UFC 318 has lost a big middleweight matchup several weeks out from fight night.
The UFC and Dana White have received some criticism from fans in 2025 but the current schedule is now starting to deliver some of the biggest fights of the year.
Following Ilia Topuria’s ascent to the top of the pound-for-pound list at UFC 317, there are several weeks to go until the next PPV event.
On July 19, the Octagon makes its long-awaited return to Louisiana where UFC legend Dustin Poirier will make the walk for one last time.
Unfortunately, the card has lost a matchup after an exciting middleweight talent announced that they have withdrawn due to injury.
Ikram Aliskerov announces that he is out of UFC 318 due to an injury
At UFC 318, Ikram Aliskerov was set to take on Brunno Ferreira on the prelims in a middleweight clash that was likely to produce a highlight.
The two dangerous finishers, who have 16 knockouts between them, will no longer meet at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans following a recent update.
Aliskerov posted a short statement on Instagram alongside a video of him injuring his toe in training, which has forced him to withdraw from the bout.
This would have been his second fight of the year having bounced back from his loss to Robert Whittaker by stopping Andre Muniz in April.
Aliskerov, who is a highly-regarded middleweight at 32 years old, has only suffered losses to Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev, with the two men facing each other before they both signed to the UFC.
It is unknown at this time whether the UFC will secure a replacement opponent for Ferreira so that the Brazilian can remain on the card.
“I was in great shape, unfortunately, trouble happens. I have to withdraw from the fight on July 19 due to a broken [toe]. Insha Allah I will be back very soon. I’ll be back very soon, Insha’Allah.”
UFC 318 boasts a main event that is worth the price of admission alone
When the main card was announced for UFC 318, fans weren’t exactly blown away by the matchups that are on offer for July 19.
That being said, the BMF title fight between Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway is a fight that simply cannot fail to deliver.
Their second encounter inside the Octagon at UFC 236, where Poirier won the interim lightweight title via a unanimous decision, remains one of the best UFC title fights that we have ever seen inside the Octagon.
With this also being the last time that ‘The Diamond’ will compete, the main event is a must-watch, even if the rest of the card doesn’t necessarily leap off the page.