Apr 13, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; (EDITORS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT) Max Holloway (red gloves) fights Dustin Poirier (blue gloves) during UFC 236 at State Farm Arena. Poirier won by unanimous decision. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

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Max Holloway Vows To Crash Dustin Poirier’s Farewell Party With Statement Win At UFC 318

Max Holloway doesn't want to be the gracious loser, wants to spoil Dustin Poirier's swan song at UFC 318 in New Orleans!

The MMA world loves a good trilogy, and Max Holloway vs Dustin Poirier has all the ingredients for a memorable finale. These two have been dancing around each other for years, trading wins and losses across different weight classes. Their history goes back to 2012 when a young Holloway took on Poirier at featherweight, losing a decision that would haunt him for years. Then came their epic rematch at UFC 236 in 2019, where Poirier handed Holloway another defeat to claim the interim lightweight title. That fight was pure poetry in motion, with both men leaving pieces of themselves in the octagon.

Now, as Poirier prepares to hang up his gloves after a legendary career, Holloway finds himself in the role of the party crasher. The Hawaiian striker isn’t content with being a footnote in someone else’s farewell story. He wants to rewrite the ending, even if it means being the villain in Poirier’s hometown of New Orleans. The BMF champion has made it clear he’s not showing up to UFC 318 on July 19th to play the gracious loser. Instead, he’s planning to spoil what many fans hope will be a perfect send-off for ‘The Diamond.’

Max Holloway Reveals He Plans To Spoil Dustin Poirier’s Retirement Fight

The numbers don’t lie, and they are not in Holloway’s favor. Sitting at 0-2 against Poirier, the former featherweight king faces an uphill battle. Everyone from casual fans to hardcore analysts keeps reminding him of his record against the Louisiana native. But Holloway sees this as fuel rather than a burden. He’s been the underdog before, and he’s made a career out of proving doubters wrong.

“First thing’s first: Dustin Poirier. I’m not [overlooking] him. This is his retirement fight. He is taking it serious. Everybody keeps reminding me that [he’s up] 2-0. Everybody on the internet, everywhere is saying, ‘Why?’ And I’m going to show you why, I’m going to show you why I got this fight.”

The stakes couldn’t be higher for both men. Poirier is looking to ride into the sunset with his head held high, while Holloway desperately needs a statement win to cement his place in the lightweight division. After suffering his first knockout loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308, Holloway made the permanent move to 155 pounds. Hei s not just fighting for victory; he is fighting for relevance in a division packed with killers.

The timing is perfect too, with Charles Oliveira and Ilia Topuria set to clash for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317. Holloway knows a dominant win over Poirier could put him in title contention. He believes he has evolved as a fighter, especially after his recent move to lightweight. He’s no longer cutting massive amounts of weight, which should help his cardio and power. Plus, he’s carrying the BMF belt, which gives him a psychological edge. The pressure is entirely on Poirier to deliver the perfect ending to his career, while Holloway can fight loose and free.

(Image Credit: John David Mercer – Imagn Images)

Dustin Poirier

Max Holloway

UFC 318

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!