Dustin Poirier Expected to Retire After UFC 318 Trilogy Fight in New Orleans

Dustin Poirier is set for his retirement fight against Max Holloway in the UFC 318 main event on July 19 in New Orleans, with the BMF title on the line. Poirier, who has a lead of 2-0 in their trilogy, has received strong backing from former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, who predicts Poirier will be ready and win the bout. Makhachev expressed respect for Poirier, highlighting him as one of the fighters he admires, and reflected on their previous title fight where Makhachev won by submission. Meanwhile, UFC odds currently favor Dustin Poirier over other fighters like Conor McGregor for events linked to President Donald Trump, who has shown favoritism towards fighters like Jon Jones and McGregor. Additionally, Renato Moicano, after fighting Beneil Dariush, predicts that rising prospect Mauricio Ruffy would likely win a potential fight against Dariush by knockout, emphasizing the striking advantage Ruffy holds. These developments underscore the competitive landscape of UFC’s lightweight division as Poirier prepares to conclude his career on a high note.