Max Holloway Defeats Dustin Poirier in Epic UFC 318 Showdown as Poirier Retires

In an emotionally charged farewell bout, UFC veteran Dustin Poirier stepped into the octagon for the final time at UFC 318, facing off against longtime rival Max Holloway in New Orleans. Although Poirier hoped to close out his 16-year MMA career with a win, Holloway had other plans — securing a unanimous decision victory in a performance full of heart and grit.

The two fighters, who had previously clashed twice before, delivered a thrilling finale in their trilogy. While Holloway dropped Poirier in the first round and maintained control through much of the fight, the final 15 seconds saw both men standing toe-to-toe, exchanging wild strikes in a moment that had fans on their feet.

Judges scored the fight 48-47, 49-46, and 49-46 in favor of Holloway (27-8 MMA), marking his first win over Poirier in their three-fight history. The 33-year-old Hawaiian and reigning BMF champion showed respect and humility in victory, praising Poirier as one of the sport’s true warriors.

“Give it up for Dustin Poirier,” Holloway told the crowd. “The baddest man alive, bro.”

Poirier (30-10 MMA), clearly emotional after the bout, acknowledged Holloway’s sharp technique and sportsmanship.

“He’s slick, fast, crafty – just a tough guy to deal with,” Poirier said. “Nothing but respect for Max.”

The fight also marked Holloway’s first successful defense of the symbolic “BMF” title, a belt awarded not by division but by heart, toughness, and fan appeal.

Other Highlights from UFC 318:

• 🇧🇷 Paulo Costa bounced back with a unanimous decision over Roman Kopylov, using crisp boxing to stay in the middleweight title conversation.

• 🥊 Daniel Rodriguez outworked Kevin Holland in a competitive welterweight clash, surviving a late flurry to earn a 29-28 win across all scorecards.

• 🦅 Patricio Pitbull secured his first UFC victory by grinding out a win over Dan Ige with dominant wrestling, continuing his long and decorated career.

• 💥 Michael Johnson, at 39, stunned the crowd by defeating rising contender Daniel Zellhuber in a lightweight upset, thanks to a pivotal second-round knockdown.

UFC 318 offered fans a memorable night of action, emotion, and legacy-defining moments — none bigger than Poirier’s heartfelt farewell to the sport he helped shape for over a decade.