UFC 318 features some fights that are guaranteed to deliver but one fighter has previously found himself in the opposite scenario.
The respectful trilogy fight between Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway has instant classic written all over it if their previous encounter at UFC 236 is anything to go by.
While getting to the Octagon has proven to be an issue for him in his career, Paulo Costa is always in entertaining matchups when he competes, and Roman Kopylov provides an interesting challenge for the Brazilian.
With the likes of Dan Ige vs Patricio Pitbull also on the main card, plenty of bouts could produce highlights on July 29.
One competitor at UFC 318 will be looking to get back in the win column having previously featured in a fight that was remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Marcin Prachnio defeated William Knight in a bizarre encounter at the UFC Apex
At UFC 318, Marcin Prachnio looks to get back on track in the light heavyweight division having suffered a submission loss to Modestas Bukauksas a year ago.
He will face Australia’s Jimmy Crute who is without a win in his last five outings, having suffered two majority decision draws in this period.
Prachnio has alternated wins and losses in recent times with his bout on February 18 of 2023 putting him back in the win column with a dominant victory.
At the UFC Apex, he faced William Knight in a bout that had the UFC commentators and the fans tuning in scratching their heads.
Throughout the full three-round duration, Knight landed just eight total strikes according to UFC stats having attempted 33.
He started the fight incredibly reserved and with Prachnio having a clear game plan to use his range and attack his opponent’s legs, the damage done to Knight only made him less willing to engage.
This led to long stretches of the fight where the two men stared at each other as Prachnio occasionally threw kicks while Knight stood with his back to the Octagon wall as a spectator.
Prachnio unsurprisingly won all three rounds after outlanding his opponent 79-8 with zero control time being racked up for either man.
William Knight took full blame for his performance and revealed death threats in the aftermath
In a video posted on Instagram after his loss, William Knight took full blame for his performance and admitted that he “froze up” inside the Octagon.
His performance was certainly criticized and the fight was incredibly lackluster but Knight revealed that some fans appeared to have taken the outcome far too personally.
“All these crazy a– inboxes of threats, all these inboxes of disrespect, I get it. You have a right to be angry. I read messages, y’all threatening my life, y’all talking crazy, saying I don’t belong in the UFC, all this other stuff. But, when I was undefeated for three years, y’all were riding the wave. When I entered the UFC undefeated, y’all were riding the wave.”
Following his bizarre loss to Prachnio, Knight wasn’t re-signed to the UFC after his contract ran out.