Latest news with #UFC302
USA Today
30-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway: Odds and what to know ahead of UFC 318 main event
Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway: Odds and what to know ahead of UFC 318 main event Dustin Poirier will look to cap off his career at home at UFC 318. Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway preview Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) will face BMF champion Max Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) for a third time in what will be the final fight of his MMA career. "The Diamond" already holds two wins over Holloway – a bonus-winning submission at UFC 143, then over seven years later to claim the interim lightweight title at UFC 236. In his most recent outing, Poirier fell short in his pursuit for undisputed gold for a third time when he was submitted by lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 in June. Meanwhile, Holloway is also coming off a title loss when he was knocked out for the first time in his career by Ilia Topuria at UFC 308. Prior to that, Holloway knocked out Justin Gaethje to capture the BMF belt at UFC 300. Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway odds According to DraftKings, Poirier is a slight -115 favorite to beat BMF champion Holloway, who's a -105 underdog. How to watch Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway at UFC 318
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dustin Poirier proposes sweeping rule changes for UFC's BMF title bouts
Dustin Poirier is as old-school as they come — which is why he wouldn't mind seeing the wide-open rule set of the old PRIDE FC days come back for one night only. Poirier, who is gearing up for his final fight at UFC 318 on July 19 in New Orleans, will attempt to capture the BMF title when he faces Max Holloway in a highly anticipated trilogy bout. It will be Poirier's final MMA fight after a career spanning over 16 years, and speaking on Uncrowned's "The Ariel Helwani Show," Poirier outlined his perfect fight scenario for his Octagon swan song. Advertisement "I would totally be down with doing a 10-minute first round, if they wouldn't allow [a] one-night [tournament], five rounds each fight — or even [a] one-night tournament [with] three rounds each fight," Poirier said. "It would be too many MMA rounds in one night for a guy. I would do one long first round. Whatever we want, dude. I think it would be a cool idea. "Bring back the 10-minute first round. Love that. And also, if we do it that way, let's go really far back. Let's do a 10-minute first round, and you judge a fight as a whole. Not round-by-round. At the end of every fight, I would rather the judge say, 'Which guy would you be walking out of the Octagon?' That's what I want." The now-defunct PRIDE promotion in Japan popularized a two-round format during its existence. While the 10-minute first round and five-minute second round format is much rarer, it still exists today in Japan's RIZIN Fighting Federation if both fighters agree to it. Scoring fights as a whole and all variants of ground strikes are alive and well in Japan too, even with MMA's usual three five-minute rounds. Advertisement UFC's closest format to that PRIDE model came during its earliest days, when rules were as limited as possible. In the future, however, Poirier likes the idea of adopting something even more unique for the BMF title, and would gladly kick things off with Holloway. "Every time there's a BMF title fight, 10-minute first round," Poirier said. "Fights judged as a whole. Soccer kicks allowed. We're getting close with the hands can touch [the ground] and you can still boot somebody [in the face]." Dustin Poirier has one last war left in the tank. (Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports) (USA TODAY Sports / Reuters) Everything is set up for Poirier to have a memorable homecoming at UFC 318, whether he wins or loses. Obviously the goal is to avoid the latter and rebound from his tough title loss to UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 this past June. Advertisement The BMF title concept was initially expected to be a one-off spectacle when Jorge Masvidal fought Nate Diaz at UFC 244 in November 2019, according to UFC CEO Dana White. That changed when the promotion decided to resurrect the strap for Poirier's first attempt — a rematch against Justin Gaethje in July 2023. Unfortunately for "The Diamond," he came up short via a second-round knockout. Considering how the stars have aligned for Poirier to get a big trilogy bout sendoff at home in Louisiana, the cherry on top would be a permanent retirement of the title, making Poirier truly the last of his kind. "That would be dope, man," Poirier said. "To be the last BMF and kind of have that part in UFC history, fight history. But it's whatever, dude. I just want to get it. I've never lost two in a row. So obviously I lost my last fight to Islam — I plan to retire, keeping that same pattern."
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dustin Poirier plans Lil Wayne walkout for UFC 318 retirement fight against Max Holloway
Photo byAs Dustin Poirier prepares to make the walk one last time, the former interim lightweight champion is planning a farewell worthy of his storied career. UFC 318 , set for July 19 in New Orleans, isn't just another fight—it's the final chapter of a journey that began over a decade ago. With the BMF title on the line and Max Holloway standing across from him, Poirier wants his swan song to reflect where he came from and who he is. And nothing says that better than a walkout alongside Louisiana's own hip-hop icon, Lil Wayne . Dustin Poirier set for his final fight at UFC 318 in New Orleans Dustin Poirier's third bout with Holloway is a symbolic one. He handed 'Blessed' his first UFC loss back in 2013 and defeated him again in 2019 to capture interim gold in an unforgettable five-round battle. Now, in his home state, Poirier will face Holloway one final time, completing a trilogy that mirrors his own evolution as a fighter. 'This is special. I fought Max in his UFC debut. Now he'll be my last opponent. It's all come full circle,' Poirier shared on The Ariel Helwani Show. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo While fans have grown to love Poirier's long-time walkout anthem—James Brown's 'The Boss'—the Lafayette native is ready to mix things up for his final walk to the Octagon. After his hard-fought title clash with Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 last year, Poirier made his walk to the Octagon with a powerful mashup featuring Willie Spence's rendition of Rihanna's 'Diamonds' blended with his longtime anthem, 'The Boss' by James Brown. He considered bringing it back—until a new idea sparked. 'My first fight in the UFC, when I fought Josh Grispi, I walked out to Lil Wayne,' Poirier shared. 'So, if he does 'Drop The World', I'll come out to him in my last fight.' Poirier, who once appeared on Lil Wayne's podcast, hasn't reached out yet—but the invite is out in the open. 'If he sees this, hit me up Wayne,' he added. Also Read: Eddie Hall's MMA debut ends in 30-second knockout: Mariusz Pudzianowski reacts to controversy For Dustin Poirier, UFC 318 is more than a fight—it's a celebration of legacy, culture, and roots. A final walk out with Lil Wayne would not only bring his UFC journey full-circle but give Louisiana fans a retirement moment they'll never forget. Whether or not the stars align, 'The Diamond' is ready to shine one last time.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dustin Poirier 'blown away' by UFC retirement fight setup: 'I didn't think they would entertain that idea'
Dustin Poirier got his wish for one final dance in his home of Louisiana at UFC 318. (Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) Dustin Poirier has a unique chance to write a rare MMA storybook ending. UFC made Poirier's final fight official this past week when it announced that "The Diamond" will meet Max Holloway inside the Octagon for the third time. With Holloway's symbolic BMF title on the line, the legendary duo will headline UFC 318 with a lightweight affair on July 19 in Poirier's home state of Louisiana, as the promotion heads to New Orleans' Smoothie King Center. Advertisement Poirier, 36, contemplated retirement ahead of his most recent fight — a fifth-round title loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 this past June. Ultimately, however, Poirier wanted to go into his final sendoff with a clear mind. He'll do so this summer in the UFC's first Louisiana-hosted card since June 2015. "I came short of another title fight," Poirier said on Monday on Uncrowned's "The Ariel Helwani Show." "I'm never going to get another title fight. I'd have to win 10 in a row, probably, to get another one, and I don't think I have it in me to go through what it takes to get another one. I've been doing this a long time. "I was like, 'You know what? I gotta do this right. Go out with a big one.' I still have it in me to fight. It's just chasing that title and climbing back up the ladder once again — I'm getting old, my body hurts. I can't train like I used to, but I can still scrap. "I just want to have a great fight and go out on my terms," he continued, "and when I brought it to the UFC's attention that I wanted to do it in Louisiana, if possible, and they entertained that, I was kind of blown away. I didn't think they would entertain that idea. It's just an honor. I'm thankful the company listened." Despite falling short for the third time in his pursuit of the undisputed UFC title, Poirier put up a valiant effort against Makhachev at UFC 302, proving he's still as elite as they come at 155 pounds. Advertisement Before ever settling on another Holloway encounter for his swan song, Poirier threw out the idea of a Louisiana homecoming to the UFC on multiple occasions. It wouldn't have been a deal-breaker if it hadn't happened, especially considering how he performed against Makhachev, but it certainly worked out perfectly for "The Diamond." "I probably would have still fought somewhere [else], but just the fact that it all lined up is great for me, and my family and people who don't get to travel the world and come to all these crazy fights I've been in," Poirier said. "But I probably still would have done just one more because I don't want to leave the Octagon like I did in the Islam fight, where I'm kind of second-guessing everything. I want to be sure of it. Walk into the arena knowing this is my last time I'm ever going to feel this. "That being said, this whole camp, fight week, everything I'm going to do coming up in these next two months, I'm going to just try to embrace. This is the last time I'm ever going to be put in this position, and feel these nerves, and get to walk out of an arena and fight another man. And what a legend — when they gave me Max Holloway — to be standing across from. I said legends only, and he's definitely all of that." Poirier has been a consistent entertainer for nearly 15 years as a professional with his violently artistic variety of pugilism. Regardless of the opponent, he's been a must-see competitor since he showed up on the WEC (World Extreme Cagefighting) radar at featherweight more than a decade ago. Advertisement It wasn't long after that Poirier welcomed Holloway to the UFC on short notice, battering the young Hawaiian en route to a first-round triangle-armbar victory at UFC 143 in 2012. Their rematch came years later at UFC 236 in 2019, when Poirier once again halted the then-featherweight champ's momentum, winning a unanimous decision in one of the year's best bouts. Following Holloway's recent featherweight title fight loss to the now-former champion Ilia Topuria in October, he declared intentions to make a permanent move to lightweight. Yet from Poirier's perspective, a "Blessed" trilogy never even came to mind. Advertisement "That wasn't even a name I mentioned to them when we started talking about this fight coming together," Poirier said of Holloway. "Topuria, [Justin] Gaethje — I thought me and Gaethje could close the trilogy, maybe. But this has been going on so long, Gaethje was matched up with Dan Hooker [for UFC 313] at the time this really started taking place, so he wasn't an option at the time." The Gaethje idea was initially enticing for Poirier. For Poirier's first crack at the BMF strap, he and Gaethje rematched in July 2023 after Poirier previously knocked out "The Highlight" in April 2018. Between Gaethje or Holloway as his main trilogy options, anyone complaining about either as a sendoff for Poirier would be purely anti-fun — or just a concerned relative, according to Poirier. "That's tough looking back," Poirier said of who his top choice would've been for his retirement fight. "I known about Max for a little while now, so I've kind of been sitting on that. Max is great. I was his first fight in the UFC, he [will be] my last. Like I said in my fight with Benoit Saint Denis — bro, this is the nature of the beast. Guys get old, young guys come in. It's just cool that a full-circle moment like this between Max and I [can happen]. Fought at the beginning of his career, the middle of his run, and now fighting at the end of my career — it's kind of cool. But closing the trilogy out with Gaethje means something to me too. Dustin Poirier hopes his performance over Benoit Saint Denis won't be the final win of his legendary career. (Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports) (USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect / Reuters) "Thinking about what [Gaethje] said in [a recent] interview, how our families don't deserve this — anytime me and this guy fight, it's going to be a head-on collision. Somebody's getting hurt or both of us are getting hurt. We could fight 100 times — that's 100 hospital trips, for sure. So, [I'm] not saying the Max fight won't be a war, because the last one definitely was, but Gaethje said he was OK closing this thing out 1-1, and the more I'm removed from that fight being an option, the more I'm OK with it too." Advertisement The UFC's BMF concept is always fun for the fighters involved, more than anything. For Poirier, it's also extra incentive if the entire setup for his final walk wasn't enough. Poirier said it was all the UFC's idea, and from a business perspective, it made sense to magnify the moment as a main event. So what happens if Poirier pulls off the dream victory in stellar fashion? He isn't concerned about changing his mind. Poirier knows what awaits him after fighting and looks forward to it. "I plan to win and look good doing it," Poirier said. "This is it. When I lay the gloves down, I'm done fighting. I have to come to terms with that. I think it's going to be pretty tough, but I'm still on the way to that fight, so it's not there yet. I'm not dealing with those emotions yet. I have a long camp ahead of me. Max is a tough, tough fight. It's going to be a lot of emotional ups and downs after this one. Advertisement "I just want to be healthy and a father and a husband, and be home more. Staying busy. Being the daddest man on the planet, you know? That's what I want to do. "I'm always doing something," he added. "I've got a lot of businesses going on outside of fighting, but nothing is going to keep me busy like fighting does. Nothing is going to fill that void like fighting. I'm going to try to find something. Hopefully I don't go crazy."
Forbes
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Dustin Poirier To End Career Vs. Max Holloway At UFC 318 New Orleans
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 01: Dustin Poirier warms up prior to his fight during the UFC 302 event at ... More Prudential Center on June 01, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) Dustin Poirier will close out his UFC career in a main event matchup against Max Holloway at UFC 318. Holloway's BMF title will be on the line in the lightweight matchup, which marks the third meeting between the two future UFC Hall of Famers. UFC 318 takes place on July 19 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Poirier announced the fight on a recent episode of the 'The Pat McAfee Show.' "It's going to be my final fight," Poirier said. "I'm going to lay the gloves down in Louisiana where it all started for me. The whole journey started there, and I'm just honored to have the UFC on the same page and the state of Louisiana on the same page to make all this work. I didn't know if it was going to all come together, but it did." Poirier (30-9-0-1) and Holloway (26-8) have met twice before inside the Octagon. Poirier joined the UFC in 2011 with an 8-1 record. Holloway first fought for the promotion in early 2012, facing Poirier in his first UFC fight. Poirier won that contest via submission in the first round. In their second meeting, which took place in August 2019, Poirier earned a five-round unanimous decision (49-46) win over Holloway to take home the interim UFC lightweight title at UFC 236. The victory ended Holloway's 13-fight winning streak. "This has been a long time in the works, getting Louisiana on board, getting the UFC to even think about coming back to Louisiana," Poirier told MMA Junkie after the fight was made official. "It's happening. I'm super excited. There's nobody else I would rather be standing across from when I lay the gloves down, or when I go into my final fight. Max is a legend. I've got so much respect for the guy. He's done it all right. I was his first fight in the UFC, and he's going to be my last." The BMF title will be on the line in the matchup. Holloway secured the ceremonial title in April 2024 with a memorable last second knockout win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300. The fight marks Poirier's second attempt to win the BMF crown. He fell short in July 2023, losing to Gaethje via knockout at UFC 291. Poirier has alternated wins and losses over his past six fights. He is coming off a June 2024 submission loss to Islam Makhachev in a bout for Makhachev's UFC lightweight title. Holloway, a former UFC featherweight champ, saw his three-fight winning streak end in his most recent scrap, a third-round knockout loss to UFC lightweight champ Ilia Topuria at UFC 308 in October 2024. The loss was Holloway's first career KO setback. Poirier is happy to once again be competing for the BMF belt. "There haven't been many guys (to fight for it)," Poirier said. "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. You have to be in that criteria of fighters cut from that cloth. That never-say-die cloth. Max is that. I am that. It's amazing. If I can get my hand raised again, retire with the BMF belt – I'm the BMF forever. "If I can get my hand raised and be the last BMF champion and ride off into the sunset and retire, hey, that's forever. I don't think they would ever do it again unless something crazy happened. That would be dope." As for fighting close to his hometown of Lafayette in his final bout, Poirier couldn't be more satisfied with how the timing worked in his favor. This is the dream," Poirier said. "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 to make it happen.' It's amazing when a company works with you like that and has respect for you enough to try to put things in motion because so many things in their schedule is booked up for like the whole year previously. "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." We will have more on the UFC 318 fight card and Holloway vs. Poirier 3 as fight night approaches.
