A highly anticipated clash between #10 ranked Middleweight Marvin Vettori and #11 ranked Brendan Allen is set for UFC 318 on July 19 in New Orleans, Louisiana. This matchup reignites a rivalry that has been brewing since the two were originally scheduled to fight in April of last year, but Vettori had to withdraw due to injury, leading to Chris Curtis stepping in. Allen went on to defeat Curtis in a split decision in their rematch after previously suffering a TKO loss to him.
Tension between Vettori and Allen escalated after a physical altercation at the Hard Rock casino following PFL Hollywood in August, adding more drama to their upcoming bout. Both fighters find themselves on losing streaks, as Vettori looks to end his two-fight skid after unanimous decision losses to Jared Cannonier and Roman Dolidze. Additionally, he is coping with the recent tragic death of his younger brother in a house fire, which adds a deep emotional layer to his preparations for the fight.
Allen, on the other hand, had a strong run following his defeat to Curtis, claiming seven consecutive victories before facing setbacks against highly ranked opponents Nassourdine Imavov and Anthony Hernandez, both losses coming by unanimous decision. Similar to Vettori, Allen is now seeking redemption to prevent a third consecutive defeat which could jeopardize his standing within the top ranks of the division.
The UFC 318 card also includes a compelling headline fight between Max Holloway and Louisiana’s own Dustin Poirier for the BMF title. This bout marks a decisive rubber match between the two fighters, who have faced each other twice before, with Poirier victorious in both previous encounters. With this being Poirier’s final professional fight, Holloway is eager to secure a win and leave a lasting legacy in their trilogy.
As these fighters prepare to face off, the excitement surrounding UFC 318 builds, promising an electrifying event in New Orleans.