After 15 years of all-out war inside the cage, Dustin Poirier called it a career — but not before giving fans one final epic. In the main event of UFC 318, Max Holloway edged out his longtime rival by decision to retain the BMF title in a fight full of drama, power, and grit.
This was the trilogy bout between two legends of the UFC. Unlike their previous meetings, this time it was Holloway who left victorious. A sharp right hand dropped Poirier in the first round, setting the tone for a night of wild momentum swings. “The Diamond” battled back, landing combinations and even dropping Holloway late in round two with a thunderous left.
The third and fourth rounds delivered pure violence. Holloway relied on pace and precision while Poirier hammered home power shots and body work. By round five, both men were battered but unbroken. They closed the final seconds trading punches until Poirier clinched, absorbing it all one last time.
The decision went to Holloway, who now eyes a possible title shot against Ilia Topuria — the man who knocked him out at UFC 308 to capture lightweight gold.
As for Poirier, his retirement marks the end of an era. Since debuting in 2011, he’s taken on the best: Chan Sung-Jung, Conor McGregor, Jim Miller, Eddie Alvarez, Anthony Pettis, and Justin Gaethje — among others.
He retires at 30-10 (1 NC), with highlights that include his interim belt win over Holloway at UFC 236 and back-to-back wins over McGregor. His final act, Poirier vs Holloway III, wasn’t just a great fight — it was a beautiful farewell. One only Poirier could deliver.
