Fight Details
Event: UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3
Date: Saturday, July 19, 2025
Time: 10:00 PM ET (Main Card)
Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
Title on the Line: BMF Championship
Broadcast: ESPN+ PPV
Fighter Profiles
| Fighter | Max Holloway | Dustin Poirier |
| Nickname | “Blessed” | “The Diamond” |
| Record | 26-8-0 | 30-9-0 |
| Age | 33 | 36 |
| Height | 5’11” | 5’9″ |
| Reach | 69″ | 72″ |
| Stance | Orthodox | Southpaw |
| UFC Titles | Former Featherweight Champion, Current BMF Champion | Former Interim Lightweight Champion |
Holloway enters as the reigning BMF champ, having knocked out Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.
Poirier, fighting in his home state, has announced this will be his retirement bout.
Head-to-Head History
UFC 143 (2012): Poirier won via first-round submission
UFC 236 (2019): Poirier won via unanimous decision for the interim lightweight title
UFC 318 (2025): Third and final chapter, with legacy and the BMF belt on the line
Key Storylines
Retirement Stakes: Poirier aims to end his career with a symbolic title win in front of hometown fans
Redemption Arc: Holloway seeks his first win over Poirier and a potential path to a lightweight title shot
Durability Question: Holloway was knocked out for the first time in his career by Ilia Topuria at UFC 308, raising concerns about his legendary chin
Legacy Fight: Both fighters are icons—this bout could define their final chapters in the sport
Tactical Breakdown
Max Holloway
Strengths: Volume striking, cardio, durability
Recent Form: KO win vs. Gaethje, loss vs. Topuria
Strategy: Use leg kicks and pace to wear down Poirier, avoid power exchanges early
Dustin Poirier
Strengths: Power punching, boxing fundamentals, experience in wars
Recent Form: Loss vs. Makhachev, win vs. Benoît Saint-Denis
Strategy: Time Holloway early, land clean counters, control exchanges
FIGHT ODDS
Max Holloway – 125
Dustin Poirier + 105
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, July 18, 2025
