Max Holloway faces Dustin Poirier for BMF title at UFC 318

On July 19, 2025, UFC 318 will take place at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, featuring a highly anticipated trilogy bout between Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier. This event showcases the rivalry of two historic fighters, with Holloway holding the BMF title. Poirier, a seasoned fighter with a record of 30 wins and 9 losses, has competed in the UFC since 2011 and is currently seen as a contender after enduring some ups and downs in recent matchups. Max Holloway, with an impressive record of 26 wins and 8 losses, joined the UFC in 2012 and has been one of the top fighters in the featherweight division. His last notable defensive bout was against Alexander Volkanovski in July 2022, where he lost by decision. Following that defeat, he experienced a significant setback against Ilia Topuria, where he suffered his first knockout loss in a featherweight title fight in October 2024. Holloway has bounced back, asserting his dominance through wins over fighters like Calvin Kattar and Yair Rodriguez, which earned him another shot at the title. The main card of UFC 318 includes five exciting matchups, with Holloway versus Poirier being the focal point. Other bouts include Paulo Costa facing Roman Kopylov, Dan Ige taking on Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire, and Michael Johnson competing against Daniel Zellhuber. Poirier’s fight against Holloway marks not just a bid for the title, but also is expected to be his retirement fight, adding emotional weight to an already intense matchup. The anticipation for this event is heightened as fans await to see if Poirier can deliver a final victory before stepping away from the sport. Tickets for the event have been made available, priced from $458.55 to a staggering $8,443.75 for a front-row seat. This indicates the level of interest and excitement surrounding the fight card, which includes the full roster of 14 matches. As UFC 318 approaches, the MMA community eagerly discusses the implications of this fight on both athletes' legacies, especially considering it may be Poirier's final appearance in the octagon.