A storied rivalry reaches its climactic chapter as former interim UFC Lightweight Champion Dustin Poirier faces off with former UFC Featherweight Champion and current BMF titleholder Max Holloway for the third time at UFC 318.
Set for July 19, 2025, at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, this lightweight trilogy bout headlines a stacked card, with Poirier aiming to cement a 3-0 record over Holloway in what he has announced as his final fight before retirement.
Poirier, the 36-year-old Lafayette, Louisiana native, enters his hometown octagon with a 2-0 edge over Holloway.
Their first clash at UFC 143 in 2012 saw Poirier submit a debuting Holloway via triangle-armbar in the first round.
Seven years later, at UFC 236 in 2019, Poirier outlasted Holloway in a five-round war to claim the interim lightweight title via unanimous decision, ending Holloway’s 13-fight win streak.
Now, with the symbolic BMF (Baddest Motherfucker) title on the line, Poirier looks to cap his 14-year UFC career with a storybook ending, reportedly walking to the cage alongside Louisiana legend Lil Wayne.
Holloway, the 33-year-old Hawaiian known as “Blessed,” is no stranger to high-stakes battles.
The former featherweight king claimed the BMF title with a dramatic last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in 2024, a finish dubbed CBS Sports’ Knockout of the Year.
Despite a recent knockout loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308 in October 2024, Holloway’s permanent move to lightweight and his relentless striking, holding records for the most significant strikes landed in UFC history (3,457) make him a formidable threat.
Holloway’s durability is legendary, having gone 29 fights without being knocked down until Topuria ended that streak.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for this trilogy bout.
Poirier, despite never securing an undisputed UFC title after losses to Khabib Nurmagomedov, Charles Oliveira, and Islam Makhachev, is favoured by some for his sharp boxing and grappling prowess with Charles Oliveira predicting a Poirier victory due to his “heavy hand” and hometown advantage.
All eyes will be on Poirier and Holloway as they collide in a trilogy fight that promises fireworks, with Poirier “The Diamond” seeking a fairy-tale finish and Holloway aiming to spoil the retirement party while defending his BMF title.
ALL/VPO
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