In an emotional moment in his home state, Dustin Poirier laid down his gloves after a unanimous decision loss to Max Holloway in his final professional fight at UFC 318. The event, held in New Orleans, Louisiana, was centered around Poirier, a native of Lafayette, making his highly anticipated return for one last bout. A trilogy fight against Holloway for the BMF title was a fitting main event.
Despite an otherwise lengthy card marked by numerous decisions, the lightweight pair delivered an electrifying performance. They captivated the boisterous New Orleans crowd, providing Poirier with a memorable and touching farewell.
Dustin Poirier vs Max Holloway UFC 318 Result
Max Holloway, widely regarded as one of the UFC`s most popular and cherished fighters, willingly embraced the role of antagonist for the week as Dustin Poirier`s final opponent. Having previously fought twice, with Poirier winning both encounters, Holloway entered this trilogy bout as the reigning BMF champion.
While Holloway didn`t face the same level of boos as a more polarizing figure like Conor McGregor might have, the packed New Orleans crowd certainly treated him as the villain. Poirier immediately tested Holloway`s legendary chin with a powerful early strike.
A key storyline heading into the fight was whether Holloway`s legendary durability, particularly his chin, would withstand Poirier`s power, especially after his recent first-career knockout loss to Ilia Topuria. In the first round, Holloway appeared resilient, absorbing several significant strikes from Poirier.
However, the action wasn`t entirely one-sided. Holloway, switching stances, landed effective strikes of his own. The most impactful blow of the round came when his right hand dropped Poirier midway through the frame.
Midway through the second round, Holloway landed a powerful uppercut that visibly wobbled and subsequently floored Poirier once more, allowing the Hawaiian a significant period of control. Yet, Poirier quickly recovered, dropping Holloway with a right hand and attempting his signature guillotine choke, much to the delight of the roaring crowd.
The third round proceeded at a slightly reduced pace, as both fighters seemingly acknowledged the inherent danger of exchanging blows in close quarters. In the final seconds, Poirier landed significant strikes, arguably clinching the round in his favor.
As tributes from the combat sports community flowed in, Poirier entered the championship rounds for the final time in his career. Both fighters escalated their intensity. The hometown hero connected with a strong combination but couldn`t entirely evade the powerful counter-strikes from his opponent.
Entering the final round of Dustin Poirier`s illustrious career, the New Orleans crowd`s roar fueled both men into a fierce engagement. A brief glove touch quickly transitioned into a Holloway combination, with both fighters continuing to trade blows just as they had throughout their previous ten rounds combined.
In the closing minutes, Holloway inadvertently poked Poirier in the eye, an incident both fighters acknowledged as accidental after a quick referee intervention. The round concluded in characteristic Poirier style, with both combatants unleashing powerful, all-out strikes.
In the fight`s climactic exchanges, both agreed to unleash a torrent of strikes. This aggressive approach seemingly benefited Holloway, as Poirier endured the onslaught to reach the final bell of his career. Following five exceptionally competitive rounds, Holloway successfully defended his `BMF` title, securing a unanimous decision victory with judges` scores of 48-47 and 49-46 (twice).
Dustin Poirier`s Legendary UFC Career
The profound and well-deserved celebration of Dustin Poirier`s career tonight stemmed from his undeniable contributions to the sport. Across an iconic 41-fight tenure that began in 2009, he consistently demonstrated an unwavering willingness to compete, regardless of the outcome.
Poirier famously came agonizingly close to submitting Khabib Nurmagomedov with a guillotine choke during their championship bout in the Middle East. Furthermore, it`s arguable that his 2019 rematch victory over Max Holloway presented a more legitimate claim to the lightweight title vacated by Conor McGregor than Nurmagomedov`s eventual championship win.
When Conor McGregor, whom Poirier would later defeat twice after an initial loss in 2014, relinquished his lightweight title to pursue a boxing match against Floyd Mayweather, the division fell into uncertainty. A series of chaotic fight cancellations at UFC 223 in Brooklyn ultimately led to Khabib Nurmagomedov fighting Al Iaquinta for the vacant championship.
Although Iaquinta endured five rounds against Nurmagomedov, he was merely ranked 11th at the time of their bout. In contrast, when Poirier secured his brutal five-round victory over Holloway, Holloway was the reigning featherweight champion, highlighting the caliber of Poirier`s win.
Despite his persistent efforts, Poirier never ultimately captured an undisputed UFC championship. Nevertheless, he contended for the title multiple times, consistently proving himself among the elite at 155 pounds.
