If you’re scrambling to figure out what time is UFC 318, you aren’t alone. New Orleans hasn't seen the Octagon since 2015, so the energy around the Smoothie King Center is basically through the roof. This isn’t just another pay-per-view. It’s the final chapter for a legend. Dustin "The Diamond" Poirier is making his last walk in his home state of Louisiana. He's facing Max "Blessed" Holloway for the BMF title in a trilogy fight that honestly feels like a movie script.
Don't miss a second. Here is the exact breakdown for Saturday, July 19.
What Time Is UFC 318 Starting?
Timing is everything in MMA. If you tune in late, you might miss a three-second knockout or a career-defining submission. In the United States, the schedule follows the standard pay-per-view structure, but since the event is in the Central Time zone, local fans need to be sharp.
The show kicks off with the Early Prelims at 6:00 PM ET. For the locals in New Orleans, that’s 5:00 PM CT. If you’re on the West Coast, you’re looking at a 3:00 PM PT start. These fights are usually where you find the hungry up-and-comers like Joshua Van, who is trying to build a name in the flyweight division after Alexandre Pantoja's reign ended.
Then we move to the Prelims at 8:00 PM ET (7:00 PM CT / 5:00 PM PT). This portion of the card is actually pretty stacked. We’ve got Marvin Vettori taking on Brendan Allen and a bantamweight scrap between Kyler Phillips and Vinicius Oliveira.
🔗 Read more: Buddy Hield Sacramento Kings: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
Finally, the Main Card begins at 10:00 PM ET (9:00 PM CT / 7:00 PM PT). This is the pay-per-view portion. You’ll see the "Diamond" vs. "Blessed" trilogy closer, which most experts predict will go late into the night.
Global Viewing Times
If you're watching from across the pond or elsewhere, the clock is your enemy.
- United Kingdom: The Main Card starts at 3:00 AM BST on Sunday morning.
- Australia: You're looking at a Sunday afternoon event, with the Main Card hitting around 12:00 PM AEST.
- Brazil: The Main Card starts at 11:00 PM BRT.
- India: It’s a Sunday morning breakfast special at 7:30 AM IST.
Where to Stream the Holloway vs. Poirier 3 Card
Basically, ESPN+ is your home for this one in the U.S. But there are a few nuances to where each part of the night is broadcast.
The Early Prelims are available on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass. This is where the die-hards usually live. Once we hit the regular Prelims, the broadcast expands to ESPN, ESPN 2, and ESPN+. Interestingly, for this event, Disney+ subscribers can also catch the prelims directly in their app, which is a nice perk if you’re already paying for the bundle.
💡 You might also like: Why the March Madness 2022 Bracket Still Haunts Your Sports Betting Group Chat
The Main Card is a different beast. It is an ESPN+ PPV exclusive. You’ll need an active subscription plus the pay-per-view purchase price to see Poirier’s retirement bout. In Canada, it’s a bit different—you can grab the main card on DAZN PPV or through your standard cable providers like Sportsnet.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Main Event
People often ask "what time is UFC 318" and expect the main event to start right at 10:00 PM. That's just not how it works.
The main card has five fights. If every fight goes to a decision, the main event cagewalks won't happen until roughly 12:15 AM ET. If the undercard is a bunch of first-round KOs, it could be as early as 11:30 PM ET. Honestly, if you want to be safe, make sure you're settled in by 11:15 PM ET. You don't want to be the person who missed the first round of a BMF title fight because you were waiting for a specific "start time" that doesn't actually exist in the world of live sports.
The Full Fight Card and Why It Matters
This isn't just a top-heavy card. The UFC really loaded this one up for the New Orleans return.
📖 Related: Mizzou 2024 Football Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
- Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier 3: For the BMF title. Holloway won the title at UFC 300 with that legendary KO of Justin Gaethje. Poirier is 2-0 against Max in their career, but Max is arguably in the best form of his life right now.
- Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov: The co-main event. Costa is trying to prove he’s still elite after a rough patch, while Kopylov is a knockout artist looking to break into the top 10.
- Kevin Holland vs. Daniel Rodriguez: This is going to be "Big Mouth" Holland at his best. It’s a welterweight scrap that has "Fight of the Night" written all over it.
- Dan Ige vs. Patricio Pitbull: A fascinating cross-promotion style matchup that has the hardcore fans buzzing.
- Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber: The lightweight veteran Johnson is on a two-fight win streak and looking to shut down the hype of the young Zellhuber.
Planning Your Saturday Night
If you're heading to the Smoothie King Center, doors open at 4:00 PM CT. There's a strict bag policy—only clear vinyl bags (14"x14"x6") or small clutches are allowed. Parking in New Orleans is always a headache, so if you're not using a rideshare, grab a spot in one of the seven garages around the arena early.
For the home viewers, check your internet connection now. Nothing ruins a retirement fight like a buffering wheel during a flurry of punches. If you're planning a watch party, the Prelims are the perfect time to get the food ready so you're locked in for the PPV start at 10:00 PM ET.
The stakes are massive. Poirier has nothing left to prove, but winning the BMF belt in front of his home crowd is the ultimate "walk off into the sunset" moment. Holloway, on the other hand, is trying to cement himself as the greatest BMF in history. It’s going to be a long, loud, and emotional night in the Big Easy.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Verify your ESPN+ login at least two hours before the Early Prelims begin at 6:00 PM ET.
- Purchase the PPV early to avoid the "server rush" that sometimes happens right when the main card starts.
- Set a reminder for 11:15 PM ET if you only care about the Main Event cagewalks, but remember that the undercard is full of finishes that could move that time up significantly.