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UFC 318: Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov odds, picks and predictions
UFC 318: Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov odds, picks and predictions

Indianapolis Star

time19-07-2025

  • Sport
  • 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.

UFC 318: Max Holloway, Dustin Poirier weigh in on Islam Makhachev's move to welterweight
UFC 318: Max Holloway, Dustin Poirier weigh in on Islam Makhachev's move to welterweight

USA Today

time17-07-2025

  • Sport
  • USA Today

UFC 318: Max Holloway, Dustin Poirier weigh in on Islam Makhachev's move to welterweight

NEW ORLEANS – Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier gave their breakdown on how Islam Makhachev does at 170 pounds. Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) defends his BMF title against Dustin Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) in a trilogy bout, which headlines Saturday's UFC 318 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) event at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Now permanently at 155 pounds, Holloway thinks former champion Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) will do well at a weight class above, but thinks UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) won't be an easy fight for him. "I think he'll be fine. I think he'll be good, but people be sleeping on Jack," Holloway said during Wednesday's media day. "I think Jack is one of the best fighters in the world right now, and I think people are going to find that out when that match happens. I'm hearing rumors maybe October. I think it's going to be a fun fight, smart fight, but a lot of people counting out Jack for I don't know what reason. "They keep counting him out. It kind of reminds me of when I was coming up, and (people) counting me out in a bunch of different fights. I mean, (Makhachev) is the No. 2 pound-for-pound in the world right now, but he's the No. 2 pound-for-pound for a reason, so you've got to respect that. But don't sleep on Jack. I think it's going to be a tough and fun fight." Poirier fought Makhachev for the lightweight title at UFC 302. He was submitted in Round 5, and expects Makhachev to have success at welterweight. "He's a big guy," Poirier said. "I think he's going to fill into that weight. He's a really big 155'er. His lifestyle outside of training camp is going to be a little bit more comfortable, and he'll fill into that weight class no problem. He could be champion there for sure. "I think the beginning of the fight is going to tell the story, like how well JDM does getting up, how well JDM does at keeping Islam off of his legs, off of the cage. It's tough to call that because JDM is a big guy, athletic. I'm excited about that – a lot of fun fights in the future."

‘That felt good' – Conor McGregor's brutal KO named as UFC star's favourite
‘That felt good' – Conor McGregor's brutal KO named as UFC star's favourite

The Irish Sun

time16-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • The Irish Sun

‘That felt good' – Conor McGregor's brutal KO named as UFC star's favourite

DUSTIN POIRIER rides off into the sunset this weekend after a long and storied career. The former interim lightweight champion and fan favourite will bring the curtain down on his days as a mixed martial artist early on Sunday morning in the main event of UFC 318 in New Orleans. Advertisement 9 Dustin Poirier brings down the curtain on his mixed martial arts career this weekend Credit: GETTY 9 Poirier has faced a who's who at featherweight and lightweight over the years Credit: GETTY 9 Poirier won interim UFC gold in April 2019 Credit: GETTY 9 Poirier admits he'd love to relive the build-up to and the result of his rematch with Conor McGregor Credit: GETTY The beloved southpaw has never been one to sit back, smell the roses and reflect on his body work. But he finds himself doing just that ahead of the end of a bona fide Hall-of-Fame career. Despite never touching undisputed UFC gold, Poirier insists he wouldn't change a thing about his story. Advertisement READ MORE UFC NEWS But if he could, he would love to relive the build-up to what proved to be one of the most satisfying moments of his career - his stunning knockout of long-time rival Conor McGregor in January 2021. In an exclusive interview with SunSport, 'The Diamond' said: "It would have to be either the Max fight when I won the belt or that second Conor McGregor fight in Abu Dhabi. "Just because I felt like the odds were against me and it was COVID. I had to travel across the world. "You know, the guy [knocked me out] and I had to wait seven years for the rematch. Advertisement Most read in MMA JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 9 Dusin Poirier lost his first encounter with Conor McGregor in September 2014 Credit: SPORTSFILE 9 He got his revenge in January 2021 with a second-round KO of 'The Notorious' Credit: REUTERS "Just a lot went into that, so much media, so much hype. Advertisement "And to go out there and knock him out and. It was an incredible night, you know?" Watch as emotional Poirier struggles through interview after UFC 302 defeat to Makhachev as he hints at retirement As satisfying as it was to exact revenge on McGregor, "I mean, that felt good," he said. "But winning the belt was the best [feeling]." Poirier's retirement, which will see his 'Last Dance' be a trilogy fight with fellow fan favourite Max Holloway, comes when he's still very much at the peak of his powers. Advertisement But he'd rather call time on his career on his own terms than have retirement thrust upon him like so many before him. He said: "I've been fighting since I was 17 years old, so making this decision is tough. "But the decision was made because, you know, I have over 50 fights. I felt like the odds were against me." Dustin Poirier on his rematch with Conor McGregor "My wife's pregnant, I have a little girl at home. Advertisement "I've said this over and over again, 'I don't want this sport to retire me. "'I want to walk away from this sport.' "And if that's putting only great performances and fighting and beating the best guys in the world, that's the way I want it to be. 9 Dustin Poirier has shown he can still mix it with the elite in his last few fights Credit: GETTY Advertisement 9 But 'The Diamond' insists now is the right time for him to call time on his career Credit: GETTY 9 Poirier will close out his Hall of Fame career with a trilogy fight against Max Holloway Credit: Getty "I want to go out on top with stuff still left in the tank. "I don't want to empty myself out and leave this game broken and bruised for a paycheck. Advertisement "It's just time. I just feel like it's time, youu know. I've done a lot in the sport. "And I want to be healthy and be with my family. I've been doing this for a very long time."

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