Holloway vs Poirier Prediction
🔥 Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier will have his farewell fight at UFC 318 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. His opponent will once again be former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway, who currently holds the BMF title. This matchup marks the third head-to-head encounter for these American fighters.
Their first bout took place in February 2012, where Dustin claimed victory with a submission in the first round. In April 2019, they faced off again in a rematch, with Poirier emerging victorious once more, this time by unanimous decision. Who will come out on top in their third meeting? Find out in the prediction from the Scores24 editorial team.
H2H Stats Fights and Previous Results
Max Holloway Player Overview
Holloway is a fan favorite in the UFC. He has been a champion in the world's premier league, defended his title, and never strayed from his principles: engaging in wild brawls and accepting any challenge. "Blessed" holds 13 bonuses in the UFC, is the record holder for knockouts in the featherweight division, and has landed the most strikes in the promotion's history.
Throughout his professional career, Max has fought 34 times. The 33-year-old American fighter boasts 26 wins against eight losses. In his last four bouts, he secured three victories. Holloway last stepped into the octagon in October 2024 at UFC 308, where he faced Ilia Topuria for the 66 kg title. However, he was knocked out in the third round. Following this, "Blessed" announced his move to the 70 kg division.
Match Results: Max Holloway
Dustin Poirier Player Overview
Before the event in New Orleans, UFC President Dana White included Poirier among the greatest fighters in the sport's history. Many might agree with this statement. There's no denying that Dustin is an absolute MMA legend. He's a former interim UFC lightweight champion and has earned 10 UFC "Fight of the Night" bonuses and 4 "Performance of the Night" bonuses. Over his 16-year career, the American has fought a total of 40 bouts, securing 30 wins and suffering 9 losses (one fight was declared a no contest). The "Diamond's" fighting style captivates fans. He always puts on a show: consistently engaging in striking exchanges, trading blows, and showing no fear of being knocked out.
In his last five fights, the 36-year-old Dustin has secured two victories. His most recent appearance in the octagon was in June 2024 at UFC 302. His opponent was Islam Makhachev, who held the lightweight title at that time. Poirier suffered a defeat to the Russian by submission in the fifth round.
Match Results: Dustin Poirier
Latest news
Max Holloway
Max Holloway on the upcoming fight:
"I already have a 0-3 record in one trilogy (against Alexander Volkanovski). I don't want to be the guy with that record in two trilogies. That's the main thing on my mind before the fight with Poirier. Holding the BMF title is as cool as making history. But I'm focused on having the referee raise my hand in the fight against Dustin. Of course, Poirier is a beast and a true legend. I know this is his last dance. However, I need to beat him."
Dustin Poirier
Dustin Poirier on the upcoming fight:
"I really want to savor the moment, to be in the moment. This will be my last chance to experience all these emotions: the pre-fight jitters, the walk to the octagon. It won't happen again in the future. That's why I want to put on a real show, to go out in style. Let this be the fight of the year. And I'm prepared for the fact that I might need stitches."
Editor's Prediction
This is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing matchups of the year. A highly motivated Dustin, stepping into the octagon for his farewell fight in front of a home crowd, faces Max, who is eager to finally defeat "The Diamond" and make a serious claim in the lightweight title race. Who will come out on top?
In terms of skills and technique, these two are evenly matched, and it's likely the bout will be decided in the stand-up game. Whoever outstrikes the other will prevail. We're leaning towards Poirier for several reasons: first, he's already defeated Holloway twice; second, Max has historically struggled with rematches and trilogies; and third, the mental edge seems to be with "The Diamond." In his last fight, Poirier put up a close contest against one of the best fighters currently, Islam Makhachev, while Holloway suffered his first career knockout. It's a big question mark how Max will respond after that setback...
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