Poirier Faces Holloway For BMF Title At UFC 318 New Orleans

UFC 318 is scheduled for July 19, 2025, at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, headlined by the trilogy fight between Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier, who will defend his BMF title in what is Poirier's retirement bout. Holloway, moving back to lightweight, aims to spoil Poirier’s retirement plans and highlight the division, while the fight itself is a major draw given their storied history and Poirier’s legacy. The co-main event features Dan Ige versus Patricio Pitbull, though Pitbull's recent UFC debut and form have raised concerns among fans. The main card has been criticized for lacking star power, featuring only five ranked fighters with several lesser-known competitors, leading to fan dissatisfaction over the $80 pay-per-view price. Other notable fights include Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov, and Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber. Despite the underwhelming supporting card, the event garners significant attention due to Poirier’s farewell and the marquee main event.