UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 – Dustin’s Final Dance?

Dustin Poirier never did things halfway. His career's been messy, raw, and full of heart. Now, as UFC 318 gets closer, he's stepping into the octagon one last time. Not in Vegas, not in Abu Dhabi — but in his home state of Louisiana. Facing Max Holloway again, for the third and final chapter.

Call it a send-off or just a final war, but it’s got real weight. And yeah, some fans like to kill time before fights trying their luck at Avia Master — why not get the adrenaline pumping early?

A Rivalry That Grew with Time

When they first clashed in 2012, Holloway was just a kid making his debut. Poirier choked him out in the first round. Nothing major, just another early-career mismatch.

But their 2019 rematch was different. Holloway was a champ. Poirier had sharpened every part of his game. Five rounds later, Dustin took the interim lightweight belt and showed the world how far he'd come. Now, in 2025, they run it back once more.

Holloway just knocked out Gaethje with a walk-off that had everyone talking. Poirier, meanwhile, fell short against Islam Makhachev last year in a fight that nearly went his way. Retirement seemed close. But not without this last dance. Not without settling the score in front of his people.

Why Poirier Is So Loved

He’s never been the champ-champ, but no one questions his heart. You don’t need belts when you’ve put on classics against names like McGregor, Gaethje, Chandler, and Hooker.

Born in Lafayette, Louisiana, Dustin came up through the WEC before joining the UFC in 2011. His early fights were wild brawls — just ask anyone who saw him vs. the Korean Zombie. He bounced between featherweight and lightweight before truly finding his groove at 155. His first fight with Justin Gaethje in 2018? Pure chaos. His trilogy with McGregor? MMA history.

He’s that fighter who bleeds for the crowd. Always game. Never backs out. That’s why when he said UFC 318 would be his last, no one argued. Fans just wanted one more. And they’re getting it in style.

Three things that define Poirier:

• Pace that doesn’t slow, even deep in the fight
• Crisp boxing with dog in him
• A chin and will that’s carried him through hell

He doesn’t win them all, but he makes every fight matter.

Holloway: Still Blessed, Still Dangerous

Max Holloway has never been out of the game for long. After that brutal knockout loss to Ilia Topuria, people wondered if he'd lost a step. His answer? A perfectly timed KO over Gaethje at UFC 300. He pointed to the clock, then ended the fight.

Max started young — real young. At just 20, he made his UFC debut. Took a few losses early, but evolved fast. By 2017, he was the featherweight king. Two wins over Jose Aldo. Then he went to war with Ortega, battered him for four rounds, and showed off the best volume striking in the game. The fights with Volkanovski didn’t go his way, but they were razor close.

He doesn’t hit like a truck, but he slices you up. He breaks fighters with pressure, volume, and that weird calm mid-fight. He talks to you, nods, eats shots, smiles, and then pours it on.

For Max, this isn’t just about a rubber match:

• He wants to erase the 0-2 against Dustin
• He's looking to lock in his lightweight run
• And that BMF belt? He’s showing it's not just a gimmick

Max still has plenty of gas in the tank. And he's treating this one like a mission.

What Else Is on the Card?

The main event's the obvious draw, but UFC 318's undercard isn't just filler. It's got a solid mix — veterans, rising prospects, and a few sneaky fun matchups.

Here are a few worth keeping an eye on:

• Marvin Vettori vs. Brendan Allen — Classic grinder vs. rising dark horse. Could be a gritty three-rounder.
• Neil Magny vs. Gunnar Nelson — Range and volume vs. sneaky grappling. Could go either way.
• Amanda Ribas vs. Tabatha Ricci — Fast-paced strawweight scrap with slick ground work.

Don’t be surprised if one of these steals the show. Some of the best fights come from lower on the card.

The Fight Feels Right

This isn’t about a belt. It’s about pride, legacy, and going out swinging. No forced storyline, no fake trash talk. Just two vets giving fans what they want.

Why this matters:

• Poirier's final walk to the cage adds weight
• Hometown crowd will be on another level
• This trilogy wraps a real story that’s spanned more than a decade

You feel the stakes even if there’s no gold on the line.

Wrapping It Up

July 19 in New Orleans isn’t just another UFC event. It’s Poirier’s goodbye. It’s Holloway’s shot at redemption. And it’s everything fans love about MMA rolled into one night.

It’s not just about who wins. It’s about watching two legends do what they do best, one last time together. And honestly, that’s more than enough.