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Holloway Vs. Poirier Predictions – ‘That’s A Tough One’

Originally posted on BoxingNews.com | Last updated Jul 16, 2025 10:22 AM ET

Max Holloway takes on Dustin Poirier at UFC 318 on July 19, defending his BMF title, as MMA pros gave their predictions.

Holloway claimed the BMF belt in dramatic fashion at UFC 300, knocking out Justin Gaethje with just one second left on the clock. He later challenged Ilia Topuria for the featherweight title but was knocked out—though the BMF belt wasn’t at stake in that fight. Poirier makes his final appearance in the Octagon—and it’s happening in his home state of Louisiana.

After a submission loss to Islam Makhachev, Poirier said he wanted just one more fight. Dustin has previously lost lightweight title fights against Khabib Nurmagomedov, Charles Oliveira, and Makhachev. However, he can end his career on a high with the BMF title. Here is how MMA insiders saw the fight playing out.

Predictions

“Yeah, I’d probably go Poirier, I guess… would I? I guess. But yeah, I can’t count Max out either. But Poirier is just a heavy, heavy hitter, you know, and Max… Max is hittable,” Cory Sandhagen

“I think the fight can go either way, you know? They’re just those guys that always have that skill, have that level to where they always give themselves a chance. So we’re going to see,” Jamahal Hill

“It’s so hard to pick when you’re big fans of both of them, you know? Amazing, legendary fighters. I’ll just go with my heart there, and I’m rooting for Max,” Jack Hermansson

“I don’t want Dustin Poirier to get beat up in his last fight, but I’m pretty sure he will. I think Max Holloway, for the rest of his career, needs to fight smarter. Like, it still bugs me that he just didn’t jab and circle more when he got rocked by Topuria, but if he fights for the fans, then Dustin’s got a chance. But if Max fights smart, I think Dustin’s age is catching up with him, and I don’t think he’s going to be able to keep up with Max,” Billy Ray Goff

“Man, I think Dustin beat him like three times already…And that’s his last fight, in his hometown. His retirement fight. Man, that’s a tough one, but I’m going to go with… I’m going to go with Dustin,” David Onama

“Man, I’m going to go with Dustin Poirier. Max Holloway is a great fighter, of course, obviously, but I’m pulling for my boy Poirier. I really like that guy, and I’d love to see him go out on top. He deserves it,” Dustin Jacoby

This article first appeared on BoxingNews.com and was syndicated with permission.

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