Ateba Abega Gautier vs Robert Valentin at UFC 318 | Preview & Prediction
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We have a fascinating middleweight fight on the prelims as rising African talent Ateba Abega Gautier puts his six-fight winning streak on the line against Switzerland’s Robert Valentin who is in desperate need of a win
Ateba Abega Gautier vs Robert Valentin facts
What time are Ateba Abega Gautier and Robert Valentin expected to walk out?
Where is UFC 318? Smoothie king Center, New Orleans, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC 318? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC 318
What TV channel is UFC 318 on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN
Where can I stream UFC 318? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC 318 main card
Max Holloway vs Dustin Poirier (Lightweight)
Paulo Costa vs Roman Kopylov (Middleweight)
Kevin Holland vs Daniel Rodriguez (Welterweight)
Dan Ige vs Patrício Pitbull (Featherweight)
Michael Johnson vs Daniel Zellhuber (Lightweight)
UFC 318 prelims
Kyler Phillips vs Vinicius Oliveira (Bantamweight)
Marvin Vettori vs Brendan Allen (Middleweight)
Francisco Prado vs Nikolay Veretennikov (Welterweight)
Ateba Abega Gautier vs Robert Valentin (Middleweight)
Adam Fugitt vs Islam Dulatov (Welterweight)
Jimmy Crute vs Marcin Prachnio (Light Heavyweight)
Ryan Spann vs Lukasz Brzeski (Heavyweight)
Brunno Ferreira vs Jackson McVey (Middleweight)
Carli Judice vs Nicolle Caliari (Women’s Flyweight)
Ateba Abega Gautier: Cameroon starlet looking for statement win
Ateba Abega Gautier (7-1) is coming off a win on his Octagon debut at the end of March and now the talented 23-year-old has a quick turnaround as he is handed a spot on a major card. The Cameroonian has won his last six fights in succession and has managed to KO/TKO all six opponents with all but one ending in the first round. There will be no surprise at how he will approach this one as he will look for the stoppage right from the first bell.
Robert Valentin: TUF star in desperate need of first Octagon win
Robert Valentin (10-5 with one no contest) was a standout candidate in The Ultimate Fighter 32 but the Swiss fighter has found life in the UFC to be incredibly tough. He was stopped by Ryan Loder in August 2024 by TKO and then he lost a split decision to Torrez Finney in April this year. He needs a win here to stay alive in the UFC and give himself the best chance of securing a new deal.
Ateba Abega Gautier vs Robert Valentin prediction
This middleweight bout at UFC 318 promises to be a cracker as rising star Ateba Abega Gautier takes on Switzerland’s Robert Valentin.
Gautier will be looking to get another knockout while Valentin’s confidence cannot be great coming into this after two successive losses. That will likely see him approach this one with a fair degree of caution and he will surely look to take this to the mat.
That along with his strong submission skills present him with his best route to victory but he will have to evade Gautier’s power striking.
The 23-year-old from Cameroon will look to headhunt right from the start and staying away from his power will not be easy.
That is essentially how his fight will be decided and we struggle to see Valentin avoiding Gautier for an entire 15 minutes. We expect Gautier to catch him at some point and get the stoppage.
Prediction: Ateba Abega Gautier to win by KO/TKO
