Max Holloway, the UFC’s BMF champion, will face Dustin Poirier in Poirier’s final fight at UFC 318 on July 19, 2025, at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. This lightweight trilogy bout, broadcast on ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, and ESPN+, spans over 13 years, beginning with their 2012 clash.
Holloway holds Poirier in high regard but intends to win the BMF belt and position himself for a lightweight title shot against the winner of Ilia Topuria versus Charles Oliveira at UFC 317.
Holloway’s Respect for Poirier
Holloway admires Poirier’s achievements.
“I respect Dustin,” he said in a UFC 318 training camp video on his YouTube channel. “He’s fought a who’s who, and he did everything you could ask for someone to do in this sport. But at the end of the day, it’s not even about fighting. It’s about respecting Dustin as a man. He’s a great guy. He’s a good guy. I’ve got nothing but respect for him, and I can’t wait to share the octagon yet again with him.”
Despite his admiration, Holloway plans to disrupt Poirier’s farewell.
“I know this is Dustin’s retirement fight, and he’s trying to ride into the sunset, but he can go and do that, and it might be a little bit sad, because I’m going to go out there and get my hand raised,” he said. “Hell of guy, great guy, awesome that it’s his retirement fight, but I’m here to spoil his plans and get my hand raised because I’m still going to be here when he’s riding off in the sunset.”
Max Holloway’s UFC Career
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Holloway joined the UFC in 2012 at age 20. He became featherweight champion in 2017, defeating Jose Aldo, and defended the title three times until losing to Alexander Volkanovski in 2019. His UFC record is 26-8, highlighted by a knockout win over Justin Gaethje to claim the BMF belt at UFC 300 in April 2024.
After a knockout loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308 in October 2024, Holloway moved permanently to lightweight. Now 33, he seeks a statement victory to stay in title contention.
Poirier, from Lafayette, Louisiana, entered the UFC in 2011. His 30-9 record includes an interim lightweight title win against Holloway at UFC 236 in 2019, following a submission victory over him in 2012 at UFC 143. Poirier challenged for the undisputed lightweight title twice, falling to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019 and Islam Makhachev in June 2024 at UFC 302.
At 36, Poirier plans to retire after UFC 318, aiming to capture the BMF belt in his home state. He expected to face Justin Gaethje or Ilia Topuria but accepted the Holloway trilogy.
Poirier was surprised by the UFC’s matchmaking.
“I was asking Hunter [Campbell] for Gaethje, because we’re 1-1 I wanted to close out that trilogy,” he said on The Pat McAfee Show. Instead, the UFC chose Holloway, creating a historic trilogy. Poirier anticipates a grueling bout. “I’m gonna stand in the middle and trade with Max and we’re gonna bleed,” he told ChampRDS.
Charles Oliveira, who faces Topuria at UFC 317, praised Poirier’s skills. “Dustin Poirier sharpest boxer I’ve faced,” he told MMA Junkie, predicting a strong performance.
Holloway eyes the vacant lightweight title, contested by Topuria and Oliveira at UFC 317 on June 28, 2025, in Las Vegas. Having beaten Oliveira in 2015 and lost to Topuria in 2024, he sees a clear path.
“The only message that I’m trying to send is I’m still here,” he said. “I know this is Dustin’s retirement fight, but his last fight was for a title. I still have title contentions in my mind. Couple weeks before us, there’s a title fight at 155 and I’ve got history with both men.”
He added, “At the end of the day, I go out there and do my thing, I make a statement, I get a statement win, who’s to say your boy not fighting for the 155 undisputed title at the end of the year? First things first is Dustin Poirier. I’m not overlooking him. This is his retirement fight. He is taking it serious. Everybody keeps reminding me that he’s 2-0. The internet and everywhere all around is saying, ‘Why?’ I’m going to show you why.”
For Poirier, winning the BMF belt in New Orleans would be a perfect career end. For Holloway, a victory avoids an 0-3 trilogy record, like his Volkanovski series, and keeps his title hopes alive. Poirier’s striking faces Holloway’s high-volume attack, with Holloway’s lightweight transition adding intrigue.
The trilogy’s outcome could influence the lightweight division, especially with Topuria and Oliveira’s title fight looming. Holloway’s focus on making a statement underscores his drive to remain a top contender.
