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  Dustin Poirier will compete in his farewell fight against old rival Max Holloway for the BMF Title. Watch UFC 318 on Saturday, July 19 with prelim coverage beginning 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, and pay-per-view main card starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

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UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping understands what Dustin Poirier is feeling heading into UFC 318.

Dustin Poirier will walk to the Octagon for one last time this Saturday at UFC 318 against soon to be three-time rival Max Holloway. Poirier will get the chance to not only finish his career with another UFC belt, but to do it just hours from his hometown.

As the hours tick down before Poirier’s last hurrah, a UFC Hall of Famer believes there’s a lot of added pressure on the Lafayette native to perform than at any other time in his career.

Michael Bisping details pressure Dustin Poirier is under in UFC 318 farewell

Poirier has fought many UFC legends during his career, particularly in recent years. Seven of Poirier’s last ten fights have come against former UFC titleholders, and he isn’t a stranger to big moments under immense spotlights.

But Poirier will likely experience a spotlight he hasn’t had to deal with in his combat sports career as he prepares to face Holloway for the third time at UFC 318.

During a recent preview on his YouTube channel, Michael Bisping provided insight into the pressure Poirier might be feeling heading into UFC 318.

“When he retires, at only 36 years old, there’s going to be a lot of things that Dustin Poirier can do. So is the motivation still there? Of course. It’s in New Orleans, the UFC is going there specifically for Dustin Poirier, and that’s incredible. And that could be the fairy tale farewell tour, but it brings a lot of pressure, anxiety,” Bisping said of Poirier.

“You’ve got friends and family in town, they all want to see you perform. You’re the local hero. And it brings a lot of pressure! I’ve been there many times, every time I fought in England, it was a little bit more stressful.

“But I was also undefeated in England as well, you do want to do the people justice, make them proud, and it pushes you in training camp.”

Poirier has fought in Louisiana just one prior time in his UFC career, when he knocked out Yancy Medeiros with a body kick in June 2015. It was the most-recent time that the UFC has hosted an event in Louisiana entering UFC 318.

UFC CEO Dana White has repeatedly explained that the promotion booked its return to New Orleans specifically at Poirier’s request. This will also be the second time that Poirier has fought for the BMF belt in his career. (UFC 291 vs. Justin Gaethje)

Dustin Poirier’s daughter wrote an adorable tribute ahead of UFC 318

Ahead of his last hurrah at UFC 318, Poirier’s eight-year-old daughter, Parker, wrote a touching tribute that has made the rounds online. During the UFC 318 Countdown episode, Parker wished her father the best at UFC 318 while adorably expressing relief in him walking away from fighting.

Poirier is expected to transition into a UFC analyst role once he hangs up the gloves after UFC 318. But he could also potentially pursue other combat sports competitions, including boxing and grappling.

One of the UFC’s most beloved stars will look to treat fans to one last signature moment at UFC 318.

It’s time for our 2025 Black & Gold Banneret Awards! This week we present our nominees for each award honoring the best people, moments and performances from your UCF Knights in the 2024-25 athletic year.

Our staff has chosen the nominees for each award. We will then vote on them this week, and you the fans, can vote as well in the poll below. The winner of the fan vote counts as one vote, and in the event of a tie, the award goes to the winner of the fan vote.

Women’s Play of the Year Nominees

Jazmen Newberry’s Comeback — Track & Field

• Thanks to a rain delay, it was a late night for the 4x400m relay team at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships, with the race not even getting started until near midnight Eastern time. Entering the anchor leg, Jazmen Newberry sat a distant third behind TCU’s Bryce Brazzell (1.83 seconds) and Arizona’s Antonia Sanchez Nunez (1.32 seconds). While the commentators were focused on the Wildcat tracking down the Horned Frog, the Knight turned on the afterburners. The UAlbany transfer crossed the finish line 0.26 seconds ahead of Sanchez Nunez to win the heat and got UCF their second Big 12 Outdoor gold medal after beating out the previous heat winner Iowa State’s time by 0.21 seconds.

Olivia Lincer’s Deuce Point — Women’s Tennis

• Olivia Lincer had already fought off three match points to reach this deuce point with Oklahoma State’s Melissa Ercan in the Big 12 Tournament Semifinals (6:55 in the video above). If Ercan gets the ball by her, or she makes a mistake, it’s over for UCF, who is tied 3-3 with the Cowgirls. When Ercan sends a shot straight down her right sideline, Lincer sprints over and executes a one-handed backhand shot to keep the rally alive. The Cowgirl could not respond, hitting the ball into the net and sending the Knights to the Big 12 Championship Match.

Ashleigh Griffin’s Go-Ahead Homer vs. Stetson — Softball

• The UCF Softball team was already having a historic power-hitting night in DeLand, with their seven home runs to that point helping close an 11-run deficit to Stetson to just two by the seventh inning. With two runners on base and down to her last strike, all Ashleigh Griffin needed was one swing of the bat to complete the largest comeback in program history (4:15 in the video above).

Madi Simon’s Home Run Robbery — Softball

• It was a standout moment in a statement series for UCF Softball against #4 Arizona Wildcats. Both teams were tied up, 3-3, in the fourth inning of Game 2, a game the Knights would ultimately take, 5-4, to clinch the series. That only makes this center-field home-run robbery by Madi Simon all the more impactful.

First 4+ Boat’s Comeback — Rowing

• Halfway through its C Final race at the NCAA Rowing Championships, the UCF Rowing team’s First 4+ boat sat 2.84 seconds, or around half a boat length, back of Virginia Cavaliers. Over the next 1,000 meters, the Knights tracked down and passed the Cavaliers, taking the win by 1.276 seconds and becoming the only one of head coach Mara Allen’s three boats to claim victory in their C Final.

The 6’6 Stevens is averaging 14.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks in 29.2 minutes per game. All of those are career highs under first-year Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts. Adler explains how Stevens has thrived in Roberts’ system:

“She’s in a very pick-and-roll-heavy scheme that involves a lot of sort of cutting and just threes and rim shots off the ball. And … part of it is her sort of best position has been an open question for a while. She played the five and the four and the three, really, in Chicago, and it all really varied based on the teammate she was with. There was a lot of playing with Candace [Parker]. There was a lot of playing with Stef Dolson. …

“Now, playing with Dearica Hamby, things look really different because Dearica Hamby is an offensive five, a defensive four. So it’s a sort of a weird mix. I think it’s exciting to think about what that looks like once Cam Brink comes back. But until then, I think it’s really accentuating how good she is as a cutter, how quickly she thinks off the move, and how decisive she is, and just how much skill she has playing in space without having to worry about really anything getting cluttered up along the way, and I think it’s really brought out what her game is.”

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Williams was named an All-Star this season for the first time in her seven seasons. She is averaging 14.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.6 steals and 0.5 blocks in 33.9 minutes per game. Those are career highs in every category except rebounds. Cruse explains what’s different about how Williams is playing this season:

“I think she’s been more aggressive off the catch. I think we’ve seen her have a more aggressive scoring mentality this season. I was looking at the finishing numbers, and the finishing numbers still aren’t great in half court, but … it seems better when I watch her play. Obviously in transition, she’s insane. That game against New York, the way she was making plays in passing lanes doesn’t make sense. Like, you shouldn’t be this athletic on a basketball court. …

“She’s made more pull-up twos this year. I think she’s been more effective in that way [than] she has been in previous seasons. And then defensively, she’s ridiculous on that end.”

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The UFC returns to Nashville on Saturday, and it’s a classic veteran vs. prospect card.

Loaded with familiar names of past-their-prime stars, it’s an interesting betting spot for those looking to partake.

Most of the veterans are massive underdogs, as the sportsbooks suspect that the UFC is setting them up for squash spots.

Just four bouts on the 12-fight card event have odds inside of +200 for the underdog.

Meaning we’re looking at some dominant showings from the favorites on this card.

Below, we break down my favorite bets on the card, beginning at 6 p.m. ET, on ESPN.

UFC Nashville predictions

Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira

It’s a tough spot for Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis, as the 40-year-old heavyweight faces an up-and-coming Tallison Teixeira, who has started his career with eight consecutive wins, all in the first round.

Teixeira stands at 6-foot-7 and should use that advantage in the UFC.

But his lack of time inside the ring could be a significant problem for him against a veteran like Lewis.

Teixeira has beaten nobody at the level of Lewis, and the Black Beast has been willing to grapple against average or slightly below average grapplers.

Coming off a knockout of Justin Tafa, Teixeira has the momentum that the UFC would love to piggyback on in a dead heavyweight division.

Teixeira could finish Lewis in the first round, but I’m not willing to bet on that.

Target the fight to start round 2 at +110 on Fanatics Sportsbook, I think Lewis is crafty enough to drag Teixeira into unfamiliar waters and even snag a victory.

PICK: Fight starts round 2 (+110, Fanatics Sportsbook)

Max Griffin vs. Chris Curtis

On the prelims, Chris Curtis faces Max Griffin, and it’s the shortest price Curtis has been in his UFC career.

Coming in as a -325 favorite, he hasn’t been this pricey since he was -500 in 2021, when he was fighting at the regional promotion XMMA.

Griffin is far from a world beater; he’s been around the block at 39 years old, while Curtis is 37.

Curtis will look to pick Griffin apart, and body shots will be the key to success for each fighter, but if Curtis is taken down, he’s going to be in a nightmare situation.

For Griffin, he’ll need to utilize that grappling and avoid striking in the center of the octagon.

The cage will be his friend in the situation, clinch work against the cage, and chained together takedown attempts should wear his opponent down and help him pick up the victory.

Long shot prop alert: Griffin by split decision (+1200) is the bet to target.

PICK: Griffin by split decision (+1200, DraftKings)

Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps

UFC Nashville full card picks

Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira: Fight starts round 2 (+110, Fanatics Sportsbook)

Stephen Thompson vs. Gabriel Bonfim: Thompson moneyline (+310, Caesars Sportsbook)

Calvin Kattar vs. Steve Garcia: Kattar moneyline (+105, BetMGM)

Nate Landwehr vs. Morgan Charriere: Fight ends inside the distance (+110, Bet365)

Vitor Petrino vs. Austen Lane: Petrino by KO/TKO (-230, FanDuel)

Junior Tafa vs. Tuco Tokkos: Over 1.5 rounds (+145, DraftKings)

Jake Matthews vs. Chidi Njokuani: Jake Matthews moneyline (+135, DraftKings)

Max Griffin vs. Chris Curtis: Griffin by split decision (+1200, DraftKings)

Lauren Murphy vs. Eduarda Moura: Pass

Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Valter Walker: Fight goes to decision (+120, Fanatics)

Mitch Ramirez vs. Mike Davis: Pass

Fatima Kline vs. Melissa Martinez: Fight goes the distance (+100, BetMGM)

Why Trust New York Post Betting

Erich Richter is a brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt but he has a black belt in MMA betting. During the football season he’s showcased massive profits at The Post in the player prop market the last two seasons. While constantly betting long shots, his return on investment is 30.15 percent since 2022.

One area to watch on Mark Pope’s Kentucky Wildcats teams this season and future seasons is the frontcourt. How the Wildcats’ frontcourt defends and displays versatility is going to be a key to next season as the Wildcats pursue a ninth national championship.

A 5-star prospect in the 2026 class, Miikka Muurinen, has whittled down his list of schools that have offered him to seven. Kentucky is among those seven schools.

ESPN has the 6-foot-10, 185-pound Muurinen listed as the No. 11 player in their ESPN100 for the Class of 2026.

Muurinen is a native of Jarvenpaa, Finland, and he currently stars at Arizona Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona.

Muurinen’s profile on 247 Sports Composite has him listed as the No. 9-ranked player in the country and No. 2 power forward. He is listed as the No. 1 player in Arizona.

Muurinen does not have an official visit to Kentucky scheduled. He only has visits scheduled at Michigan (Sept. 14) and Arkansas (Sept. 20).

If he commits to Kentucky, it would be a great addition to Kentucky’s frontcourt for the 2026-27 season.

Kentucky Reacts

In this week’s Kentucky Reacts survey, the majority of fans voted for Denzel Aberdeen to be UK’s third starter in the backcourt next to Jaland Lowe and Otega Oweh.

This survey was brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook.