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Miami Herald
a day ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Crowd will be behind retiring Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway at UFC 318
UFC 318 will culminate with the trilogy fight between Max Holloway and the retiring Dustin Poirier for Holloway's 'BMF' title on Saturday in New Orleans. Holloway (26-8 MMA) and Poirier (30-9, 1 NC) previously fought in 2012 and 2019, with Poirier winning both fights. The most recent meeting saw Poirier win a unanimous decision for the UFC interim lightweight championship in one of the promotion's most talked-about fights. Shifting to the trilogy fight, it's Poirier's final UFC fight, and the Smoothie King Center will play host to the festivities. It is Poirier's first fight in his home state in a decade, which means a great deal to the 36-year-old. 'If you chase your dreams, anything is possible,' Poirier said. Poirier confirmed rapper and New Orleans icon Lil Wayne will be part of his entrance for the fight, revealing that with a win, he wants Wayne to be part of the belt presentation ceremony. Holloway, despite being from Hawaii, wants the same treatment. Holloway showed mutual respect toward his rival but said he is embracing the role of fighting in enemy territory. 'It's gonna be a fun one, man,' Holloway said. 'It's gonna be a fun one. It's his last dance ... Bring out more of the boos, please. That's what I like to hear.' Holloway has held the symbolic 'BMF' title since UFC 300, when he knocked out Justin Gaethje. Neither fighter offered an exact prediction for the fight, but did say that they hope to put on one of the best fights in recent memory, similar to their April 2019 encounter. Nevertheless, Holloway-Poirier 3 tops a 14-fight card with main card festivities getting underway on ESPN+ pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Main card (Start time 10 p.m. ET, ESPN+ PPV) --Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier, lightweight -- Holloway's 'BMF' title --Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov, middleweight --Kevin Holland vs. Daniel Rodriguez, welterweight --Dan Ige vs. Patricio Pitbull, featherweight --Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber, lightweight Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ilia Topuria fires back at Max Holloway's BMF title criticism: 'I put you to sleep'
Ilia Topuria is unbothered by Max Holloway's verbal jabs over his continuous flaunting of an inauthentic BMF title. Holloway (27-8 MMA, 23-8 UFC) captured the BMF strap at UFC 300 in April 2024 when he scored a last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje. His next fight came against Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) at UFC 308 in October, but the BMF belt was not on the line, and therefor Holloway technically kept it despite being stopped by strikes. It was back up for grabs this past weekend when Holloway defeated Dustin Poirier by unanimous decision in the UFC 318 main event, and afterward "Blessed" dissed for Topuria to keep trotting around the non-legitimate version of the silver title. That doesn't bother Topuria one bit, he said, because even if Holloway or the UFC doesn't recognize it as official, he's certain that the only BMF around is himself. "That's not my problem," Topuria told the Nelk Boys. "I just knocked him out. How can you still be the BMF if I knocked you out? I pointed to the ground in the first 10 seconds. You ran away. Then I caught you anyways and I put you to sleep. And you're still the BMF? How's that?" Holloway has made it clear he wants revenge on now-lightweight champion Topuria in the form of a rematch. UFC CEO Dana White expressed interest in possibly running it back with the BMF officially at stake, but he did not commit to Holloway being next. Topuria said he does not have any confirmation about his next opponent, but Holloway, Justin Gaethje, Arman Tsarukyan and Paddy Pimblett have all made the argument to having a case. "I think they are going to try to push for Justin," Topuria said. "That's what I think. Or maybe Paddy. There's not even a conversation about Arman. ... He needs to fight."
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Justin Gaethje 'going to be upset' if UFC offers Paddy Pimblett, not Ilia Topuria
Justin Gaethje said he will have some serious decisions to make if he's left out of the UFC lightweight title picture and pushed toward Paddy Pimblett next. Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) is stumping hard to be the next to challenge newly crowned 155-pound titleholder Ilia Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) next and "El Matador" knocked out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June to capture the vacant belt. With three wins in his past four fights, with the lone exception being his famous knockout loss to Max Holloway in their BMF title fight at UFC 300, Gaethje thinks his track record and reliability makes him the top candidate for Topuria's first title defense. Gaethje acknowledges that Holloway, who just beat Dustin Poirier at UFC 318 this past Saturday, and Arman Tsarukyan should also be in the running. However, he thinks he should be the selection. "I've been talking a lot, saying what I feel I deserve, what I want – but ultimately I think it's such a timing thing when it comes down to who is going to fight Ilia next," Gaethje told ESPN. "I think I'm one of three, with Max having a big win. It's me, Arman or Max I would assume that has to fight him, if he's going to fight this year. If he's not going to fight this year then who knows what's going to happen. But for me, I've said my piece and now I need to train and work out and all these guys are really good. "I hope it's Ilia, I hope it's November and I hope it's in Madison Square Garden. That's what I'm planning for and trying to speak into existence, but you never know with the UFC and I can only worry about what I can control, and that's how ready I'll be for my next fight." Following Topuria's win over Oliveira at UFC 317, he was passive about the idea of facing Gaethje next and noted it would be unfair matchmaking. Prior to the event, Topuria said a logical title eliminator would be Gaethje against Paddy Pimblett, and Pimblett (23-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) agreed with that notion. But then he beat Oliveira and Pimblett was brought into the octagon for a faceoff with Topuria, putting momentum between those two longtime rivals. Although UFC CEO Dana White said afterward that Pimblett entering the octagon for the staredown was a promotional misstep, he didn't articulate any clear plans for Topuria's first defense. Gaethje, 36, said if the UFC goes another direction with Topuria and then tries to book him against Pimblett, he might have to reconsider his place in the organization. "Absolutely not (fighting Pimblett)," Gaethje said. "If that's the route that they want me to take, then I don't believe that they need me anymore. I know that sounds petty or whatever, but I'm No. 3, I'm 3-1 in my last four, the champion (Islam Makhachev) was calling to fight me and he vacated. They bring a new guy in and give a guy who is 2-2 the fight. If their algorithm and their match tells them to just use me until I get beat, then I'm going to have to really reevaluate what I'm doing here. "I've signed up for a merit-based system. I have lived by that. If they want to give Arman, which Arman had the fight, then I had the fight and I took someone else. He had the fight and pulled out. Those are two different scenarios. For me to get put in the same position and fight for my spot, then I'm going to be upset about that." Ultimately, Gaethje said he's one to focus on the positive. He is thinking about the ideal outcome for his own career, and that would be getting the title shot against Topuria before the 2025 calendar closes out, then go into 2026 with the desire to rematch Holloway at the UFC White House card and cap his own career in epic fashion. Best case scenario, best chapter of my book, if it happens I will believe this is a simulation, but I beat Topuria this year, defend it against Holloway on the White House lawn, then retire with the BMF and the championship belts," Gaethje said. "There's no better way for me to write it. But I'm a little bias."
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Dana White sees Max Holloway in 'great position,' open to Ilia Topuria rematch
Max Holloway is not out of the title picture. NEW ORLEANS – Max Holloway's future is looking promising, and it's got the backing of UFC CEO Dana White. Holloway (27-8 MMA, 23-8 UFC) defended his "Baddest Motherf*cker" title this past Saturday in the main event of UFC 318. He did so by handing veteran Dustin Poirier (30-10 MMA, 22-9 UFC) a unanimous decision defeat for his retirement fight in his home state of Louisiana. In his successful return to lightweight, Holloway was able to bounce back from his KO loss in his UFC featherweight title fight against Ilia Topuria, who has since vacated the belt and is now champion at 155 pounds. Some would think that Holloway is in a bad spot, having recently lost to Topuria. However, White thinks otherwise. "I think he's in a great position right now," White said at the UFC 318 post-fight press conference. "He just defended that BMF title, he's ranked No. 4 there. Anything is possible for Max right now." When asked directly about a potential rematch with Topuria, and this time with the BMF belt up for grabs too, White seemed keen on the idea. Holloway finds himself 4-1 in his past five performances. The defeat to Topuria was the first time he was knocked out in his career. The Hawaiian won the BMF belt by knocking out Justin Gaethje back at UFC 300 in 2024, and became the first person to successfully defend the title this past Saturday. Meanwhile, Topuria claims to be the BMF champion along with his UFC lightweight belt. He owns an unofficial BMF title and has been seen in many photos and videos with it ever since he stopped Holloway. The bout between Topuria and Holloway last October was exclusively for the UFC featherweight title, Holloway's BMF belt was not officially on the line.
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier UFC 318 Odds, Best Bets: Holloway Favored
Dustin Poirier is the slight betting underdog tonight vs. Max Holloway in the final fight of Poirier's career. Dustin Poirier is the slight betting underdog tonight vs. Max Holloway in the final fight of Poirier's career. Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. In the headliner of UFC 318 tonight at Smoothie King Center In New Orleans, Louisiana, Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway will clash in a must-see bout marking the final fight of 36-year-old Poirier's career. Lafayette, Louisiana, native Poirier and Holloway have met twice previously, with Poirier submitting Holloway back in 2012 at featherweight. Poirier also beat Holloway (this time by unanimous decision) at lightweight in 2019. Tonight, the two meet at lightweight for the UFC's BMF belt in the most high-profile fight of an intriguing card. Below, we'll dive into the Poirier vs. Holloway betting odds, then give a prediction and a few best bets. Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier Betting Odds Below are the moneyline odds for Saturday night's fight. DK FD bet365 Max Holloway -135 -134 -138 Dustin Poirier +114 +114 +110 Holloway, 33, is the slight favorite in a battle between two of the winningest fighters in UFC history. It's interesting -- and tempting -- that Poirier is available at plus-money despite winning the previous two meetings between these two. Another reason to like Poirier is the raucous support he'll have on his home turf in Louisiana in his swan song. Both these fighters have notched a number of impressive victories throughout their long careers. From Holloway's unforgettable "KO of the century" vs. Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 last year to Poirier's knockout of Conor McGregor in 2021, tonight's main event features two men responsible for a slew of memorable moments over the years. Though both Poirier and Holloway are elite strikers who pack plenty of knockout power, tonight's matchup is expected to go the distance. At DraftKings, over 4.5 rounds is priced at -154, with under 4.5 rounds listed at +120. At FanDuel, in the "Will the Fight Go the Distance?" market, yes is listed at -132, and no is +104. UFC 318 Holloway vs. Poirier Pick, Best Bets When two fighters have met multiple times and the one who has lost both of the previous matchups is favored, figuring out the best bets is always tricky. Between the home crowd and his comfort level at his usual lightweight class (Holloway is up from his usual featherweight), Poirier has a few undeniable advantages. The price on "Will the Fight Go the Distance -- yes" isn't exactly irresistible, but I don't see either Hollloway or Poirier recording a knockout or winning this one by submission. With that in mind, the safe play here is on the fight to go the distance. And it's worth noting that the FD price is excellent considering the same play is listed at -150 or shorter at both DK and bet365. As for the winner, I'm going with the sentimental favorite, Poirier, who has twice gotten the better of his opponent in this matchup. Another reason to like Poirier tonight is that Holloway is coming off the first loss via knockout of his career in his clash with Ilia Topuria at UFC 308 last October. Keep in mind, though, that Poirier has lost two of his last three fights, including a loss by submission to Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 last June. Best bets: Will the fight go the distance? -- Yes (-132 at FanDuel) -- 1 unit Dustin Poirier moneyline (+114 available at FD, DK) -- 0.75 units Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. See the sportsbook operator's terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
