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UFC 318: Holloway vs Poirier 3 Recap

The UFC returned to New Orleans for the first time in over a decade with UFC 318 at the Smoothie King Center on Saturday. The event was headlined by a BMF Title Fight, a highly anticipated trilogy between two legends of the sport, as reigning BMF champion Max Holloway took on Dustin Poirier in Poirier’s retirement fight.

Holloway successfully defended his BMF title, earning a clean yet hard-fought victory over Poirier. The fight was a fitting finale to their storied rivalry and a respectful send-off for Poirier’s celebrated career.

The undercard delivered several notable performances. UFC veteran Michael Johnson opened the night with a poised and tactical performance, defeating the heavily favored Daniel Zellhuber. In the following fight, Patricio Pitbull earned his first UFC win by outpacing seasoned featherweight contender Dan Ige early and holding strong to close out.

In the featured fight of the night, Daniel Rodriguez scored the biggest win of his career with a statement victory over Kevin Holland. Meanwhile, former title challenger Paulo Costa broke a nearly three-year winless streak, defeating Roman Kopylov to get back into the win column.

Max Holloway def. Dustin Poirier via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)

Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier delivered another unforgettable fight to close out UFC 318, capping off Poirier’s legendary career in dramatic fashion. In a high-level, back-and-forth fight, Holloway successfully defended his BMF title with a unanimous decision win, handing Poirier a bittersweet loss in his retirement bout in his home state of Louisiana.

The former UFC featherweight champion earned scores of 48-47 and 49-46 twice, closing out the trilogy between the two fighters. Poirier had won their previous two meetings, but this time, it was Holloway who claimed the final win.

From the opening round, both fighters brought relentless pace and pressure. Holloway dropped Poirier early, setting the tone and nearly finishing the fight in the second round. However, Poirier flipped the momentum with a knockdown of his own, stunning Holloway before jumping into his signature guillotine choke to seize control. Unfortunately for Poirier, the round ended just 15 seconds later, cutting short his opportunity to finish the fight.

Holloway bounced back in the third and fourth rounds, putting on a striking clinic. Poirier began to build momentum as the fight progressed, pushing for a comeback that likely would have required a finish based on the scorecards. Still, Holloway stayed composed and ramped up both his volume and variety, gradually taking over. Poirier remained game, landing stiff counters and pressing forward, but Holloway’s relentless pace began to overwhelm him.

In the final round, both fighters continued to trade. Holloway’s output and pressure proved decisive as he edged ahead on the scorecards. In true BMF fashion, Holloway pointed to the center of the Octagon with 10 seconds remaining, inviting Poirier to a final exchange. Poirier accepted, and the two traded bombs until the final horn.

Although Holloway earned the win and became the first fighter to successfully defend the BMF title, the moment ultimately belonged to Poirier. After the decision was read, the UFC honored him with a tribute video, and Poirier laid his gloves in the center of the Octagon, signaling the end of an iconic 16-year professional career.

While he never captured an undisputed UFC title, Poirier leaves behind a legacy few can match. Beloved for his all-action style, grit, and humility, he rose from humble beginnings to become one of the sport’s most respected and admired figures.

UFC 318: Holloway vs Poirier 3 Results

  • Max Holloway def. Dustin Poirier via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)
  • Paulo Costa def. Roman Kopylov via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
  • Daniel Rodriguez def. Kevin Holland via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Patricio Pitbull def. Dan Ige via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Michael Johnson def. Daniel Zellhuber via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Vinicius Oliveira def. Kyler Phillips via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Brendan Allen def. Marvin Vettori via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
  • Nikolay Veretennikov def. Francisco Prado via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Ateba Gautier def. Robert Valentin via first-round TKO (punches)
  • Islam Dulatov def. Adam Fugitt via first-round knockout (punches)
  • Jimmy Crute def. Marcin Prachnio via first-round submission (armbar)
  • Ryan Spann def. Lukasz Brzeski via first-round submission (guillotine choke)
  • Brunno Ferreira def. Jackson McVey via first-round submission (armbar)
  • Carli Judice def. Nicolle Caliari via first-round TKO (strikes)
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