Cormier's visit to the Saints facility came just one day after the team hosted another high-profile fan. UFC star Dustin Poirier stopped by Wednesday, meeting with defensive end Cam Jordan and team owner Gayle Benson.

On the fourth episode of UFC 318 "Embedded," Robert Valentin seeks mystical answers on Bourbon Street while Dustin Poirier visits the Saints.

The Octagon is in New Orleans for local and global favorite Dustin Poirier’s farewell. After 18 years as an active MMA fighter, the gloves will be hung up after Poirier fights Max Holloway at UFC 318 for the symbolic BMF title.

New Orleans rapper Alfred Banks celebrates his birthday on Saturday, July 19, with a show at Gasa Gasa. He’ll be joined by La Reezy, who recently has been catching some national attention, and gifted lyricist Kaye the Beast. Music starts at 9 p.m., and tickets are $19.29 via gasagasanola.com.

"The Italian Dream" takes on bitter rival Brendan Allen on the preliminary card of Saturday's UFC pay-per-view event at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Vettori (19-7-1 MMA, 9-6-1 UFC) and Allen (24-7 MMA, 12-4 UFC) have plenty of history, more infamously getting into a brawl on the casino floor of the Hard Rock Hotel in South Florida.

It was Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson who first wrapped the belt around Jorge Masvida l at UFC 244, following his win over Nate Diaz in 2019. Then, it was Masvidal who presented the belt to Gaethje and later, Mark Coleman, handing it off to Holloway.

The fatal mistake wasn't nerves or jitters, no. It was quite the opposite. Freire (36-8 MMA, 0-1 UFC) said his UFC 314 loss to Yair Rodriguez was the result of being too calm.