Carli Judice vs. Nicolle Caliari Preview, Predictions And MMA Betting Odds

Judice enters as heavy favorite against Caliari in women's MMA showdown

Carli Judice and Nicolle Caliari will kick off the action at UFC 318 this Saturday in New Orleans, setting the tone for a stacked card headlined by Dustin Poirier’s retirement bout against Max Holloway. Slotted on the preliminary card, this women’s flyweight fight, with Judice’s aggressive striking and Caliari’s submission arsenal, has the potential to steal early attention on fight night.

O Brasil tá presente na primeira luta do #UFC318! 🇧🇷

Veja a encarada entre Carli Judice e @NiCaliari! 👊

[ Apresentado por @Stake | Sábado (19) | 19h | Assista ao vivo no @UFCFightPassBR | Assine já: https://t.co/OD62F561g5 ] pic.twitter.com/pnHR75Kj6c
— UFC Brasil (@UFCBrasil) July 18, 2025

Carli Judice vs. Nicolle Caliari Preview

For Judice (4-2), this bout represents both a homecoming and a turning point. After suffering back-to-back split decision losses to Ernesta Kareckaite and Gabriella Fernandes, the Louisiana native roared back with a vicious head-kick knockout of Yuneisy Duben. Fighting in front of a home crowd in New Orleans, Judice now looks to stack wins and continue rebuilding her momentum.

One thing that I Like a bout Carli Judice and that a lot of fighters can learn from is proactively taking defensive measures after your combinations.
Look how she's always moving either her head or her feet after her attacks, without waiting for the counter. pic.twitter.com/RSjO8EIjka
— Feño 🏴 (@fenoxsky) July 12, 2025

Caliari (8-3), meanwhile, after earning her contract with a slick first-round armbar in the Contender Series last fall, the Brazilian dropped a narrow decision to Kareckaite in her official UFC debut earlier this year. That loss may have stalled her buzz slightly, but it didn’t diminish her upside.

Both fighters have shown flashes of promise, but the pressure is real. For Judice, it’s about proving her last win wasn’t a one-off moment. For Caliari, it’s about bouncing back quickly and avoiding a 0-2 start in the UFC.

Carli Judice will fight Nicolle Caliari at #UFC318 on July 19th. (first rep. @AgFight) #UFC #MMA #UFCESPN #UFC2025 pic.twitter.com/KhJ3JcjWZJ
— Marcel Dorff 🇳🇱🇮🇩 (@BigMarcel24) May 21, 2025

Carli Judice vs. Nicolle Caliari Betting Odds

Oddsmakers have Carli Judice entering as a clear favorite at 27/100, reflecting her recent knockout win and the advantage of fighting at home in Louisiana. Nicolle Caliari, meanwhile, sits as the underdog at 11/4, offering solid value for bettors who believe her grappling and all-around game can neutralize Judice’s striking.

Here are the betting odds per BetMGM:

Carli Judice: 27/100

Nicolle Caliari: 11/4

Carli Judice (125) vs Nicolle Caliari (126)#UFC318 pic.twitter.com/KPErufQmQz
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) July 18, 2025

Rest of the betting odds of winning methods (sourced via BetMGM):

To go the distance: Yes (4/9), No (23/20)

Draw: 45/1

Judice by Decision: 4/5

Judice by KO, TKO, DQ: 15/4

Judice by Submission: 10/1

Caliari by Decision: 19/4

Caliari by KO, TKO, DQ: 18/1

Caliari by Submission: 13/1

(All Odds According to BetMGM: BetMGM offers exclusive promo codes, bonus deals and accurate odds for users upon signing up. Use BetMGM to ace your betting game in all sports!)

Carli Judice vs. Nicolle Caliari Predictions and Picks

Carli Judice enters UFC 318 with momentum, power, and a home-state edge. Her explosive striking and ability to dictate range make her a serious threat early. Expect her to earn a decision win in front of the New Orleans crowd.

Carli Judice

Flyweight Women’s

Nicolle Caliari

Prelims

UFC 318

Rudra Dubey

nfl

mma

I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.