Max Holloway believes Dustin Poirier will respond to iconic gesture ahead of UFC 318 clash

Holloway’s BMF title will be up for grabs again at UFC 318, giving Poirier another shot at the fan favourite belt. He previously lost to Justin Gaethje by head-kick knockout when the title was vacant back at UFC 291.

Following that, Holloway stepped in as the next challenger and knocked out Gaethje right at the final buzzer of UFC 300, a moment that remains one of the most memorable finishes in UFC history.

That KO came after Holloway signalled to Gaethje with a ‘point down’ gesture, inviting him to trade shots in the final seconds. If their main event this weekend goes all five rounds, Holloway isn’t ruling out another dramatic ending.

Speaking to MMA Junkie, Holloway was asked if he thought it might happen again against Poirier.

“(I’m) 100 percent sure he would,” Holloway said of Poirier. “Last dance. Last 10 seconds. Point down to the ground. He might even do it. I’m one hundred percent sure he’s going to bring it.

“Hearing those words excites me. If it’s a war he wants, it’s a war he’s going to get. It’s going to be a bunch of knuckleheads in there. I wouldn’t want it any other way, especially with the BMF title on the line.”

Poirier has never shied away from a brawl either, having picked up ten ‘Fight of the Night’ bonuses throughout his career, including one against Islam Makhachev at UFC 302.

Holloway vs Gaethje rematch could be next following UFC 318

If Holloway wins at UFC 318, he could be just one more victory away from a shot at the UFC lightweight title. The belt is currently held by his former rival Ilia Topuria, who claimed it at UFC 317 last month.

Recently, Holloway dismissed Topuria’s three-fight knockout run over Alexander Volkanovski, Charles Oliveira, and himself. That stretch includes a win over Holloway at UFC 308, after which he made the full-time switch to lightweight.

A rematch with Gaethje is also on the table, depending on whether Gaethje follows through with his retirement threat. He hasn’t fought since beating Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313.