Two dynamic middleweight finishers, Ikram Aliskerov and Brunno Ferreira, have reportedly agreed to face off inside the octagon at UFC 318. This upcoming pay-per-view event is scheduled for July 19 and will be held in New Orleans.
Ikram Aliskerov (16-2) delivered an impressive performance in his most recent UFC appearance in April. He quickly dispatched jiu-jitsu ace Andre Muniz, securing a knockout victory with a left hook just before the end of the opening round.
This dominant win for the Russian talent followed the first loss of his UFC career, which came against former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. Aliskerov currently holds a UFC record of 3-1, with all three of his victories ending via first-round knockout.
Brunno Ferreira (13-2), nicknamed “Hulk,” also possesses a remarkable 100 percent finishing rate throughout his professional career, including his four wins within the UFC. He gained significant recognition in 2023 by stopping Gregory Rodrigues in the first round. Ferreira has also earned finishes against Phil Hawes and Dustin Stoltzfus in the closing moments of their respective first rounds. The 32-year-old Brazilian recently bounced back from a 2024 submission defeat to Abus Magomedov by securing a second-round armbar victory over Armen Petrosyan in March.
UFC 318 is set to take place at the Smoothie King Center. The event features a highly anticipated main event: a clash for the “BMF” title between Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway in their third meeting, which Poirier has hinted could be his final professional fight in his home state of Louisiana.
Marcus Blakely