enhanced odds, particularly if he sets the early pace and controls the exchanges. Smart, steady, and very live.

20 Jul 4:00 - 🥊 Costa vs Kopylov - UFC 318
20 Jul 4:00
🥊 Costa vs Kopylov - UFC 318

Kopylov Decision

Method Of Victory
21/20

Reason for Tip

Roman Kopylov has quietly become one of the most efficient strikers in the UFC’s middleweight ranks, and this looks a prime opportunity for him to outpoint a fading Paulo Costa over three rounds. The Russian southpaw comes in with momentum, winning five of his last six, and doing so with a mix of calm precision, smart movement, and sharp counter work. Costa, by contrast, has looked one-paced and hesitant in recent outings, losing four of his last five and showing little of the aggression that once made him a title contender. Kopylov’s style is well-suited to expose that. He boasts a significant reach advantage and the ability to manage range, landing 50% of his strikes while absorbing less than Costa, who tends to march forward with minimal head movement and leaves himself open. While the KO threat is always live, Tipman sees this one playing out over the distance, with Kopylov keeping it clean, disciplined, and doing more than enough on the cards. At 2/1 or better, it’s a tidy play with a solid data-driven edge.

20 Jul 3:00 - 🥊 Ige vs "Pitbull" Freire - UFC 318
20 Jul 3:00
🥊 Ige vs "Pitbull" Freire - UFC 318

Fiere Decision

Method Of Victory
11/4

Reason for Tip

Patricio “Pitbull” Freire brings a wealth of experience into this featherweight clash, and a measured, tactical decision win looks the most realistic path for the Bellator icon. While his UFC debut didn’t go to plan, it came up at short notice and a weight class above. This return to featherweight feels far better timed. Ige is a tough, durable opponent, but he’s struggled to break through against elite-level names, and Freire has the veteran nous to edge him in a close three-rounder. Expect Pitbull to mix in low kicks, counter shots, and occasional level changes to disrupt Ige’s rhythm, with neither fighter likely to take major risks. Ige’s chin has held up well across 11 UFC decisions, and Freire isn’t the most aggressive finisher at this stage of his career, so the cards look the most likely route. With Tipman leaning toward a cage-smart performance from the Brazilian, the decision angle appeals as the standout value in this evenly matched bout.

🥊 Holloway vs Poirier 3 – UFC 318, Saturday 20th July

Betting Angle: Dustin Poirier via Submission (14/1)
Market: Method of Victory

Dustin Poirier has long been one of the most dangerous grapplers in the lightweight division, and although his striking often takes the spotlight, the submission route looks a very live angle here. He already holds a submission win over Holloway from their first meeting in 2012 and has eight career tapouts to his name. Max has never been stopped via strikes, but his one career submission loss came to Poirier — a detail that could resurface if the Diamond drags him into deeper waters. Given Holloway’s volume style can leave him open to counters and clinch entanglements, this could be the moment where Poirier rolls back the years and catches a reactive choke or neck crank in the later rounds. At current odds, the submission angle is a juicy high-risk, high-reward play Tipman sees as a sharp value angle for bettors chasing upside.

Betting Angle: Dustin Poirier via Decision (3/1+)
Market: Method of Victory

For those seeking a more measured approach, Poirier by decision looks the smarter way to side with the Diamond. Fighting in his home state of Louisiana in what could be his retirement bout, expect a tactical and emotionally-charged performance from one of MMA’s most seasoned operators. He holds a 2–0 edge over Holloway in previous bouts and has the power, ring control, and octagon IQ to land the cleaner, more telling moments across five rounds. Max is notoriously durable and rarely even hurt, making a finish unlikely — but Poirier has edged out plenty of elite opponents on the cards before, including Max himself in 2019. With Tipman’s models suggesting this goes the full five, the value sits firmly with a Poirier decision at enhanced odds, particularly if he sets the early pace and controls the exchanges. Smart, steady, and very live.

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🥊 Paulo Costa vs Roman Kopylov – UFC 318, Saturday 20th July

Betting Angle: Roman Kopylov via Decision (around 21/20)
Market: Method of Victory

Roman Kopylov has quietly become one of the most efficient strikers in the UFC’s middleweight ranks, and this looks a prime opportunity for him to outpoint a fading Paulo Costa over three rounds. The Russian southpaw comes in with momentum, winning five of his last six, and doing so with a mix of calm precision, smart movement, and sharp counter work. Costa, by contrast, has looked one-paced and hesitant in recent outings, losing four of his last five and showing little of the aggression that once made him a title contender. Kopylov’s style is well-suited to expose that. He boasts a significant reach advantage and the ability to manage range, landing 50% of his strikes while absorbing less than Costa, who tends to march forward with minimal head movement and leaves himself open. While the KO threat is always live, Tipman sees this one playing out over the distance, with Kopylov keeping it clean, disciplined, and doing more than enough on the cards. At 2/1 or better, it’s a tidy play with a solid data-driven edge.

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🥊 Dan Ige vs Patricio "Pitbull" Freire – UFC 318, Saturday 20th July

Betting Angle: Patricio Freire via Decision (best priced around 11/4)
Market: Method of Victory

Patricio “Pitbull” Freire brings a wealth of experience into this featherweight clash, and a measured, tactical decision win looks the most realistic path for the Bellator icon. While his UFC debut didn’t go to plan, it came up at short notice and a weight class above. This return to featherweight feels far better timed. Ige is a tough, durable opponent, but he’s struggled to break through against elite-level names, and Freire has the veteran nous to edge him in a close three-rounder. Expect Pitbull to mix in low kicks, counter shots, and occasional level changes to disrupt Ige’s rhythm, with neither fighter likely to take major risks. Ige’s chin has held up well across 11 UFC decisions, and Freire isn’t the most aggressive finisher at this stage of his career, so the cards look the most likely route. With Tipman leaning toward a cage-smart performance from the Brazilian, the decision angle appeals as the standout value in this evenly matched bout.

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🎯 Tipman Viewing Advice
  • UK fans can stream live via Discovery+ with a TNT Sports subscription or access TNT through BT Broadband.

  • US viewers need an active ESPN+ account and a one-off PPV purchase to unlock the main card.

  • Early Prelims are universally available via UFC Fight Pass worldwide.

📺 Regional Viewing Summary

  • UK & Ireland

    • Early Prelims: UFC Fight Pass

    • Prelims: UFC Fight Pass or TNT Sports 1

    • Main Card: TNT Sports 1 or Discovery+

  • United States

    • Early Prelims: ESPN2, ESPN+, Disney+

    • Prelims: ESPN, ESPN+, Disney+

    • Main Card: Pay-per-view on ESPN+

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