MMA Match Preview: Ateba Gautier (7-1) vs. Robert Valentin (11-5)

Fight Details

Event: UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3

Date: Saturday, July 19, 2025

Time: 6:00 PM ET (Preliminary Card)

Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana

Weight Class: Middleweight (185 lbs / 83.9 kg)

Broadcast: ESPN+ PPV

Fighter Profiles

Fighter	Ateba Gautier	Robert Valentin
Nickname	“The Silent Assassin”	“Robzilla”
Record	7-1-0	11-5-0
Age	23	30
Height	6’4″	6’2″
Reach	81″	77″
Stance	Switch	Orthodox
Gym	Fight Move Academy	Team Manchester

Gautier is a rising star from Cameroon with a reputation for explosive striking and precision timing.

Valentin, a Swiss submission specialist, brings a wealth of grappling experience and a 64% finish rate via submission.

Recent Form & Momentum

Ateba Gautier – Last 3 Fights

Win vs. Jose Daniel Medina (KO, Mar 2025)

Win vs. unknown opponent (KO, Dec 2024)

Win vs. unknown opponent (KO, Sep 2024)

Robert Valentin – Last 3 Fights

Loss vs. Torrez Finney (Decision, Apr 2025)

Loss vs. Ryan Loder (KO, Aug 2024)

Win vs. unknown opponent (Submission, May 2024)

Gautier enters with a three-fight knockout streak, while Valentin is looking to rebound after back-to-back losses.

Tactical Breakdown

Ateba Gautier

Strengths: Long reach, knockout power, head movement

Weaknesses: Limited grappling experience at UFC level

Strategy: Keep the fight standing, use reach and angles to land clean shots

Robert Valentin

Strengths: BJJ black belt, submission transitions, control time

Weaknesses: Susceptible to early pressure and striking volume