Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway 3: Full Fight Preview, and Prediction for UFC 318

UFC 318 brings a high-stakes trilogy bout to Las Vegas as Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway square off for the third time—this time with the BMF title on the line. Set for Saturday, July 20, 2025, at the T-Mobile Arena, the matchup headlines a stacked card and promises five rounds of elite-level violence between two of the most beloved fighters in MMA. With their rivalry spanning over a decade, this trilogy isn’t just about belts or rankings—it’s about legacy.

We dive into their fight history, current momentum, and tactical outlook ahead of UFC 318.

The Rivalry: Poirier 2, Holloway 0

Their story dates back to 2012 when Poirier submitted a 20-year-old Holloway in the Hawaiian’s UFC debut. Fast forward to 2019, and they met again—this time for the interim lightweight title at UFC 236. In a Fight of the Year candidate, Poirier outlasted Holloway in a brutal five-round striking war to earn the decision. He used timing, power, and volume to edge out Holloway’s relentless output.

Now, six years later, Holloway seeks his first win in the series while Poirier looks to close the book with a clean 3-0.

Tale of the Tape

Attribute	Dustin Poirier	Max Holloway
Age	35	33
Height	5’9″ (175 cm)	5’11” (180 cm)
Reach	72″ (183 cm)	69″ (175 cm)
Record	30-8 (1 NC)	26-7

Dustin Poirier: Still Dangerous, Still Evolving

Poirier enters UFC 318 coming off a loss to Islam Makhachev, but his status as one of the sport’s most consistent lightweights is undisputed. He owns wins over Conor McGregor, Justin Gaethje, and Dan Hooker, and he’s one of the few fighters to go toe-to-toe with elite wrestlers, pressure strikers, and technicians across two eras.

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Max Holloway: The Momentum-Fueled Volume Machine

Holloway enters this third encounter following. Knockout loss at the hands of Ilia Topuria. Before that, he secured a high off one of the greatest knockouts in UFC history—a buzzer-beating right hand that put Justin Gaethje out cold at UFC 300. That win earned him the BMF belt and reminded fans that Max’s game evolves with every fight. Though he’s spent most of his career at featherweight, his durability, output, and technique translate well at 155.

Keys to Victory

For Poirier:

Start strong and land with authority to disrupt Max’s rhythm
Don’t chase the knockout—look to score and manage output
Control the center and prevent Max from settling into volume

For Holloway:

Increase pressure in rounds 3-5 to take over late
Use movement to keep Poirier from planting and throwing combinations
Work the body early to tax Poirier’s cardio and lower his power

Prediction: Holloway by Split Decision in a Close Fight

This fight is as close to a coin flip as it gets. Poirier’s 2-0 lead in the series is real, but this version of Holloway—now confident at lightweight and coming off a historic finish—has both the momentum and tools to finally flip the script. If he can survive the early power and ramp up his output late, Max has a path to victory through volume, control, and cage generalship. Expect a razor-close contest, but Holloway may edge it by split decision and capture a meaningful win in this long-running trilogy.