Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway will meet in a long-awaited trilogy fight later tonight (Sat., July 19, 2025) at UFC 318 live on ESPN+ pay-per-view (PPV) from inside Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, La., but will the outcome be any different?
Poirier, who is set to retire from mixed martial arts (MMA) following the conclusion of Saturday’s main event, has beat Holloway both times they have fought. The first time was for Holloway’s UFC debut back in 2012, which remains the only submission loss
in the career of “Blessed.” The second time was a meeting back in 2019 for the interim UFC lightweight title, which Poirier ended up winning via unanimous decision. He ended Holloway’s 13-fight win streak in the process.
Even though Poirier already intends to retire and that is usually the kiss of death when it comes to a fighter’s UFC swan song, Saturday might be different. Outside of the fact that Poirier has already beaten Holloway twice, “Diamond” has also never lost back-to-back fights in his entire career. He’s coming off a TKO loss to Islam Makhachev back in June 2024 so history would suggest he wins this weekend.
Add in the fact that Holloway is coming off the first knockout loss of his career and that Saturday’s trilogy fight is happening in Poirier’s own backyard and “Diamond” might actually have the edge (even if the official betting odds say different).
In advance to UFC 318, the promotion released a side-by-side-by-side photo of each weigh ins staredown between Poirier and Holloway. While faceoffs aren’t a direct indicator of how a fight plays out we’ll let you be the judge on who has the edge entering Saturday’s “BMF” trilogy fight. Check it out below:
Over 13 years in the making
— UFC (@ufc) July 19, 2025
[ #UFC318 | B2YB @StakeUsa ] pic.twitter.com/06XUKnpLWB
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 318 fight card right RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN2/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the UFC 318 PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 318: “Holloway vs. Poirier 3” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 318 fight card and PPV lineup click here.
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