Paulo Costa is back as a legitimate UFC middleweight title contender. Patricio Freire has no chance of ever being a UFC champion.Ateba Gautier has future UFC middleweight champion written all over him.

Following a career-defining performance at UFC 318, Max Holloway is on the rise once again. The 33-year-old from Waiʻanae moved up to No. 4 in the UFC’s official lightweight rankings this week

Sean O'Malley sees various options for BMF champion Max Holloway's next fight. Holloway (27-8 MMA, 23- 8 UFC) became the first fighter to retain the BMF belt when he outlasted the retiring Dustin Poirier in Saturday's UFC 318 headliner at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.

SportsLine's Daniel Vithlani reveals his picks for the UFC 318 fight card from Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Saturday

Holloway, a former Featherweight champion, is looking to bounce back after losing to Illia Topuria by knockout at UFC 208 last October. He won the BMF title at UFC 300, knocking out Justin Gaethje. He has a career record of 26-8, with 12 wins coming by knockout.

After losing the first pair of meetings in February 2012 and April 2019, Holloway (27-8 MMA, 23-8 UFC) was determined not to let Poirier (30-10 MMA, 22-9 UFC) sweep their series in his exit from the sport on Saturday at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.