UFC 318: Dustin Poirier Announces Retirement Fight, The Diamond Set For Final Walk With Max Holloway Trilogy

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Former UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier is set to retire from the sport following his trilogy fight with fellow veteran Max Holloway in the headliner of UFC 318, which takes place at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on July 19.

The 36-year-old Poirier announced on Friday (April 25) during The Pat McAfee Show that he will make his final walk to the Octagon when he faces hometown favourite Holloway for his BMF championship belt rounding off a trilogy matchup built on over a decade of shared history.

"There's not a better guy I could think to fight in my retirement fight. He's a legend, former [undisputed] champion, current BMF champion, so we're going to put on another war," Poirier told Pat McAfee to officially announce the fight for the July event.

While the fight signals the end of Poirier's MMA career, this upcoming bout signifies a significant shift for Max Holloway, as he embarks on a permanent journey into the lightweight division.

Securing a victory against a seasoned competitor like Dustin Poirier would instantly establish the former featherweight champion as a force to be reckoned with in the 155-pound landscape.

Their history dates back over a decade, to UFC 143, where a young, 20-year-old Holloway stepped into the Octagon for his UFC debut. On that night, Poirier, a promising featherweight at the time, defeated the Hawaiian with a first-round triangle armbar, marking his fourth consecutive UFC win.

Seven years later, their paths crossed again, this time with the interim lightweight title hanging in the balance. Holloway entered the contest as the reigning featherweight king, having recently defended his title against José Aldo and Brian Ortega.

After a grueling five-round affair, Poirier emerged victorious, capturing interim UFC gold and setting the stage for a fight against UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Now, their rivalry culminates in a highly anticipated trilogy fight for the BMF title. Holloway claimed the belt in spectacular fashion at UFC 300, delivering one of the most memorable knockouts in UFC history.

Despite potentially leading on the scorecards, Holloway took a risk in the final seconds, unleashing a right hand that knocked out Justin Gaethje just before the final bell. Each time these warriors enter the cage, they leave everything they have inside, and their main event clash at UFC 318 on July 19 at the Smoothie King Center promises to be no different.