UFC 318 has concluded, marking the end of Dustin Poirier’s illustrious MMA career. "The Diamond" retires after an impressive UFC journey, during which he consistently ranked among the lightweight elite over the past five years. In his final bout, Poirier fell short against former featherweight champion Max Holloway, who managed to secure victory despite a tough contest. The two rivals clashed for the third time in New Orleans on Saturday, with Holloway knocking Poirier down twice early in the fight. Poirier fought back valiantly but ultimately could not overcome the resilient Hawaiian, who triumphed amid a hostile crowd, prompting Poirier to hang up his gloves for good.
Other notable fights on the card included Paulo Costa delivering a surprising win over rising contender Roma Kopirov via unanimous decision. Since 2020, Costa’s aggressive style has made him a formidable opponent in the middleweight division, and this key victory revitalizes his standing in a somewhat shallow 185-pound class. Daniel Rodriguez also pulled off a stunning upset against Kevin Holland, scoring two knockdowns en route to a unanimous decision. Former Bellator two-division champion Patricio Pitbull earned his first UFC win by decision over Dan Ige.
Throughout Fight Week, CBS Sports provided continuous coverage featuring the latest updates, in-depth features, and betting advice. Fans are encouraged to stay tuned for UFC 319 coming soon in Chicago.
UFC 318 Fight Results:
- Max Holloway defeated Dustin Poirier (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)
- Paulo Costa won against Roma Kopirov (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Daniel Rodriguez defeated Kevin Holland (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Patricio Pitbull defeated Dan Ige (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Michael Johnson defeated Daniel Zelhoever (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Vinicius Oliveira defeated Kyler Phillips (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Brendan Allen defeated Marvin Vettori (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Nikolay Veretnikov defeated Francis Co Prado (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
- Ateba Gautier defeated Robert Valentin via first-round TKO
- Islam Duratov knocked out Adam Fugit in the first round
- Jimmy Crute submitted Marcin Prachnio in the first round (armbar)
- Ryan Spann submitted Lukasz Brzeski in the first round (guillotine choke)
- Bruno Ferreira submitted Jackson McVay in the first round (armbar)
- Carli Judice won via first-round TKO over Nicole Cagliari (strike)
Fan Take: Dustin Poirier’s retirement is a significant moment for the sport, closing the chapter on one of the hardest-working fighters of his generation. His career highlights the evolving depth and talent in the lightweight division, pushing the sport forward and inspiring future fighters.
