NEW ORLEANS – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Friday's UFC 318 fighter weigh-ins. The early weigh-ins take place at the UFC host hotel in New Orleans and precede the ceremonial weigh-ins for the fans, which take place at 6 p.m. ET at Smoothie King Center. The same venue hosts Saturday's event (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).

Former UFC lightweight Melvin Guillard hasn’t won in 11 years. At his prime, the 60-fight veteran, nicknamed ‘Young Assassin’, was on a five-fight win streak in the premier promotion’s deepest division.

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 entire UFC 318 main card, along with Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier, had faceoffs at the press conference.

The helmet received praise not only from fans but also from longtime Saints supporter and UFC legend Daniel Cormier, who visited the team's facility on Thursday and raved about th

NEW ORLEANS - UFC 318 ceremonial weigh-ins are in the books, and the fighters came face-to-face one final time before Saturday's event. The weigh-ins took place Smoothie King Center in Louisiana, which hosts the card (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).

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

See how the fighters of UFC 318 looked on the scale at official weigh-ins with video highlights and a photo gallery.