UFC 318: What lies ahead for losing warriors - Predicting the Main Card losers’ next fight

UFC 318 delivered thrilling action, but not everyone left the Octagon victorious on Saturday night (July 19). For the defeated fighters, the road ahead varies - some may need to regroup and rebound, while others could be nearing the end of their UFC journeys.

Dustin Poirier (Retired)

Dustin Poirier's storied MMA journey came to a bittersweet close at UFC 318, where he fell short in his trilogy bout against Max Holloway. Fighting in front of a home crowd at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Poirier (30-10 MMA, 22-9 UFC) came agonizingly close to a perfect send-off, nearly finishing Holloway (27-8 MMA, 23-8 UFC) in their BMF title clash. However, Holloway weathered the storm and secured a unanimous decision win, spoiling Poirier’s retirement plans. In a poignant moment, 'The Diamond' left his gloves in the center of the Octagon, officially retiring from MMA and cementing a legacy built on grit, heart, and unwavering respect.

ALSO READ - UFC 318: How Holloway spoiled Poirier's retirement fight? - Full Main Card Results

Roman Kopylov (Next Fight: Marvin Vettori)

Roman Kopylov fell short against Paulo Costa at UFC 318, dropping a competitive three-round battle in the co-main event. The loss halted Kopylov’s two-fight win streak and marked just his second defeat in eight UFC appearances. Despite the setback, Kopylov remains a promising contender in the middleweight division. A logical next step for him could be a matchup with Marvin Vettori, who also suffered a defeat at UFC 318, losing a gritty bout to Brendan Allen via unanimous decision. Currently ranked No. 10, Vettori is likely to drop in the rankings, making a clash with Kopylov a compelling rebound opportunity for both fighters.

Kevin Holland (Next Fight: Winner of Muslim Salikhov vs Carlos Leal)

Kevin Holland was outlasted in a wild showdown with Daniel Rodriguez at UFC 318, suffering a tough loss despite entering the night as the No. 13-ranked welterweight. Now 2-1 since returning to the division after a January defeat to Reinier de Ridder, Holland remains a tough matchup for anyone but is in need of a rebound. A great option for his next fight would be the winner of the July 26 bout between Muslim Salikhov and Carlos Leal. Salikhov is on a two-fight win streak, while Leal is 1-1 since joining the UFC in late 2024, making the timing ideal.

Dan Ige (Next Fight: Giga Chikadze)

Former Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull earned a much-needed unanimous decision win over No. 11-ranked Dan Ige at UFC 318, marking a strong rebound after recent struggles. Ige has now dropped three of his last four fights, all by decision against top-tier opponents like Diego Lopes, Lerone Murphy, and Pitbull. His lone win in that stretch came against Sean Woodson in April. For his next outing, a matchup against No. 14-ranked Giga Chikadze makes sense. Both fighters are on similar skids, with Chikadze losing two straight since returning from injury, setting up a compelling, must-win clash for each featherweight.

Daniel Zellhuber (Next Fight: Jordan Leavitt)

Veteran Michael Johnson rolled back the years at UFC 318, earning a win over rising prospect Daniel Zellhuber to kick off the main card. The loss marks Zellhuber’s second straight setback after beginning his UFC run 3-1 following a Contender Series contract in 2021. For his next bout, Zellhuber should face fellow Contender Series alum Jordan Leavitt. Leavitt, a grappling specialist with a 5-3 UFC record, is coming off a dominant 99-second submission win over Kurt Holobaugh in May. A matchup between the two young lightweights would carry real implications, with the winner taking a big step forward in divisional relevance.

UFC 318 MAIN CARD RESULTS

• BMF Championship: Max Holloway defeated Dustin Poirier
• Middleweight: Paulo Costa defeated Roman Kopylov
• Welterweight: Daniel Rodriguez defeated Kevin Holland
• Featherweight: Patricio Pitbull defeated Dan Ige
• Lightweight: Michael Johnson defeated Daniel Zellhuber