Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier locked eyes at the UFC 318 press conference. On July 17, 2025, in New Orleans, the two fighters stood face to face with UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier overseeing the moment. Their trilogy fight for the BMF title is set for July 19, 2025, at the Smoothie King Center, marking Poirier’s last fight before retirement.
A Moment of Respect and Focus
Cormier, a Louisiana native, hosted the press conference instead of UFC president Dana White. The faceoff was calm but showed clear intensity from both fighters. Holloway, the current BMF champion, wants to overturn two past losses to Poirier. The Louisiana native aims to retire with a victory and the belt in his hometown.
Poirier holds a 2-0 edge in their rivalry. In February 2012 at UFC 143, he submitted Holloway in the first round. They fought again in April 2019 at UFC 236, where Poirier won a unanimous decision for the interim lightweight title. This third bout carries huge weight for both men’s legacies.
Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier face off after the #UFC318 press conference, with Daniel Cormier hosting it in Dana White’s place. pic.twitter.com/YAeMVQbbYj
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) July 17, 2025
Their Roads to UFC 318
Poirier, with a 30-9 record, began his UFC career in 2011. He won the interim lightweight title in 2019 and faced elite fighters like Conor McGregor, Justin Gaethje, and Islam Makhachev. His latest fight was a submission loss to Makhachev at UFC 302 in June 2024. In April 2025, Poirier shared his retirement plans on the Pat McAfee Show, pushing for this fight in New Orleans.
Holloway, holding a 26-8 record, won the featherweight title in 2017 and defended it three times. He claimed the BMF belt with a knockout of Gaethje at UFC 300 in April 2024. After losing to Ilia Topuria in October 2024 at UFC 308, the 33-year-old Hawaiian looks to rebound at lightweight.
Cormier’s presence added a local flavor, hailing from Lafayette like Poirier. The UFC’s return to New Orleans, its first since June 2015, has created massive excitement. Spanning over 13 years, this trilogy is the longest in UFC history. Poirier aims for a 3-0 sweep, while Holloway looks to keep his title. Fans are ready for an epic night at UFC 318.
