Dana White was impressed. The UFC CEO said the BMF title fight between Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier at UFC 318 on July 19, 2025, in New Orleans was a tight battle. Holloway won by unanimous decision, but White felt the judges’ one-sided scores didn’t show how close it was. The event, shown on ESPN pay-per-view, was a big hit.
Fight Recap and White’s Reaction
The five-round main event saw Holloway use his jab and footwork to lead early rounds. Poirier fought back with combinations in round three, making it a close fight. Holloway took over in the final two rounds with sharp punches, earning scores of 49-46, 49-46, and 50-45. White thought the scores were too one-sided.
“Yeah, I mean, it was an incredible fight,” White told reporters. “I thought going into the last round, the fight was closer than the judges had it. But, yeah, I mean, it lived up to what it was supposed to be— the card did. The card was great.”
Holloway kept the BMF belt, while Poirier, in his retirement fight, vowed to stay involved in MMA.
#UFC318 Official Scorecard: Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) vs Dustin Poirier
Complete Scorecards ➡️ https://t.co/GQLoLaheww pic.twitter.com/VYKoPrFkNB
— UFC News (@UFCNews) July 20, 2025
Max Holloway, now 27-8 with 12 knockouts, is a former UFC featherweight champion. He won the title in 2017 against Jose Aldo and defended it three times. Holloway claimed the BMF belt with a last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 on April 13, 2024. His wins over Alexander Volkanovski and Yair Rodriguez show his elite striking.
Dustin Poirier, now 30-10 with 15 knockouts, is a former interim lightweight champion. He beat Holloway twice before, at UFC 143 in 2012 by submission and UFC 236 in 2019 by decision. Poirier lost the BMF belt to Gaethje at UFC 291 on July 29, 2023, by knockout. His wins include Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler.
UFC 318 had a strong card. Paulo Costa beat Roman Kopylov by decision in the co-main event, ending his two-fight losing streak. Kevin Holland won a decision over Daniel Rodriguez at welterweight. Dan Ige defeated Patricio Pitbull by decision, and Daniel Zellhuber knocked out Michael Johnson. The event sold out the Smoothie King Center.
White’s praise shows the fight’s intensity and the card’s success. Holloway’s win boosts his case for another featherweight title shot. Poirier’s effort in his final fight keeps his legacy strong. The close battle sets up big opportunities for Holloway.
