Dustin Poirier has finally got his last dance in the UFC lined up. The former Interim Lightweight Champion’s been talking about retiring from MMA for several years now, making up his mind that fight #41 will be his last. Poirier’s retirement admission followed his third unsuccessful title challenge to Islam Makhachev, a hard-fought submission loss at UFC 302 last summer. Considered one of the UFC’s all-time fan-favorites for his tenacious fighting style and grit, Lafayette’s Poirier asked the promotion for a ‘legends only’ home game in Louisiana for his final walk to the Octagon. After many months of waiting patiently, Poirier eventually had his wish granted.
More than a year removed from his title fight with Makhachev, Poirier is officially set to return against an old rival, former UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway at lightweight. Though, it’s no ordinary lightweight bout with Holloway’s BMF title on the line in the main event of UFC 318 on July 19th. UFC 318 is set to go down from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, the UFC’s first visit to New Orleans since 2015.
Poirier and Holloway have fought twice before with Poirier winning both fights. ‘The Diamond’ spoiled a 20-year-old Holloway’s UFC debut back at UFC 143 in 2012, submitting the Hawaiian with a triangle armbar. Holloway put up a much better fight when he was featherweight champion, taking on the lightweight Poirier in a short-notice rematch at UFC 236 in 2019. Poirier nonetheless largely outgunned Holloway across five rounds, bloodying his opponent to win the interim title by unanimous decision.
Holloway’s 1-3 in his last four fights, most recently losing a featherweight title fight to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308 in October where Holloway was knocked out for the first time in his 34-fight career. As for Poirier, the UFC veteran exchanged wins and losses in recent years with the best in the world, with his last win a KO of Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299 in March 2024.
Prior to signing the dotted line at UFC 318, Poirier says he spoke to the UFC brass about other opponents for his retirement fight, one of which was his violent lightweight counterpart Justin Gaethje. “I was asking Hunter [Campbell] for Gaethje,” Poirier told MMA Junkie of his conversation with the UFC chief business officer. “Because we’re 1-1 I wanted to close out that trilogy,” Poirier continued. “For some reason they really wanted this fight. That’s cool because I respect [Max] for my last fight.”
Gaethje and Poirier are one knockout apiece, Poirier having won their first fight in 2018 by KO before Gaethje knocked Poirier out with a headkick in their rematch for the BMF title in 2023. Apparently, Justin Gaethje wasn’t the only name on Poirier’s wishlist. The 36-year-old added in his conversation with MMA Junkie: “When [Ilia Topuria] said he was going to 155, I texted the UFC and said ‘Hey, let me know what’s going on with this guy’. But they never entertained it, they told me it’s not happening and they wanted Max.”
Ilia Topuria relinquished his featherweight title earlier this year for a move to lightweight, insisting he’d only fight for the title and nobody else. That seems to be the case as Topuria has begun training camp for what many believe to be his next opponent lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
In a professional sports moment that promises to be just as emotional as it will be electric, Lafayette’s own Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier has announced that he will fight Max “Blessed” Holloway in a highly anticipated trilogy bout at UFC 318 on July 19—and it’s happening right here in New Orleans. Poirier made the announcement live on the Pat McAfee Show while appearing with the New Orleans Saints during NFL Draft festivities in Green Bay. The fight will serve as the main event for the BMF (Baddest Motherf***) title, and according to Dustin himself, it will be the final fight of his legendary MMA career.
Few professional athletes get to call their shot when it comes to their final act, but Poirier—a former interim lightweight champion and fan favorite—has earned the right to close this chapter on his own terms, in front of his people. The announcement has already sparked a frenzy among fans across Louisiana. Hotels in New Orleans will fill up fast, and locals are flocking to UFC.com/NewOrleans to register for presale ticket access and updates.
Poirier and Holloway are 1-1 in their career matchups. Their final meeting, with the BMF title on the line, will not only decide bragging rights but mark the final Octagon walk for a fighter whose journey began on the streets of Lafayette and rose to international fame.
From gyms in the Lafayette area to Madison Square Garden, Dustin Poirier has represented Louisiana with resilience, heart, and class. His final fight being hosted in the Big Easy is more than just a match—it’s a tribute to the state and the fans who have supported him since day one. UFC 318 will be one for the books. Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway III. The BMF title. The final dance. The Diamond's goodbye. Let’s send him off the only way Louisiana knows how—loud, proud, and paid in full.
During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show Friday morning at the 2025 NFL Draft, “The Diamond” Dustin Poirier announced that the UFC will return to New Orleans for his last fight. UFC will take over the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Saturday, July 19th for UFC 318. The event will be headlined by Poirier’s final trip to the octagon to take on Max Holloway in a 5-round BMF title bout. This will be the first time the UFC has held a pay-per-view in the bayou state since 2015.
This will be the third time Poirier and Holloway have faced off in the UFC, including an Interim Lightweight Championship fight in 2019 which Poirier won by unanimous decision. Poirier commented on his final dance partner. “There’s not a better guy I could think to fight in my retirement fight,” Poirier expressed to Pat McAfee. “He’s a legend, former [undisputed] champion, current BMF champion, so we’re going to put on another war.”
For those interested in Poirier’s final fighting highlights, you can register for presale tickets here.
