Kyler Phillips vs Vinicius Oliveira at UFC 318 | Preview & Prediction
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
The featured prelim at UFC 318 sees ranked contenders collide in the bantamweight division, as Kyler Phillips and Vinicius Oliveira battle to break into the top 10 and build serious momentum.
Kyler Phillips vs Vinicius Oliveira facts
What time are Kyler Phillips and Vinicius Oliveira 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)
Kyler Phillips: Flashy technician looking to bounce back
Kyler Phillips (11-3) brings a high-output, movement-heavy style that thrives on volume and angles. The 30-year-old American is ranked #12 in the division and has gone the distance with seasoned names, including a win over Song Yadong in 2021 – a result that has aged like fine wine with Yadong now sitting at #5. Phillips is durable, well-conditioned, and never easy to put away, but he lacks finishing power and sometimes struggles when forced out of his rhythm. His recent loss to Rob Font was a setback, where he failed to make meaningful adjustments under pressure – something that Oliveira will be looking to exploit.
Vinicius Oliveira: Fan favourite with a flair for violence
Brazil’s Vinicius Oliveira (21-3) – aka Lok Dog – is a surging contender making waves with his aggressive, in-your-face kickboxing and unshakable resilience. Ranked #15, the 29-year-old is undefeated in the UFC and riding momentum after beating the likes of Ricky Simon and Said Nurmagomedov. His knockout win over Bernardo Sopaj via flying knee turned heads, and he’s proven his toughness by breaking a rib mid-fight against Nurmagomedov and still grinding out a decision. Oliveira brings power, pressure, and variety – and while not flawless, he’s shown he can thrive in high-paced chaos.
Kyler Phillips vs Vinicius Oliveira prediction
This should be a high-level, technical scrap that builds as it goes. Expect a relatively slow and cautious opening round as both fighters respect each other’s striking arsenals. From there, the tempo will rise – Phillips will look to control range with movement and volume, while Oliveira will close distance and look to land power shots and mix in explosive offence. Both men are capable grapplers, but their skills may cancel each other out here, leading to few meaningful grappling exchanges.
Stylistically, Oliveira’s pressure, physicality, and well-rounded striking give him an edge. Phillips may land more strikes overall, but Oliveira’s shots will be more impactful. Add in his cardio and resilience, and it feels like Lok Dog will be the one pushing the pace late and doing the more damaging work in rounds two and three.
Prediction: Vinicius Oliveira to win by decision
