"The Diamond" did not go out the BMF champion, but he shined bright to the very end.
Max Holloway finally scored a victory over Dustin Poirier in the third and final bout of their series, retaining the BMF title in the main event of UFC 318 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The two took the first couple of minutes to feel the other out and gain a rhythm, throwing single shots. A right hand from Holloway caught Poirier and dropped him. Holloway looked for a quick ending, but Poirier survived the small onslaught and backed Holloway up with shots of his own. Holloway continued to get the better of Poirier in the round, but Poirier seemed to have a response to fire back with.
Poirier tried to get to a quick start in the second, as he tried to match Holloway beat-to-beat and tempo-to-tempo. Poirier landed a strong knee and right hand that seemed to do damage. Holloway, however, then troubled Poirier with an uppercut that rocked him, putting Poirier down. Holloway jumped into mount, but Poirier survived the onslaught. Poirier landed a strong combination that caught Holloway's attention in the last minute of the second round, and then knocked Holloway down with a left hand and catching him in a guillotine attempt.
The third round showed a bit of a slower pace. Holloway backed Poirier up with a notable combination; however, Poirier did some noteworthy damage to the body in the closing stages of the round, forcing Holloway back. The fourth round saw Holloway work his combinations, while Poirier troubled him with forward pressure and powerful single shots.
The fifth round was heart-stopping back-and-forth action, as the two traded single shots and combinations before the final 10 seconds, where Holloway got the better of Poirier and forced him to clinch up.
Max Holloway Retains BMF Title, Dustin Poirier Celebrated To Close Out UFC 318
Poirier's professional MMA career began in 2009, going 7-0 before a pair of fights in the WEC. Poirier then made his UFC debut on New Year's Day 2011 at UFC 125, taking on a who's who of legendary fighters that included Chan Sung-Jung, Conor McGregor, Jim Miller, Eddie Alvarez, Anthony Pettis, Justin Gaethje, and more.
Poirier, who retires from MMA at 30-10 1 (NC), won the interim UFC lightweight championship by defeating Holloway at UFC 236. Poirier's other career highlight is his pair of victories over McGregor in 2021.
Holloway becomes the first man to successfully retain the BMF title. He called out new lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, who became the first man to knock Holloway out at UFC 308.