Dustin Poirier sidelines family’s wishes for one last ‘war’ against Max Holloway

Dustin Poirier eyes 'retirement' with BMF strap in dream UFC 318 PPV finale; ready to throw down with Max Holloway in bloody war.

Dustin Poirier sidelines family’s wishes for one last ‘war’ against Max Holloway

Dustin Poirier ready to point and rumble with Max Holloway at UFC 318 (Source: X)

UFC lightweight veteran Dustin Poirier’s retirement fight is now inked against fan-favorite Max Holloway. The duo will now trade leather at the UFC 318 PPV main event, July 19th, at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The former interim UFC 155-pound champ told SBNation Network in August that he was hell bent on ‘one last dance.’

Dustin Poirier is fresh off a gritty war and a last bid at the lightweight crown at UFC 302. The fighter wanted a ‘legends’ only fight to call it quits. ‘Blessed’ and his gritty buzzer-beating throwdown caveat ticked all the boxes. Hence, ‘The Diamond’ will defy family expectations and give it his all when meeting BMF champ Max Holloway at UFC 318.

There haven’t been many guys [for it; BMF]…Even to get mentioned or have your name in the hat to be pulled for a BMF fight, you’ve got to be a fan favorite, you’ve got to bring it every time…If I can get my hand raised again, retire with the BMF belt – I’m the BMF forever…That would be nice, get in, retire clean, and go home with no stitches for my daughter. But in true knucklehead fashion, I’m gonna stand in the middle and trade with Max, and we’re gonna bleed and put on a show for the last one.

Dustin Poirier to MMAJunkie’s Mike Bohn

The duo met twice before. The first scrap happened as featherweights at UFC 143 for Max Holloway’s first promotional fight. Poirier won the affair with a first-round submission. The duo would rematch at UFC 236 for a FOTY contender. Poirier would get a UD win and a chance to unify his lightweight hardware. From there on, both have had legendary runs with highs and lows.

Since that memorable rematch more than six years ago, both men have gone through the grinder. Both have had wins and losses in the column and got scars for it. Now, they have the unique opportunity to prove what they took from it in a legendary battle.

The significance of his retirement bout is not lost on Dustin Poirier

Poirier welcomed Max Holloway in his debut in the promotion; now, Blessed will see him out on his last dance. The third and final time they’d be in range after 4,914 days marks a historic one. It will be the longest-spanning trilogy in UFC competition.

Dustin Poirier thankful for a legendary fight coming true
Dustin Poirier thankful for a legendary fight coming true (Source: X)

The stakes of this UFC 318 PPV headliner fight are bountiful and not lost on Dustin Poirier. It’s his final one after all, in front of a home crowd. Conversely, it’s just as much on the line for Holloway as well. After a PPV title loss to Ilia Topuria last October, he went looking for a fresh start at 155 pounds. After Alexander Volkanovski, Holloway would be hard-pressed to avoid a 0-3 trilogy stat in this one.

So all in all, it’s a tough setting for both fan-favorite fighters. Dustin Poirier said he wanted Justin Gaethje or Topuria for a probable last dance. The brass opted for a “blindside” with the Holloway option, but it’s a legendary one nonetheless. With so much at stake, Poirier appreciated it all, and what it took to get the matchup made:

This is the dream, …This is the plan. I’m the one that reached out to the UFC and said I would love to retire at home. And to my surprise, they obliged and said, ‘OK, we’ll do everything we can’…People don’t understand how much goes on behind the scenes. These dates and locations are pre-planned for a long time. For them to scrap something and bring the cage to Louisiana and set it up for me to retire at home. Dude. It’s a dream come true.

Dustin Poirier further said

There is also some debate about the gimmicky “BMF” title. The BMF silver has been contested at the 155-pound mark before, making it exciting for the lightweight slot with such a talent pool in the roster. Holloway was the better for it the last time.

If Poirier could make it 3-0, that too with a definitive win and exit, he doesn’t see the BMF being contested in the foreseeable future. He sees the unique scope of becoming the legit ‘last’ BMF champ, unless something crazy transpires.

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