Dustin Poirier Prepares for Final Fight at UFC 318 Against Max Holloway

This summer marks the end of a legendary career in mixed martial arts, as UFC veteran Dustin Poirier is set to step into the Octagon for the last time on July 19.

At 36, Poirier will face Max Holloway in a battle for the BMF title at UFC 318, held in New Orleans. During an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Poirier announced the five-round match. The UFC specifically chose New Orleans for this pay-per-view event, ensuring Poirier’s farewell fight takes place in his home state.

“This will be my final fight,” Poirier confirmed on McAfee’s show. “It’s a full-circle moment to lay my gloves down in Louisiana, where my journey began. I’m grateful to both the UFC and the state of Louisiana for making this happen. I wasn’t sure if everything would align, but here we are.”

This meeting will be the third encounter between Poirier (30-9) and Holloway (26-8), with their rivalry dating back to 2012. The pair originally clashed as up-and-coming featherweights at UFC 143, where Poirier secured a first-round submission victory via arm-triangle choke. They met again in 2019 to compete for the interim lightweight championship, with Poirier winning by decision.

Poirier’s exit from the sport signifies the closing of a significant chapter for the lightweight division, where he has been a fixture for nearly a decade. His career boasts impressive victories over notable fighters such as Conor McGregor (twice), Michael Chandler, Justin Gaethje, Anthony Pettis, and Eddie Alvarez.

Previously, Poirier engaged in a BMF title bout, experiencing a knockout defeat by Gaethje in 2023. He held the interim lightweight championship for five months in 2019 and has contended for the undisputed title on three occasions, albeit falling short against Khabib Nurmagomedov, Charles Oliveira, and Islam Makhachev.

Hailing from Lafayette, Louisiana, Poirier hasn’t fought in his home state since 2015 and received a key to the city of Lafayette in 2021.

His opponent, Holloway from Waianae, Hawai’i, is rebounding from a knockout defeat to Ilia Topuria in a featherweight title fight last October. At 33, Holloway is making a permanent transition to the 155-pound division for the first time in his notable career, ready to make a formidable pursuit of the lightweight title.