This Saturday night at UFC 318 in New Orleans, the fight world will witness the culmination of a storied rivalry—and a storied career. Dustin Poirier is set to step into the Octagon for the last time, in a trilogy bout against Max Holloway with the BMF title on the line.
It’s a narrative made in MMA: Poirier submitted Holloway as a rookie in 2012, then earned a classic unanimous-decision interim lightweight title win in 2019. Now, their final chapter—one steeped in history, respect, and unfinished business.
Poirier, now 36, announced this week that he’ll be retiring after this bout—win or lose. A man known for grit and heart, he returns with a chance not just at a belt, but at a no-regrets ending.
Holloway, the current BMF champion, earned the title with a KO over Justin Gaethje—and he’ll make his first defense in a fight that transcends rankings. “It’s an honor to share the cage with a real one,” Holloway said, framing the bout as a celebration as much as a battle .
The contrast couldn’t be clearer: a legacy farewell versus a champion’s validation. But this won’t be a technical decision—it promises fireworks, with both fighters pledging to leave everything in the cage.
For Poirier, this announcement in his home state of Louisiana is nothing short of poetic. He plans to walk out alongside Lil Wayne, symbolically finishing his journey where it began .
No intrigue, no speculation—just two legends in their final dance, vying for a belt that means more than medals. In a sport built on innovation, hierarchy, and redemption, this is legacy in motion.
Whether Poirier exits as champion or contender, one thing is certain: UFC 318 isn’t just a fight—it’s a legacy set in motion.