Amid plenty of criticism for the Dustin Poirier-headlined UFC 318 lineup, one of the most prominent matchups now appears to have fallen through.
Following the conclusion of this year’s edition of International Fight Week, headlined by Ilia Topuria knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, focus is beginning to turn to the promotion’s July numbered event.
That will take the Octagon back to Louisiana, where the main attraction shifts from divisional UFC gold to the final farewell of an all-time legend. Headlining UFC 318 will be Dustin Poirier’s retirement fight, as ‘The Diamond’ enters the cage for one final assignment opposite BMF titleholder Max Holloway.
There hasn’t been much below the main event to excite fans, and one of the more noticeable pairings now looks to be no more.
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Neil Magny vs. Gunnar Nelson reportedly scrapped from UFC 318
Before the likes of Patricio Pitbull, Paulo Costa, and Michael Johnson make the walk at New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center on a main card that has been widely branded lackluster, Neil Magny and Gunnar Nelson were among those set to appear on the preliminary card.
Their clash of welterweight veterans was no doubt among the biggest on the UFC 318 prelims, as it featured a perennial contender in Magny who has headlined three UFC Fight Nights across his 12 years in the organization.
But disaster has seemingly struck on late notice, with Octagon Update reporting on social media that Nelson has been forced to withdraw.
That news, which was corroborated when the renowned Marcel Dorff re-shared it, leaves the status of ‘The Haitian Sensation’ for UFC 318 unclear.
Magny hasn’t competed since a brutal knockout loss to Carlos Prates in their Apex main event last November. Nelson, meanwhile, dropped a decision to Kevin Holland across the pond earlier this year.
UFC 318 would have marked a change-up for Gunnar Nelson
While the UFC perhaps looks to keep Magny on the July 19 card, it remains to be seen when Nelson will be fit to compete again after having his hopes of ending a period of frequent inactivity scuppered.
Had he made it to the cage in New Orleans, the Icelandic veteran would have completed a second UFC fight in a calendar year for the first time since 2019.
Since ending a three-year layoff with one fight in 2022, ‘Gunni’ competed once in 2023 before sitting out last year entirely.
The quick booking against Magny following Nelson’s defeat to Holland in London this past March put the 36-year-old in line to end his one-per-year run, but that is now back up in the air heading into the second half of 2025.