Max Holloway vs Dustin Poirier III: Can the Trilogy Deliver Another All-Time Classic?

By Ali Hammad July 17, 2025 09:12

The upcoming trilogy fight between Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier, set for UFC 318 on July 19, 2025, is poised to deliver another chapter in what has already been one of MMA’s most compelling rivalries. With both fighters bringing decades of experience, elite striking, and an intense competitive history, this fight promises to be a gripping contest that could etch itself into the sport’s pantheon of all-time classics.

Their trilogy bout carries high stakes: Holloway enters as the reigning UFC BMF (Baddest Motherfucker) champion, while Poirier plans to use the fight as his farewell performance in the octagon. The symbolism is profound. Poirier stated recently, “I’m ready to go out with everything I have this fight means the world to me, fighting Max again in front of my hometown crowd in New Orleans. It’s the perfect ending”. For Poirier, this is about legacy a chance to close his storied career on a victorious note against a familiar and fiercely respected adversary.

The history between these two warriors is rich and dramatic. Their first clash in 2012 saw Poirier submit Holloway in the opening round, an early career highlight for both young featherweights. The rematch came seven years later at UFC 236 in 2019, this time for the interim lightweight title. Poirier edged Holloway via unanimous decision, halting Max’s historic 13-fight win streak and earning Fight of the Night honors. Stats from the second fight reveal a back-and-forth dynamic, with both fighters delivering heavy volume striking and absorbing significant damage.

Holloway has since solidified himself as one of the sport’s most prolific featherweights, breaking records for significant strikes landed in a fight and round. His 290 significant strikes against Brian Ortega and the record-setting 134 in a single round exemplify his relentless pressure and pace. After moving permanently back to lightweight in early 2025, Holloway snagged the symbolic BMF belt in a dramatic final-second knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 a performance hailed among the greatest comebacks in MMA history and rewarded with a $600,000 bonus for Fight and Performance of the Night.

Their contrasting trajectories entering UFC 318 add to the intrigue. Holloway, seeking to reinforce his status across two divisions after a recent loss at featherweight to Ilia Topuria, views this fight as a springboard to reclaim lightweight title contention. Poirier, meanwhile, aims to exit on a high note, stating, “To be able to hang up the gloves in front of my people, fighting one of the toughest guys I know for the BMF belt it’s everything I could have asked for”.

Will the trilogy deliver another all-time classic? Considering their history, it’s a safe bet. Both fighters have shown resilience and adaptability traits essential for enduring the brutal pace they impose. Holloway’s aggressive volume striking against Poirier’s technical precision and power promises a strategic chess match layered with fierce battle. As MMA analyst Brett Okamoto notes, “This fight isn’t just about the title; it’s about heart and legacy and few rivalries capture that better than Holloway vs. Poirier”.

Fans can expect a fight filled with tactical brilliance, punishing exchanges, and moments of championship-level drama. With UFC 318 taking place at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, the atmosphere will be electric, providing the perfect stage for these warriors to potentially etch their final chapter into MMA folklore.

In the end, Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier III is more than a trilogy fight; it’s a celebration of grit, sportsmanship, and the unending pursuit of greatness a showdown where anything can happen and where legends are truly made.