Predictions and Start Time for Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber at UFC 318

Michael Johnson and Daniel Zellhuber will face off in the main card opener of UFC 318 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Saturday. Johnson, with a record of 23-19 MMA and 15-15 UFC, has been part of the UFC since Season 12 of "The Ultimate Fighter" in 2010. He aims to maintain a winning streak of three fights. Zellhuber, with a record of 15-2 MMA and 3-2 UFC, looks to bounce back from a split decision loss against Esteban Ribovics at UFC 306, ending a three-fight winning streak.

The fight between Johnson and Zellhuber marks a significant lightweight bout on the card. Johnson, an experienced UFC veteran, will face the emerging talent of Zellhuber. This matchup presents a challenge for Zellhuber as he encounters the notable southpaw style of Johnson for the first time in his career.

The open-stance dynamic of the fight raises questions about how Zellhuber's jab will fare against Johnson. Zellhuber, known for his striking abilities, trains under Eric Nicksick at Xtreme Couture MMA, which is expected to prepare him well for the upcoming bout.

Johnson, once a favored underdog, has faced challenges in recent years due to struggles in later rounds. The prediction for this fight is a unanimous decision victory for Zellhuber, who is currently favored by oddsmakers and the public, with Zellhuber at -650 and Johnson at +475 according to FanDuel.

The fight between Johnson and Zellhuber is scheduled to start at around 10:10 p.m. ET as the main card opener, airing live on ESPN and ESPN+.