Dustin Poirier isn’t Louisiana’s only hero at UFC 318.
It’s been 10 years since the UFC last stepped in New Orleans, Louisiana. The premier promotion returns to the Bayou state to commemorate one ‘last dance’ for Dustin Poirier—a retirement fight against BMF Champion Max Holloway.
Lafayette’s Poirier headlines UFC 318 from his home state.
The first fight of the night was opened up by another Lafayette native, who couldn’t have a better performance.
Carli Judice kicks off UFC 318 with massive knee-to-the-body KO
The only fighter signed from Dana White’s Contender Series off of a loss, ‘Crispy’ Carli Judice has put together back-to-back wins in the UFC.
The 26-year-old flyweight lost her UFC debut last year, since rebounding with a head kick KO in March and a clinical TKO win over Nicolle Caliari on the UFC 318 undercard.
It was a rather lopsided fight for Judice up until the finish in the third round, with Judice beautifully timing a knee to the liver to send Caliari to the canvas.
Judice fended off 7 out 8 takedown attempts from Caliari and landed 117 strikes en route to the TKO stoppage.
The Louisiana crowd went wild over one of their own winning in spectacular fashion.
Carli Judice reacts to winning in home state
When Poirier’s retirement fight card was still rumored, Judice’s hand shot straight up to be on it.
From Contender Series to her past UFC fights, Judice has only fought inside the crowdless UFC Apex, that is, until now.
You might imagine Judice’s reaction to winning in front of her home crowd.
“I can’t describe how it feels,” Judice told Bloody Elbow and other reporters at the UFC 318 post-fight press conference.
“I’m in my home state of Louisiana. When I walked out, I can just feel the energy. I could feel the support and feel the love, and that really drove me.
“It’s easy for a high pressure situation like this to fight under Dustin Poirier to start off the card—it’s easy for it to get to you, but I didn’t let it.
“I let it drive me and it led to the finish.
“All the support and all the love… it feels great,” Judice said.