UFC SOLD OUT THE SMOOTHIE KING CENTER. AND GET THIS, THEY MADE OVER $8 MILLION, MAKING IT THE HIGHEST GROSSING EVENT IN THE SMOOTHIE KING CENTER HISTORY. THAT’S ACCORDING TO NEW ORLEANS AND COMPANY AND THE GREATER NEW ORLEANS SPORTS FOUNDATION.

Organizers said UFC 318 drew a record-breaking crowd of over 18,000 fans, generating more than $8 million in ticket sales at the Smoothie King Center.

“I’m a Louisiana head, but I’ve got to meet Korean Zombie. Korean Zombie’s a legend, hall of famer. He’s a madman, and he fought some of the best fighters. He fought Holloway, he fought Dustin Poirier. Korean zombie is the truth.”

On the sixth episode of UFC 318 "Embedded," Michael Johnson takes his family to a post-weigh-ins meal at New Orleans institution Mother's.

Theo Von and other celebrities attended the Power Slap in New Orleans to watch fighters deliver and receive hellacious strikes in front of thousands.

Brandon Staley is in his first season as New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator. A 19-year coaching veteran, including the last eight in the NFL with three as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers,

In the main event, former featherweight champion Max Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) takes on former interim lightweight champ Dustin Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC). The pair will meet for a third time. Poirier has won both meetings (2012, 2019) and is fighting for the final time in his career in front of his home fans.

"The Italian Dream" takes on bitter rival Brendan Allen on the preliminary card of Saturday's UFC pay-per-view event at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Vettori (19-7-1 MMA, 9-6-1 UFC) and Allen (24-7 MMA, 12-4 UFC) have plenty of history, more infamously getting into a brawl on the casino floor of the Hard Rock Hotel in South Florida.