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UFC 318 live updates: Time, stream, predictions for Holloway vs Poirier card tonight
UFC 318 live updates: Time, stream, predictions for Holloway vs Poirier card tonight

USA Today

time10 hours ago

  • Sport
  • USA Today

UFC 318 live updates: Time, stream, predictions for Holloway vs Poirier card tonight

Dustin Poirier will enter the Octagon for the final time Saturday night when he main events UFC 318 against Max Holloway. The two future UFC Hall of Famers have a history with each other that spans beyond a decade. The two fighters originally met in 2012. Each of the two previous fights has gone in Poirier's favor. The first fight was one of the early bouts in Holloway's career, while the second fight earned Fight of the Night honors and was a candidate for Fight of the Year in 2019. Both fighters will enter the fight seeking success after suffering a loss in their most recent bouts. Poirier is coming off a loss to Islam Makhachev by submission in the fifth round of a lightweight championship match. Ilia Topuria got the best of Holloway in a featherweight title bout by knockout in the third round. Paul Costa and Roman Kopylov will be featured in the co-main event on the card. USA TODAY Sports has everything you need to enjoy UFC 318, including updates, highlights and analysis: UFC 318: Time, PPV, streaming for Holloway vs Poirier The highly anticipated clash between Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier will take place on Saturday, June 28 and can be purchased on ESPN+ PPV. Catch UFC action with an ESPN+ subscription

Bold UFC 318 Predictions: Will Dustin Poirier Retire with a Win on Saturday Night?
Bold UFC 318 Predictions: Will Dustin Poirier Retire with a Win on Saturday Night?

Yahoo

timea day ago

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Bold UFC 318 Predictions: Will Dustin Poirier Retire with a Win on Saturday Night?

With the MMA world leader back on pay-per-view this weekend, now is a perfect time for some bold UFC 318 predictions. The ESPN+ card will go down inside the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA, and be headlined by a BMF title fight when current champ Max Holloway defends the belt for the first time in a clash with Dustin Poirier. This will be the third time the two future UFC Hall of Famers have faced off. Poirier has won the first two bouts. The card on Saturday night will also feature the Octagon return of fan favorites Paulo Costa, Kevin Holland, and Michael Johnson. With all of that in mind, we offer up our UFC 318 predictions for the evening's main card scraps. Also Read: Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway 3 Despite being entertaining fights, there is little doubt that Poirier was the better man in his two previous matchups with Holloway. And he defeated the Hawaiian at both featherweight and lightweight. However, Holloway is a far better fighter than he was the first time in 2012. And when he made the move up in 2019, it was not done in the most optimal way for his body. That, along with Poirier being 36 years old, may be why 'Blessed' is the favorite heading into Saturday. With this being the former interim lightweight king's last fight, it is sure to be a violent barnburner. However, Holloway has better prepared himself to be a natural lightweight this time and is closer to his prime than 'Diamond.' Prediction: Holloway by unanimous decision Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov There was a time when Paulo Costa was one of the most dangerous men at middleweight. However, with one win this decade, that reputation is long gone. Yet, his recent losses came against former champions or title challengers. He won't be getting that caliber of foe at UFC 318 in Roman Kopylov. Nevertheless, the Russian is a striker to take very seriously. The big question is, how dedicated is Costa to being an elite fighter again? At 34, he is in the final years of his prime. If he comes into the bout serious about the remaining years of his career, he should score a hard-fought win. Prediction: Costa by unanimous decision Kevin Holland vs. Daniel Rodriguez Kevin Holland vs. Daniel Rodriguez has UFC 318 Fight of the Night potential. Both are tough strikers willing to throw down in a standup war. The funny thing is, while Holland has way more fights and will be in his 27th UFC bout this weekend, he is the fighter who has more long-term upside. Holland is only 33 and remains a dangerous fighter. On the other hand, the athleticism of the 38-year-old Rodriguez has declined in recent fights. Although he has a pair of wins in his last two. With 'D-Rod' not being a fighter that takes the action to the ground, where 'Trailblazer' is weakest, Holland will end up being too fast for him on the feet. Prediction: Holland by TKO, Round 2 Dan Ige vs. Patricio Pitbull If Bellator legend Patricio Pitbull had joined the UFC six years ago, he could have gone on a run that earned him a title shot. However, being near 40 at the lower weight classes and trying to compete with elite fighters is extremely tough. He will get a more favorable matchup at UFC 318 against Dan Ige than he got in his debut. But the Hawaiian is very good at making fights ugly and forcing foes to grind out wins against him. The Brazilian won't be able to do that on Saturday. Prediction: Ige by split-decision Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber Mexico's Daniel Zellhuber is an entertaining fighter who is capable of winning bouts on the feet and mat. That is why he is very likely to utilize his grappling against 30-fight UFC veteran Michael Johnson on Saturday. It is impressive that the American remains relevant at 39 and has won three of his last four. But at this point in his career, youth and speed are a big problem. 'Golden Boy' has both and some other dangerous skills to bring to bear on the UFC vet. Prediction: Zellhuber by submission, Round 1 Related Headlines Steelers Make T.J. Watt Highest-Paid Defender in NFL History Derrick Lewis Next Fight: 3 Options for 'Black Beast's' UFC Return, Including Sergei Pavlovich UFC Lightweight Rankings: Where Do Poirier and Holloway Land Ahead of UFC 318 Showdown? UFC featherweight rankings: Alexander Volkanovski returns to No. 1 spot after UFC 314

Dustin Poirier to Make His Final Octagon Walk With Legendary Louisiana Rapper Lil Wayne
Dustin Poirier to Make His Final Octagon Walk With Legendary Louisiana Rapper Lil Wayne

Time of India

time2 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • Time of India

Dustin Poirier to Make His Final Octagon Walk With Legendary Louisiana Rapper Lil Wayne

Images via Imagn (Dustin Poirier and Lil Wayne) At UFC 318, fight fans will witness the final chapter of Dustin Poirier's storied career as 'The Diamond' steps into the Octagon one last time to face Max Holloway for the coveted BMF title. For the unversed, Poirier was Holloway's debut opponent back in 2012 when both of them were in their early 20s. Then, at UFC 236, Poirier beat Holloway in a five-round slugfest to win the only UFC title in his career in the form of the interim 155-pound gold. Fittingly, this trilogy bout takes place at the Smoothie King Center in Poirier's hometown of Louisiana, making the night even more legendary. Dustin Poirier's swansong to be made more meaningful with Lil Wayne 's appearance at UFC 318 Adding to the hometown flavor, Poirier won't be walking alone. In a recent backstage interview with ESPN, he confirmed the rumors that had been buzzing since April: iconic Louisiana rapper Lil Wayne will accompany him for his retirement walk to the cage. '[Lil] Wayne is walking me out. 100 percent,' Poirier confirmed. With two hometown legends coming together, UFC 318 is shaping up to be an unforgettable night. This moment will be a full-circle finale for the Lafayette native. When Poirier first stepped into the UFC spotlight in 2011, he made his walk to the Octagon with Wayne's 'Drop the World' blasting through the speakers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute Navy Quest Undo Over time, he adopted James Brown's 'The Boss' as his signature walkout anthem. Now, for his final fight, Poirier is bringing both influences together. In a recent interview, he shared his plan: 'It will be a little bit of James Brown, a little bit of Wayne. Yeah, Wayne's walking out with me. I have to (stick with the James Brown song). The former interim champion added, 'I have paid the cost to be the boss. On my last one, I can't go that far away from it. I need to hear that. I need to feel that vibe before I fight someone.' Like Poirier, Wayne is Louisiana through and through, and he's long been a vocal supporter of the UFC star. Adding to the emotion of the night, Poirier's final fight comes against a familiar foe. Dustin Poirier Aims to Test Max Holloway's Toughness at UFC 318 UFC 318 will mark the third meeting between him and Max Holloway, a rivalry that has spanned more than ten years and helped define both of their legacies. The duo has faced off at UFC 143 and UFC 236, respectively, with Poirier coming out on top on both occasions. At the UFC 318 media day, Dustin Poirier was asked about Max Holloway's chin, especially after Holloway suffered his first knockout loss at the hands of Ilia Topuria at UFC 308. 'With the durability talk, it's tough to say. You know, a lot of things play into that. Genetics, lifestyle, all kinds of stuff,' Poirier said about Holloway. This Is His Last Dance, And I'm Here To Play Spoiler 😳 | UFC 318 Media Day He added, 'We'll find out Saturday night if that shot really affected him. That's my goal is to find out. But I'm expecting another war.' Also read: Paulo Costa explodes after disturbing Khamzat Chimaev DMs to his girlfriend ahead of UFC 318 clash Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!

UFC featherweight rankings: Alexander Volkanovski returns to No. 1 spot after UFC 314
UFC featherweight rankings: Alexander Volkanovski returns to No. 1 spot after UFC 314

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

UFC featherweight rankings: Alexander Volkanovski returns to No. 1 spot after UFC 314

The UFC featherweight rankings showcase some of the best fighters in the entire sport. Where lightweight was once considered the deepest weight class in MMA, 145 pounds has caught up and become one of the premier divisions in the UFC. With that in mind, here is the official Sportsnaut top 10 for the organization's featherweight class. Related: 1. Alexander Volkanovski (27-4) Alexander Volkanovski has solidified his place as the best featherweight of all time. However, trips up in weight for a second title and the rise of Ilia Topuria led to three straight losses for 'The Great' and speculation that his best days were behind him. With Topuria choosing to leave the division and move up to lightweight, the Australian was gifted another chance at the 145-pound belt at UFC 314 when he faced Diego Lopes for the vacant title. In April, the legend turned back the clock one more time and proved he is still an elite fighter to become a two-time featherweight champ. 2. Movsar Evloev (19-0) Movsar Evloev has been outstanding to begin his UFC career. He has won his first nine inside the Octagon and scored wins over proven featherweight veterans like Hakeem Dawodu and Dan Ige. He took another step closer to title contention when he scored a hard-fought victory over former bantamweight king Aljamain Sterling at UFC 310. While it wasn't easy, he was under pressure in a big moment and came through looking like a future title challenger. 3. Diego Lopes (26-7) After making his UFC debut in a very difficult short-notice clash with Movsar Evloev, Diego Lopes has caught fire inside the Octagon. He has won five straight and scored wins over top 15 stalwarts Sodiq Yusuff, Dan Ige, and, most recently, a UFC 306 win over former title challenger Brian Ortega. That is why he fought for gold at UFC 314. While he gave a solid effort, his loss to Alexander Volkanovski showed he still has some work to do if he wants to be a UFC champion one day. 4. Lerone Murphy (16-0-1) England's Lerone Murphy has quietly become one of the best 145-pound fighters in the world. 'The Miracle' has won eight straight inside the Octagon, and none was bigger than his latest victory at UFC Vegas 105 over Josh Emmett. The American has been a stalwart of the top 10 for years, so scoring a win over one of the weight class's elite went a long way toward proving the undefeated has serious title contender potential 5. Yair Rodriguez (19-5) After a period where he battled injuries and some tough losses, there was doubt as to whether Yair Rodriguez would ever reach his potential. He quieted all the uncertainty with massive wins over Brian Ortega and Josh Emmett. The latter made him the new interim champion. However, his reign was short-lived as Alexander Volkanovski took back the undisputed spot at UFC 290. He then followed that up with another decisive loss in his home country to Brian Ortega in February. He entered UFC 314 in a must-win situation if he ever wanted to fight for UFC gold again. In a big fight welcoming Patricio Pitbull to the UFC, 'El Pantera' posted a dominant win to get his name back in the championship conversation. 6. Josh Emmett (19-5) Over the last five years, few fighters at 145 pounds have been better and more consistent than Josh Emmett. Over his 15-fight UFC career, he has scored huge wins over fights like Shane Burgos, Calvin Kattar, Dan Ige and Bryce Mitchell. However, at 40, Father Time is tapping on his shoulder. While he is still a very good fighter, he has lost three of his last four fights, and his dream of one day fighting for UFC gold is done. 7. Arnold Allen (20-3) There are few fighters who have been better than Arnold Allen over the last decade. His recent 11-fight win streak was one of the best in division history, and it turned him into one of the United Kingdom's top fighters. However, his title-contender hopes were derailed in a decisive loss to Max Holloway. That was followed up by another setback to Movsar Evloev. However, he bounced back at UFC 304 with an important victory over talented striker Giga Chikadze. 8. Jean Silva (16-2) If there were any doubts about how good Jean Silva is, he sent a massive message to the division at UFC 314. He passed a huge test by completely shutting down Bryce Mitchell's grappling and pummeled him on the feet. But even better, instead of getting another knockout win, he actually submitted the American. He has won 13 straight overall and all five in the Octagon. 'Lord' is a problem. 9. Aljamain Sterling (24-5) After an outstanding run at bantamweight that should land him a run in the UFC Hall of Fame one day, Aljamain Sterling made the jump to featherweight in 2024. While he has split his first two in the division, he has faced elite-level competition in Calvin Kattar (win) and Movsar Evloev (loss). While he may never fight for gold at 145 pounds, he will be a big problem for any fighter in the top 10 for as long as he stays in it. 10. Youssef Zalal (17-5-1) After losing three straight and being on the brink of being cut, Youssef Zalal has caught fire over the last three years. In that time, he has won seven straight, with the biggest yet coming in February when he scored a definitive win over top 15 stalwart Calvin Kattar. Related Headlines Six Philadelphia Eagles Who Must Step Up for Another Super Bowl Run Steelers Make T.J. Watt Highest-Paid Defender in NFL History Derrick Lewis Next Fight: 3 Options for 'Black Beast's' UFC Return, Including Sergei Pavlovich UFC Lightweight Rankings: Where Do Poirier and Holloway Land Ahead of UFC 318 Showdown?

Chennai Open WTA tournament from Oct 27
Chennai Open WTA tournament from Oct 27

The Hindu

time3 days ago

  • Business
  • The Hindu

Chennai Open WTA tournament from Oct 27

The Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA) and the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) announced on Thursday that the SDAT tennis stadium in Nungambakkam will host the second edition of the Chennai Open, a WTA 250 event, from October 27 to November 2, marking TNTA's 100th anniversary. The first edition was held in 2022. The total prize money is 275094 USD. The singles qualifying and main draws will feature 24 and 32 players respectively, and the doubles main draw 16. Top-100 players are expected to participate, said TNTA president Vijay Amritraj, speaking after the event. The Tamil Nadu government has allocated ₹12 crore for the conduct of the tournament. Amritraj said that the money will be distributed across various needs - payment of the license fee to the license-holder Octagon (a global sports management and marketing agency), stadium refurbishment, rain preparedness (rains are forecast for October), and hospitality for the players and spectators. The tournament takes place just before the WTA Finals (Nov. 1 to 8) and also clashes with the Jiangxi Open in China and the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open, which are to be held on the same dates. Asked if a top-10 player can be expected to participate, he said: 'There are WTA rules that are guided by the size of the tournament. So in a 250 (tournament), you could have one player from the top-10, (and that) depends on the appearance money. 'I think Octagon is a good avenue for us as well, because they also represent a lot of players. So, hopefully, I'm expecting some help from them as well.' On the chances of Indian players getting main draw wild cards, he said: 'I think Maaya (Rajeshwaran Revathi) might be the only one who has a real good chance of getting a wild card.' On whether Chennai will continue to host the tournament every year, he said: 'The current arrangement in the contract with Octagon is three years, with the caveat that the government is happy to support it for the next two years. But WTA has only granted us operation for one year, mainly because of the rain issue.'

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