Holloway: Poirier Retirement & Title Pursuit
Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier are set to clash at UFC 318, a fight brimming with lightweight title implications and Poirier’s potential retirement looming large. Holloway, currently dominating the featherweight division, eyes a coveted lightweight title shot, making this bout a critical step forward. Explore the history between these two elite fighters and the records Holloway holds. This article from News Directory 3 delves into Holloway’s impressive career stats, including his wins, finishes, and knockouts, plus his previous title defenses. Discover how their previous encounters shape the narrative, with Poirier having won both prior fights. With Poirier ranked No. 5 in the lightweight division, every strike and move will be crucial. Discover what’s next …
holloway vs. Poirier Set for UFC 318 Showdown
Updated June 17, 2025
Max Holloway is set to face Dustin Poirier in the main event at UFC 318. while much attention surrounds poirier’s potential retirement, Holloway views this fight as a crucial step toward a UFC lightweight title opportunity.
Holloway, currently the No. 1 ranked UFC featherweight and No. 4 at 155 pounds, acknowledges Poirier’s status but remains focused on his own aspirations in the lightweight division. He also holds the No. 12 spot in the pound-for-pound rankings.
Poirier, ranked No. 5 in the UFC lightweight division, secured the interim lightweight title in April 2019 wiht a win over Holloway. He later lost a title unification bout to Khabib Nurmagomedov in September 2019.
The 36-year-old Poirier is 2-2 in his last four fights, with wins over Michael Chandler and Benoit Saint Denis.His losses include a BMF title fight against Justin Gaethje and a UFC lightweight title match against Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 in June 2024.
Holloway’s featherweight career boasts numerous UFC records, including wins (20), finishes (11), and knockouts (9). He also holds records for the longest win streak (13), total fight time (6:58:57), and significant strikes landed (2,971).
Holloway’s reign as UFC featherweight champion began in June 2017 with a TKO victory over Jose Aldo. He defended the title against Aldo, Brian Ortega, and Frankie Edgar before losing to Alexander Volkanovski in december 2019.
Holloway is 26-8 overall as joining the UFC in 2012.
Holloway and Poirier have met twice before. Poirier won their first encounter in February 2012 at UFC 143 via submission. Their second fight, for the interim UFC lightweight title at UFC 236 in April 2019, also went to Poirier.
What’s next
As UFC 318 approaches, the anticipation builds for the third clash between Holloway and Poirier, with significant implications for the lightweight title picture.