Max Holloway vs Dustin Poirier Set UFC 318 New Orleans Final Bout

Dustin Poirier is set to retire after his final fight against Max Holloway at UFC 318, scheduled for July 19 in New Orleans, where they will compete for the BMF title. This trilogy bout marks a significant moment, as Poirier aims to break the UFC Lightweight knockout record, currently tied with Drew Dober, by defeating Holloway. Holloway, moving full-time to Lightweight after a recent loss at UFC 308, seeks to avenge his earlier defeats to Poirier, including a submission loss in his UFC debut. Despite a rocky start to their rivalry, Holloway has since become one of the most successful Featherweights, while Poirier has experienced recent setbacks but remains a formidable opponent. Backup fighter Arman Tsarukyan expressed willingness to step in for the Holloway-Poirier fight if needed, but Dana White has indicated Tsarukyan is not currently being fast-tracked to a title shot due to past issues making weight and withdrawing from a previous title bout. Betting odds show a close matchup, reflecting the high stakes and legacy implications of this final UFC showdown between two featherweight legends.