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Max Holloway Aims To Spoil Farewell Fight

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Robert LaMar | Last updated Jul 16, 2025 1:15 PM ET

UFC 318 is set to be a historic and emotional night in New Orleans, as the octagon returns to Louisiana for the first time in over a decade and fittingly, for the final chapter in the career of “The Diamond” Dustin Poirier. Max Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) is stepping into UFC 318 not just to defend the symbolic BMF title, but to play spoiler to what’s expected to be Dustin Poirier’s (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) farewell, homecoming fight and he’s embracing the role.

Poirier defeated Holloway by submission in 2012 and by unanimous decision in a 2019 interim lightweight title fight. This marks the longest trilogy gap in UFC history 13 years from the first to third bout. Holloway, the reigning BMF champion after a stunning KO win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, now defends the belt in a rare trilogy where he’s down 0-2 losing in 2012 and again in 2019.

Winning the fight. Points for a throw down with 10 seconds to go. That’s the definition of a BMF

Max ‘Blessed Muthaf****r’ Holloway #UFC318 | Saturday | LIVE on TNT Sports & discovery+ pic.twitter.com/4gy8oc8sMs

— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) July 16, 2025

Extreme volume

Absolutely when it comes to volume striking, Max Holloway is in a league of his own. Holloway is UFC Record holder for significant strikes. He has 16 fights where he landed 100+ significant strikes no one else has more than 10. His legendary fight vs. Calvin Kattar? He landed a UFC record 445 significant strikes in one fight an absolutely absurd number.

That’s exactly the type of volume he’s going to need against Dustin Poirier. If Max Holloway can overwhelm him with endless amount of pressure, not only can he get on the scoreboard against Poirier, but he can not only be the first to defend the BMF title, but knock him out as well.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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