
UFC 318 'Countdown' video\u00a0for Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier BMF fight
The segment takes a special look at the BMF title fight between former featherweight champion Max Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) and former interim lightweight champ Dustin Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC). Poirier has two wins over Holloway already – and will retire after the fight in front of his home fans in Louisiana.
UFC 318 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. "Countdown" goes behind the scenes with the two fighters, and you can watch the full episode above.

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USA Today
8 minutes ago
- USA Today
Dustin Poirier receives king's treatment from the New Orleans Saints ahead of final fight
The New Orleans Saints have always been a team that embraces their city and anyone from the area, and does whatever they can to provide some exceptional opportunities for Louisiana legends. One of the most recent examples comes in the form of a UFC powerhouse, as one of the best lightweight fighters in recent memory, Dustin Poirier, was given some exclusive access to team facilities. It started out relatively recently with an interview, where Poirier announced he would be retiring after UFC 318, held July 19 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. While this was written prior to the result of the main card being completed, the retirement is a set deal, seemingly according to his coach. Days before the fight, Poirier was asked for his take on this year's Saints team. The big-time Saints fan shared his thoughts with WDSU's Fletcher Mackel: Then shortly afterwards, the Saints' official account posted a video recorded by Poirier, in which he said he was able to tour the team facility with Cam Jordan. These types of overlaps between the team and Louisiana legends are always a fun time, especially considering this event is likely the last of Poirier's career. With nearly 16 years under his belt as a fighter, it is somewhat bittersweet to see his fighting career come to an end. But ultimately, the decision is his to make, and whatever is right for him is the right call to make, so it will be exciting to see how the last bout of his career pans out.


Indianapolis Star
22 minutes ago
- Indianapolis Star
UFC 318: Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov odds, picks and predictions
In a 3-round middleweight bout on the main card, Paulo Costa and Roman Kopylov meet Saturday at UFC 318 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Early prelims start at 6 p.m. ET, prelims at 8 p.m. ET (both on ESPN / ESPN+ / Disney+), and the main card at 10 p.m. ET (pay-per-view). Their fight is expected to start around 11 p.m. ET. Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's UFC odds around the UFC 318: Costa vs. Kopylov odds, and make our expert UFC picks and predictions. Records: Costa (14-4-0) | Kopylov (14-3-0) It's been all downhill for Costa since suffering a title bout loss to Israel Adesanya at UFC 253 in Sept. 2020. He is 1-4 in his past 5 bouts, with 3 losses coming by decision -- including a split-decision setback to Sean Strickland at UFC 302 last time out. For Kopylov, he picked up a Round 3 KO/TKO at 4:59 against Chris Curtis in his most recent outing in January. He is 6-1 in his past 7 fights, with only a Round 2 submission loss at UFC 298 against Anthony Hernandez. If the Russian fighter has a weakness, it's on the mat, going 0-2 by way of submission in his career. The southpaw is 14-3-0 across all formats and 12-0 by way of KO/TKO. Kopylov holds a 3-inch reach advantage over the Brazilian fighter, although Costa has a 6.22-to-4.96 significant strikes landed per minute advantage. He is also more accurate on those strikes, landing them at 59.78%, while Kopylov lands at just 53.0%. Kopylov holds a 1.17-to-0.36 takedown average, although Costa is much more accurate at 75.0% on those takedowns. Neither fighter has made a mark in submission average. Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here. Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:46 a.m. ET. It's hard to trust Costa, as he enters with 4 losses in the past 5 fights. It's like he lost his mojo in that title fight against the Stylebender, and he hasn't been able to get it back. Kopylov (-235) is too expensive to play on the 2-way line, though, as he will cost you well in excess of 2 times your potential return. Even with a boost or promo, that's too much for a singular wager, although including him in a multi-leg parlay is worth a look. You'll have to get more specific, so look to the method of victory. Since neither fighter is good via submission, avoid that avenue. Take KOPYLOV BY KO/TKO (+275) on the 7-way method of victory line for the chance to nearly triple up. Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now! NO (+135): FIGHT TO GO THE DISTANCE? is a strong play at plus-money, since we like Kopylov to get the job done by KO/TKO. It requires a bit of a leap of faith, as Costa has gone the distance in 4 straight bouts -- and lost 3 of them. Kopylov, on the other hand, has 6 finishes in his last 7 fights, including 5 wins by KO/TKO and a split-decision victory over Cesar Almeida at UFC 302. Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis. For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW.


Boston Globe
38 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Molly McGrath's ‘SportsCenter' assignment from the Cape Cod League is a homecoming
She has made the summer pilgrimage to the Cape many times, including as a BC student. Even before she knew she was receiving this assignment, her family, including her California-based parents, already was planning a vacation next week in Falmouth. But it turns out her stay in Massachusetts is intended to be permanent. McGrath and her husband, Max , along with their two children, are living in a rental now while they close on a house in Westwood. After more than a decade on the West Coast, she's returning to the coast where her career began. 'The new house is actually on the street my husband grew up on,'' she said, laughing. 'I guess he qualifies as a Townie now. Advertisement 'You just never know where life is going to take you, right? We were on the West Coast for a decade, thought that that's where we'd end up, but I think it was a combination of life and work just pulled us back here. So many of our friends are here, I just think it's going to be the best decision we've made.' Part of the reason McGrath and her family came east is related to her job, she acknowledged. Advertisement 'It made sense personally but also it was kind of a bet on ourselves like I want to be more involved with the company,'' she said. 'Being nearby [and closer to ESPN's Bristol, Conn. headquarters] is the way to do it. The 'SportsCenter' in the Cape is going to be awesome, and that's not something I would have done if I had lived on the West Coast.' The 'SportsCenter' role is a new one for McGrath, who has been with the network since 2016, most prominently as a sideline reporter for ESPN's/ABC's Saturday college football broadcasts. She has plenty of experience as a studio host, but she made her debut as a 'SportsCenter' host this past week. 'I think I know the rhythm of it, the writing, how it all comes together,' she said. 'It's a matter of just exercising those muscles again. 'The Cape one is a lot different than hosting from the studio, though. It's going to be more centered around a sense of place, about being on the Cape, the magic of summer baseball, what the experience is like for the fan to attend a game. 'Who knows, I may stop at the Red Nun [Bar and Grill] before and grab a burger and then walk straight into the ballpark and do like a walk and talk live. We'll see how that goes, right?' 📺 Stop by to watch the show and enjoy ESPN giveaways. — Chatham Anglers (@ChathamAnglers) New '30 for 30' is heavenly If you're a basketball junkie or someone who likes hearing a compelling untold or overlooked story, allow me to give the highest recommendation to ESPN's new '30 for 30' podcast, titled 'Chasing Basketball Heaven.' The six-part podcast, which premieres Tuesday, explores the life of Martin Manley , a brilliant, odd, efficiency obsessed Kansas native who in the 1980s essentially predicted the future of basketball by asking in a little-known book titled 'Basketball Heaven' why NBA teams did not shoot more 3-pointers. ( Joe Mazzulla would have loved this guy.) Advertisement The podcast is the brainchild of journalists Rich Levine and Nick Altschuller , colleagues once upon a time at 'The Improper Bostonian.' (Levine, a terrific writer, might be best known to Boston sports fans from his time opining about the Celtics for NBC Sports Boston.) It is executive produced by Adam McKay — the writer/director/producer behind such movies as 'Anchorman,'' 'Step Brothers,' and 'The Big Short' — and produced by his Hyperobject Industries, along with Meadlowlark Media and ESPN. Craig Kilborn contributes as the voice of Manley, and I would not have had a clue it was Kilborn without being told. Levine said he became aware of Manley — whose story takes some unforeseen twists and turns — in 2013, for reasons I won't spoil here. The story stuck with him from a move from Boston to Los Angeles and significant life changes, and in the winter of 2021, he finally read Manley's book and was stunned at its prescience. 'He was writing in 1986 or '87 about how NBA teams should be taking more 3-point shots,'' said Levine during a recent conversation. 'The math to him was just so obvious.' Levine and Altschuller had wanted to do a project together for some time, and a podcast seemed the way to go. 'And one night, Martin's story just sort of came back to mind,' said Levine. 'I called and pitched it to Nick, and it really felt like that scene in 'Seinfeld,' with Jerry and George pitching their show to NBC. 'I think we've got something here.' ' Advertisement McKay — ''basketball and climate change are really his two passions,' said Levine — became attached through Levine and Altschuller's agent. ESPN got on board in June 2023, a couple of months after they had begun their reporting, which included plenty of time in Kansas and even a visit to the home of baseball analytics legend Bill James , who had blurbed Manley's book. 'It's a little thrilling and a little nerve-racking to see this on the verge of coming out into the world,' said Levine. 'But for a lot of reasons, I think and hope Martin's story is one that people will find compelling.' Chad Finn can be reached at