A thrilling middleweight clash between Brazil’s Brunno "The Hulk" Ferreira and undefeated American prospect Jackson "The Moose" McVey is set for UFC 318 on July 19, 2025, at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. This bout features a violent finisher in Ferreira going head-to-head with a rising powerhouse in McVey, both of whom have never seen a fight go to the scorecards.
Brunno Ferreira
Brunno Ferreira (13–2) is one of the most explosive finishers in the UFC middleweight division, with all 13 of his wins coming by stoppage—9 by KO/TKO and 4 by submission. The 32-year-old Brazilian, fighting out of Brazilian TKO, has earned a reputation as a first-round menace with heavy hands and dangerous ground offense.
In March 2025, Ferreira showcased his submission prowess by catching Armen Petrosyan in a slick triangle armbar late in Round 2. That win was a strong rebound after a submission loss to Abus Magomedov and a prior KO defeat to Nursulton Ruziboev. Notably, Ferreira holds a highlight-reel spinning back elbow knockout over Dustin Stoltzfus and a brutal first-round KO over Phil Hawes.
Ferreira’s style is all-action: pressure-heavy, aggressive, and always hunting for a finish. However, his tendency to brawl and a lack of striking defense has led to him getting cracked in past fights. Still, if he lands first, the results are often devastating.
Brunno Ferreira – Last 5 Fights:
1. Win vs. Armen Petrosyan – Submission (Triangle Armbar) (UFC 313, March 8, 2025)
2. Loss vs. Abusupiyan Magomedov – Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) (UFC 308, October 26, 2024)
3. Win vs. Dustin Stoltzfus – KO (Spinning Back Elbow) (UFC on ESPN 57, June 8, 2024)
4. Win vs. Phil Hawes – KO (Punches) (UFC Fight Night 234, January 13, 2024)
5. Loss vs. Nursulton Ruziboev – KO (Punches) (UFC on ESPN 48, July 1, 2023)
Jackson McVey
Standing at a towering 6’4”, Jackson McVey (6–0) is an undefeated American prospect with a 100% finish rate—3 knockouts and 3 submissions, all in the first round. Training out of St. Charles MMA, the 26-year-old brings an intimidating blend of size, athleticism, and killer instinct.
McVey’s most recent win came in June 2025 at LFA 210, where he overwhelmed Mataeo Garner with a flying knee and punches in under 90 seconds. Prior to that, he needed less than a minute each to submit Ben Fowler and Jaquis Williams. In all six of his pro bouts, McVey has finished his opponents in under four minutes, demonstrating both striking explosiveness and sneaky submission skills—particularly his guillotine and brabo chokes.
Though untested at the UFC level, McVey has shown flashes of elite potential and calm under pressure. His size and reach will be major factors against the shorter Ferreira.
Jackson McVey – Last 5 Fights:
1. Win vs. Mataeo Garner – TKO (Knee and Punches) (LFA 210, June 13, 2025)
2. Win vs. Ben Fowler – Submission (Brabo Choke) (LFA 193, September 20, 2024)
3. Win vs. Jaquis Williams – Submission (Guillotine Choke) (Shamrock FC 356, July 13, 2024)
4. Win vs. James Regina – TKO (Punches) (Shamrock FC 347, July 22, 2023)
5. Win vs. Tom Krenzel – TKO (Punches) (LFA 157, April 21, 2023)
Prediction
This fight is a guaranteed banger between two middleweights who do not go the distance.
Ferreira has a serious experience edge, with seven UFC fights and multiple top-level opponents under his belt. He’s proven he can both knock out UFC-level fighters and survive adversity. But McVey has the physical tools to present major problems: he’s 6 inches taller, longer, younger, and carries a ruthless finishing streak of his own.
The key question is: can McVey handle the UFC-level pressure and power of a fighter like Ferreira? If he can avoid the early blitz and stay composed, his reach and submission game could wear down “The Hulk.”
But Ferreira is ferocious early and knows how to capitalize on rookie nerves. Expect him to close the distance fast, test McVey’s chin, and try to end it inside the first round.
Prediction:
Brunno Ferreira def. Jackson McVey via TKO (Punches) in Round 1
McVey’s UFC debut is full of promise, but Ferreira’s power, experience, and pace will be too much too soon. Expect fireworks—and a violent finish.