Dustin Poirier is preparing for his final UFC appearance against Max Holloway, the fighter he first faced upon entering the promotion in 2012. Following UFC 318, Poirier plans to retire. The upcoming bout, scheduled for July 18th, marks their third and final showdown. Poirier currently leads their rivalry 2-0, having submitted Holloway in 2012 and won a decision for the interim lightweight title in 2019. The fight will be for the BMF Championship, a title Poirier lost to Justin Gaethje, who secured the belt by knockout.
This retirement fight will be Poirier’s 35th professional match and will take place in his hometown of Louisiana. Notably, “The Diamond” is expected to make a ceremonial walk with New Orleans legend Lil Wayne. UFC 318’s main card also includes top contenders across different weight classes. The co-main event features middleweights Roman Kopylov, a rising star, versus former title challenger Paulo Costa. Welterweights Kevin Holland and Daniel Rodriguez will also fight, with Holland known for his charismatic and entertaining personality. Featherweight Patricio Pitbull, former two-division Bellator champion, seeks his first UFC win against Dan Ige.
Below is the UFC 318 fight card with the latest odds:
– Max Holloway (C) vs. Dustin Poirier for the BMF Championship
– Roman Kopylov vs. Paulo Costa
– Kevin Holland vs. Daniel Rodriguez
– Dan Ige vs. Patricio Pitbull
– Daniel Zellhuber vs. Michael Johnson
– Vinicius Oliveira vs. Kyler Phillips
– Brendan Allen vs. Marvin Vettori
– Francisco Prado vs. Nikolay Veretennikov
– Ateba Gautier vs. Robert Valentin
– Islam Duratov vs. Adam Fugitt
– Jimmy Crute vs. Maashin Prachiao
– Ryan Spann vs. Lucas Bruzinsky
– Brunno Ferreira vs. Jackson McVey
– Carli Judice vs. Nicolle Caliari (women’s flyweight)
Event Details:
– Date: July 18th
– Location: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans
– Main card start time: 10 PM
– Viewing: ESPN+ PPV
For fans wanting indepth picks and fight analysis for UFC 318, expert insights are available at SportsLine.
Fan Take: Dustin Poirier’s retirement fight is a significant moment for UFC followers, symbolizing the end of an era for a beloved fighter. This matchup with Max Holloway not only closes a historic rivalry but also sets the stage for new contenders to rise, highlighting the evolving landscape of the sport.
