The best octagon in the world is back! This Saturday, July 19, at 8:00 p.m. CST, the UFC 318 will host a fantastic evening when Dustin Poirier says goodbye to the world of Mixed Martial Arts to enter retirement, eager to defeat Max Holloway once again, this time at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The expectations are very high, and here is our BossAction analysis and prediction.
Holloway vs Poirier Fight Analysis: The Emotional Stakes Beyond the Octagon
A beautiful story comes to an end when Dustin Poirier stars in his last fight, and with the remarkable detail that it will be held in his hometown. A very prolific career that has certified him as an MMA legend will come to a close, and in front of him, he will have to face a tough Max Holloway, who wants to take Poirier’s retirement fight and avenge past defeats, while also avoiding Poirier from taking the BMF belt.
Their first fight dates back to 2012, when, in UFC 143 at the iconic Mandalay Bay Events Center, as part of the preliminary card (fight 6 of 11), Poirier took the prize via submission in round 1 after just three minutes and 23 seconds by a triangle-armbar that left Holloway without options in his UFC debut. Then, in 2019, at UFC 236, they fought for the UFC interim lightweight title. On that occasion, Poirier won once again, but via unanimous decision after five rounds, spoiling Holloway’s 13-fight win streak.
Here are the most recent stats:
| Max Holloway | Stat | Dustin Poirier |
|---|---|---|
| 26-8-0 | Record | 30-9-0, 1NC |
| 33 | Age | 36 |
| United States | Country | United States |
| 5’11” | Height | 5’9” |
| 145.00 LB | Wieght | 155.00 LB |
| 69 en | Reach | 72 en |
| 42 en | Leg Reach | 40.5 en |
“Blessed” Holloway MMA Record, Titles & Legacy Fight
Max ‘Blessed’ Holloway arrived in the UFC in 2012, proving to be one of the best featherweights in history with 20 victories, 11 finishes, and nine knockouts. Besides this, he held a streak record of 13 wins. In April 2024, he defeated Gaethje in UFC 300, taking with him the BMF belt. Recently, the Hawaiian came from a defeat by KO against Ilia Topuria for the featherweight championship last October.
“The Diamond” Poirier: Full Career Stats & Memorable Wins
Dustin ‘The Diamond’ Poirier is considered one of the best lightweight fighters, with notable wins against great fighters such as Bobby Green, Jim Miller, Anthony Pettis, Justin Gaethje, Eddie Alvarez, and Conor McGregor (twice). He reached his prime between 2011 and 2018, accumulating 16 wins and just four defeats against notable opponents, including The Korean Zombie, Cub Swanson, Conor McGregor, and Michael Johnson. During 2019, he retained the UFC interim lightweight title for about 5 months. His last fight was in June 2024, when he lost against Islam Makhachev in UFC 302 in the fifth round.
From Prelims to Main Card: The Full UFC 318 Lineup
Here is the entire schedule with the specific number of rounds and weight bout:
- Lightweight: Max Holloway (26-8) vs. Dustin Poirier (30-9)
- Middleweight: Paulo Costa (14-4) vs. Roman Kopylov (14-3)
- Welterweight: Kevin Holland (28-13) vs. Daniel Rodríguez (19-5)
- Featherweight: Dan Ige (19-9) vs. Patricio Pitbull (36-8)
- Lightweight: Michael Johnson (24-19) vs. Daniel Zellhuber (15-2)
Holloway vs. Poirier 3 Prediction
Will this be the eagerly awaited revenge for Max Holloway or the final dominance of Poirier? In the UFC, anything can happen, but since this is the last official fight of Dustin Poirier, it makes you think that he is not willing to let it go with a defeat. However, the odds are in favor of Holloway given his recent performances and youth. Our final verdict is that Holloway is going to spoil the goodbye party via decision.