Does UFC 318 Lack The Depth Of A Pay Per View Card?
The UFC has come a long way from the dark days of the early 2000’s when Dana White had to practically beg people to buy pay per view events. Back then, the company struggled to put together cards that justified asking fans to spend their hard earned money on a single night of fights. Those were rough times when one big name had to carry an entire event, and sometimes that one big name wasn’t even that big. The sport was still finding its footing, competing with boxing for mainstream attention while building a roster that could deliver consistent entertainment value.
Fast forward to today, and the UFC boasts one of the deepest talent pools in combat sports history. They have multiple divisions packed with world class athletes who could headline their own shows. However, even with all that talent depth, the UFC occasionally finds itself in a tricky spot when putting together pay per view cards. Injuries happen, scheduling conflicts arise, and sometimes the stars just don’t align properly for a stacked card from top to bottom. This creates situations where the promotion has to lean heavily on one marquee matchup to sell an entire event. They hope that casual fans will tune in for that one special fight.
The most successful pay per view events typically feature at least two or three fights that could realistically headline their own cards. This could create multiple reasons for fans to justify the purchase. When that balance isn’t there, the pressure on the main event becomes enormous, and the supporting cast often gets lost in the shuffle entirely.
UFC 318 Fight Card
Here is the UFC 318 Main Card:
Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier 3 (BMF Title)
Ateba Gautier vs. Robert Valentin
Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov
Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber
Here is the UFC 318 Preliminary Card:
Marvin Vettori vs. Brendan Allen
Kyler Phillips vs. Vinicius Oliveira
Ikram Aliskerov vs. Brunno Ferreira
Here is the UFC 318 Early Preliminary:
Adam Fugitt vs. Islam Dulatov
Carli Judice vs. Nicolle Caliari
Jimmy Crute vs. Marcin Prachnio
Neil Magny vs. Gunnar Nelson
Looking at this lineup, the main event absolutely deserves all the attention it’s getting. Holloway defending his BMF title against Poirier creates a compelling narrative that writes itself. Both fighters have built legendary careers through different paths, and their styles mesh perfectly for what should be an entertaining scrap.
Holloway’s relentless volume striking and cardio against Poirier’s power and veteran savvy promises fireworks. The BMF title adds an extra layer of intrigue, even if some fans still debate whether the belt carries real significance. Most importantly, this marks Poirier’s farewell fight, giving the bout emotional weight that outweighs championship implications.
The Star Power Problem
The main issue with UFC 318 isn’t the quality of the headlining fight, it’s everything else on the card. Scanning down the lineup, casual fans will struggle to find another bout that generates genuine excitement or recognition. Paulo Costa vs Roman Kopylov represents the closest thing to a legitimate fight. But Costa’s recent inconsistency has significantly dimmed his star power. The Brazilian was once considered a legitimate title threat after his impressive rise through the middleweight ranks, but losses to Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker, combined with weight cutting issues, have downgraded his status.
Marvin Vettori taking on Brendan Allen might excite hardcore fans who appreciate technical middleweight battles. However, it won’t move the needle for mainstream audiences. Vettori has always been more respected than beloved, earning his reputation through grinding performances rather than spectacular finishes. Allen represents solid competition, but he lacks the name recognition needed to draw casual interest. The same pattern continues throughout the rest of the main card, where Neil Magny vs Gunnar Nelson and Michael Johnson facing Daniel Zellhuber feature capable veterans without the star power to justify pay per view placement.
When Main Events Carry Too Much Weight
This situation puts UFC 318 in the uncomfortable position of being a ‘one fight show’ masquerading as a complete pay per view experience. While Holloway vs Poirier certainly has the potential to deliver a classic encounter, asking one fight to justify the entire purchase price creates unrealistic expectations. What happens if the main event ends quickly via early knockout? What if an injury forces a last minute cancellation? The lack of depth means there’s no safety net to maintain fan interest if things go wrong.
The UFC’s matchmaking team likely faced significant challenges putting this card together. Fighter availability, injuries, and scheduling conflicts can wreak havoc on even the best laid plans. The promotion operates on a demanding schedule that requires constant juggling of talent across multiple weight classes and geographic locations. Sometimes the pieces just don’t fall into place, leaving matchmakers with limited options for creating balanced cards that justify premium pricing.
Compare this to recent successful pay per view events like UFC 300 or UFC 317, which featured multiple championship fights and recognizable names throughout the lineup. Those cards provided value at every level, giving fans multiple reasons to tune in and stay engaged from the early preliminaries through the main event. UFC 318 feels more like a Fight Night card with a premium main event attached, which raises legitimate questions about whether it deserves pay per view status.
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Did The UFC Business Model Fail?
The UFC’s business model relies heavily on attracting casual fans who might only watch a few events per year. These fans typically need multiple compelling reasons to justify spending money on pay per view, especially with so many entertainment options available. While hardcore fans will watch regardless of card depth, casual viewers often make their purchasing decisions based on overall card strength rather than individual fight quality.
Looking ahead, UFC 318 serves as a reminder that even the world’s premier mixed martial arts promotion occasionally struggles with card construction. The main event deserves all the praise it receives, but the surrounding fights lack the star power and compelling narratives needed for a truly successful pay per view event. While hardcore fans will likely enjoy the technical aspects of the supporting bouts, casual viewers might find themselves questioning whether they received adequate value for their money. The UFC’s continued success depends on finding the right balance between marquee attractions and overall card depth, something that UFC 318 unfortunately fails to achieve.
Also Read: Ilia Topuria Knocks Out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317: What’s Next After This First-Round Stunner?
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