Dustin Poirier is preparing for his final UFC bout against the fighter who first introduced him to the promotion. After UFC 318, Poirier plans to retire. His UFC journey began in 2012 with a fight against Max Holloway, whom he will meet once again on July 18th for their third and final showdown. Poirier leads their series 2-0, having submitted Holloway in 2012 and winning the interim lightweight title by decision in 2019. Poirier’s retirement fight, the 35th of his professional career, will take place in his hometown of Louisiana, with the event reportedly involving Louisiana music legend Lil Wayne.
UFC 318 highlights the main event strongly, with the rest of the card featuring less familiar names to the average fan. One notable middleweight clash between Paulo Costa and Roman Kopilov was originally scheduled for UFC 317 but has been rescheduled here. The full UFC 318 fight card and latest betting odds are as follows:
– Max Holloway (C) vs. Dustin Poirier, Lightweight, BMF Championship (-110 both)
– Dan Ige vs. Patricio Pitbull, Featherweight
– Ateba Gautier vs. Robert Valentin, Middleweight
– Roman Kopilov vs. Paulo Costa, Middleweight
– Daniel Zelber vs. Michael Johnson, Lightweight
– Kyler Phillips vs. Vinicius Oliveira, Bantamweight
– Ikran Aliskerov vs. Brunno Ferreira, Middleweight
– Gunnar Nelson vs. Neil Magny, Welterweight
– Jimmy Crute vs. Marcin Platinio, Light Heavyweight
– Adam Fugitt vs. Islam Duratov, Welterweight
– Carli Judice vs. Nicolle Caliari, Female Flyweight
Event Details:
– Date: July 18th
– Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans
– Main Card Start Time: 10 pm
– Broadcast: ESPN+ Pay-Per-View
Fan Take: Dustin Poirier’s farewell fight carries significant emotional weight for fans, marking the end of a storied career and a chapter in UFC history. This event not only honors Poirier’s legacy but also promises high stakes and excitement, particularly with the anticipated trilogy bout against Max Holloway, potentially shaping future lightweight contenders.