UFC BMF champion Max Holloway clashes with sixth-ranked Dustin Poirier in a UFC lightweight bout on Saturday. The main UFC 318 fight card is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. ET from Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Holloway is coming off a knockout loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308 this past October, while Poirier lost by submission to Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 in June 2024.
Holloway enters as the favorite at -142 (risk $142 to win $100), while Poirier is the underdog at +120 in the latest UFC 318 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook. In the co-main event, Roman Kopylov is the -205 favorite against Paulo Costa (+170) in a middleweight bout. Before locking in any UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 picks, make sure you see the MMA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine expert Kyle Marley.
Over the past three-plus years, $100 bettors who have followed Marley’s picks are up nearly $10,000, and since May 2018, he has returned well over $21,000. The accomplished MMA analyst has provided consistent winners for SportsLine members for the past five years. His accomplishments include hitting five consecutive main-event underdog winners in 2020 following the UFC’s brief pause in action because of the pandemic. He also went 9-3 on his picks at last week’s UFC card. Anyone who has followed Marley could be way up.
Now, Marley has studied Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier from every angle and revealed his top betting picks and best bets. Head to SportsLine to see them. If you’re wanting to make picks, new users can also see the latest DraftKings promo code, FanDuel promo code and BetMGM promo code.
Holloway vs. Poirier preview
Holloway, 33, is a former UFC featherweight champion and the current UFC BMF champion. He is No. 5 in the UFC lightweight rankings, and is No. 11 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings. Holloway is considered one of the best featherweights in UFC history, and has the most finishes and knockouts in UFC title fights with four. He also has the highest significant strike differential in UFC championship history at plus-180 against Brian Ortega at UFC 231 in December 2018.
In 34 career bouts, Holloway has compiled a 26-8 record since turning professional in 2010. He has 12 wins by knockout, two by submission and 12 by decision. The 2012 third-ranked Newcomer of the Year holds wins over six former UFC champions. He was the MMAMania.com UFC/MMA Fighter of the Year in 2017. Check out SportsLine to see his picks and analysis.
Poirier, 36, has fought professionally since May 2009. He went on to win his first seven fights, before losing his first bout to Danny Castillo by unanimous decision at World Extreme Cagefighting 50 on Aug. 18, 2010. He joined UFC in October 2010, and earned a unanimous decision win over Josh Grispi at UFC 125 in his debut on Jan. 1, 2011. He is 2-0 in his career against Holloway, last beating him by unanimous decision at UFC 236 in April 2019 for the interim lightweight championship where he earned Fight of the Night honors.
In 40 career matches, Poirier is 30-9 with one no contest. He has 15 wins by knockout, eight by submission and seven by decision. He is a 10-time Fight of the Night winner. He is also a one-time Submission of the Night and four-time Performance of the Night winner. You can only see his picks and analysis at SportsLine.
UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 predictions
We’ll reveal one of Marley’s UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 selections here: Nikolay Veretennikov (+110) to upset Francisco Prado (-130) in a welterweight matchup on the preliminary card.
“Prado might be the more dangerous striker when he comes out aggressive, but I don’t trust him to put it together for three full rounds,” Marley told SportsLine. “He also doesn’t have a great ground game to fall back on. Veretennikov looks like the more technical striker who can keep the same pace for 15 minutes and I will take him to win two rounds for that reason.” See who else to back here.
UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 main fight card, odds
Marley has strong picks for Holloway vs. Poirier and other bouts on the UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 card. He’s also backing an underdog who “has faced the tougher competition.” He’s sharing who it is only at SportsLine.
Who wins UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3, and how exactly does the fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks and analysis from the incomparable expert who is up over $21,000 on his UFC picks since May 19, 2018, and find out.
UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier main fight card, odds
See picks at SportsLine.
(Odds subject to change)
Max Holloway (-142) vs. Dustin Poirier (+120)
Roman Kopylov (-205) vs. Paulo Costa (+170)
Kevin Holland (-575) vs. Daniel Rodriguez (+425)
Dan Ige (-218) vs. Patricio Pitbull (+180)
Daniel Zellhuber (-700) vs. Michael Johnson (+500)
