In an emotional farewell in his home state, Dustin Poirier laid down his gloves tonight following a unanimous decision loss to Max Holloway in his final professional bout.
UFC 318 was largely centered around Lafayette, Louisiana native Dustin Poirier`s return to New Orleans for what was billed as his last appearance. A trilogy fight against Max Holloway for the BMF title was a highly anticipated main event.
Despite an otherwise lengthy event that began with exciting finishes but later devolved into a series of decisions, Poirier and Holloway lived up to expectations. The lightweight contenders captivated the lively New Orleans audience, culminating in a poignant farewell for Poirier.
Dustin Poirier vs Max Holloway UFC 318 Result
Max Holloway, an undisputed fan favorite in UFC history, embraced the role of antagonist during fight week as Dustin Poirier`s final opponent. Having previously met twice, with Poirier emerging victorious in both encounters, this bout saw Holloway enter as the reigning BMF champion.
While not subjected to the same intense boos as a figure like Conor McGregor might have received, Holloway was clearly perceived as the villain by the packed New Orleans arena. Poirier promptly tested Holloway`s resolve with a significant early strike.
A key storyline leading into the fight revolved around Holloway`s famed durability, questioned after his recent knockout loss to Ilia Topuria. Early in the first round, he demonstrated resilience by absorbing several strong blows from Poirier.
However, the momentum wasn`t entirely one-sided; Holloway effectively landed his own strikes, shifting between stances. The most impactful moment of the round occurred when his precise right hand sent Poirier to the canvas midway through.
In the second round, Holloway connected with a powerful uppercut that visibly stunned and dropped Poirier, allowing the Hawaiian fighter to maintain control for an extended period. Yet, upon recovering, Poirier countered, dropping Holloway with a right hand and even attempting his signature guillotine choke, much to the crowd`s excitement.
The third round proceeded at a more measured pace, as both fighters appeared mindful of the risks involved in close-range exchanges. In the final seconds, Poirier unleashed a significant strike, potentially clinching the round in his favor.
As accolades from the combat sports community began to flow, Poirier entered the championship rounds for the final time in his career, with both fighters increasing their intensity. The local hero landed a strong combination, yet struggled to evade powerful counter-strikes from his opponent.
Entering the final round of Dustin Poirier`s illustrious career, the roaring New Orleans crowd spurred both combatants into a fierce engagement. A quick touch of gloves was immediately followed by a combination from Holloway, as the two continued their intense exchange, mirroring their previous ten rounds.
In the closing minutes, Holloway seemingly committed an accidental eye poke on Poirier, which both fighters acknowledged after a brief halt by the referee. The round concluded in characteristic Poirier style, with both athletes unleashing powerful, all-out strikes.
In a mutual agreement, they engaged in a relentless exchange during the final moments, an intensity that appeared to benefit Holloway as Poirier valiantly endured until the final bell of his career. Following five exceptionally challenging rounds to judge, Holloway successfully defended his `BMF` title, securing the victory via unanimous decision with scorecards of 48-47 and two 49-46.
Dustin Poirier`s Legendary UFC Career Spans Over a Decade
The outpouring of admiration and celebration for Poirier`s career was entirely deserved. Throughout his remarkable 41-fight journey, which began in 2009, he consistently demonstrated an unwavering willingness to compete, regardless of the outcome.
He notably came agonizingly close to capturing the undisputed lightweight title, nearly submitting Khabib Nurmagomedov with a guillotine choke during their Middle East showdown. Furthermore, some argue that his 2019 rematch victory over Max Holloway presented a more credible claim to the lightweight gold, which had been vacated by Conor McGregor, than Nurmagomedov`s eventual championship win.
When Conor McGregor, whom Poirier would later defeat twice after an initial loss in 2014, relinquished his lightweight title to pursue a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather, the division entered a period of uncertainty. A chaotic series of fight cancellations at UFC 223 in Brooklyn ultimately led to Nurmagomedov facing Al Iaquinta for the vacant championship.
Although Iaquinta endured five rounds, he was merely ranked 11th when he challenged Nurmagomedov. In stark contrast, Poirier`s grueling five-round victory over Max Holloway occurred while Holloway was the reigning featherweight champion.
Ultimately, Poirier never secured the undisputed lightweight championship. However, he contended for it multiple times, consistently ascending to the pinnacle of the 155-pound division.
Jack Thornley