As the highly anticipated UFC 318 event draws near, emanating from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, fight fans are noting a significant change to the familiar commentary team. Notably absent from his usual perch for a major United States-based pay-per-view will be veteran commentator Joe Rogan, who is not scheduled to call Saturday`s card, including the marquee bout between Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway.
This marks a rare instance where Rogan has opted out of a US-held numbered event, a staple of his long-standing role with the promotion`s most significant shows. While no official reason for his absence has been publicly disclosed, his spot in the three-man booth will be filled by former UFC lightweight contender and seasoned analyst, Paul Felder. Felder will join the consistent pairing of play-by-play voice Jon Anik and UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier, forming the primary commentary trio for the evening.
Complementing the broadcast team will be Heidi Androl, handling reporting duties from cageside and throughout the arena. The desk portion of the broadcast, providing pre-fight analysis, post-fight reactions, and expert insights, will be hosted by Brendan Fitzgerald. He will be joined by a panel of analysts including Louisiana`s own Alan Jouban, recently retired light heavyweight veteran Anthony Smith, and the ever-insightful Chael Sonnen.
The spotlight of UFC 318 shines brightest on the main event, a highly anticipated trilogy bout between hometown hero Dustin Poirier and former featherweight king Max Holloway. This fight carries immense narrative weight, as Poirier has strongly indicated it could be the final professional mixed martial arts contest of his storied career. Facing a formidable opponent he has defeated twice before, Poirier aims to conclude his tenure in the sport on a high note in front of his local fans, while Holloway seeks to spoil the farewell and settle the score in their rubber match.
Beyond the headliner, the card is bolstered by several other significant matchups. The co-main event features a compelling middleweight clash between the explosive Paulo Costa making his return to action and the surging Roman Kopylov. Additionally, former Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull makes his second promotional appearance in the octagon against the always-tough Dan Ige, further rounding out a stacked lineup.
UFC 318 is scheduled to air live on ESPN+ pay-per-view, with the main card slated to begin at 10 p.m. Eastern Time. While the specific reason for Joe Rogan`s absence from the broadcast remains undisclosed, the event is otherwise set with a full complement of talent ready to guide viewers through a night of significant fights, potentially marking the end of an era for one of the sport`s biggest stars.
