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.

Ige (19-9 MMA, 11-8 UFC) meets former two-division Bellator champion Patricio Freire (36-8 MMA, 0-1 UFC) on Saturday's UFC 318 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) main card at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Ige explains that he's been wanting to fight "Pitbull" for a while.

"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.