Max Holloway Retains UFC BMF Title, Dustin Poirier Retires After Trilogy Loss

At UFC 318, Max Holloway defeated Dustin Poirier by unanimous decision in a thrilling five-round fight, marking Poirier's retirement from MMA. The bout was intense, with both fighters scoring knockdowns; Holloway retained the BMF title by landing significantly more strikes and controlling much of the fight. Poirier, fighting in his home state of Louisiana, expressed that he believed the fight was closer than the judges' scorecards indicated and was proud to end his career on his own terms with a competitive war. Holloway, who had lost his previous two fights against Poirier, finally secured his first victory over the lightweight legend and moved closer to a lightweight title shot. The event also featured Paulo Costa returning to winning form with a unanimous decision over Roman Kopylov. Poirier thanked fans emotionally as he left the octagon for the final time, reflecting on his impactful career and legacy.