UFC 318 Recap: Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier

Dustin Poirier ended his career the exact way he fought it the entire time — by taking on the best there was, no matter what. If you missed UFC 318, Poirier dropped his final fight to Max Holloway for the BMF title in New Orleans, Louisiana, hung up the gloves, and that’s a wrap for the career of an absolute icon of the sport.

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Chapters:
0:00 Dustin Poirier calls it a day
8:12 Max Holloway is a problem at 155
12:29 Is Paulo Costa back?
18:14 Will Brendan Allen ever make it to the top?

Now, full disclaimer — I’m from Louisiana, so I’m incredibly biased. But I’m going to try to be as even-handed as I can here. Dustin Poirier’s career was literally like this: he fought whoever there was to fight. Whether it was Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, or Conor McGregor, he took the big fights. He also took fights he probably shouldn’t have — like the first Justin Gaethje fight when everyone was like, “Poirier, you’re probably getting a title shot next if you just wait,” and he was like, “No, I’mma fight Gaethje.” Then there was Benois Sandhagen, an up-and-coming guy who looked incredibly dangerous. Poirier took those risks, and that’s what made him special.

Retiring is never easy, especially for someone like Dustin Poirier. At 36, which is an old man in MMA, stepping away means leaving a giant community behind. Poirier has been part of American Top Team, a huge gym, surrounded by friends and teammates like Max Holloway and Daniel Cormier. Leaving that family and the grind of training is tough, even if the mind knows it’s time. That’s something Matthew Polly touches on in American Shaolin — about becoming part of a community and the pain of leaving it behind. It’s real for fighters like Poirier.

On fight night, it looked like Max Holloway was going to run away with it. He knocked Poirier down twice and controlled the pace, using smart leg kicks, outside foot positioning, and body shots to wear Poirier down. Holloway’s striking has evolved, and he really neutralized Poirier’s southpaw style and Philly shell defense. But then Poirier clawed back, landing brutal elbows and nearly finishing the fight in the last moments. Still, Max’s cardio and smarter game plan earned him the nod.

This lightweight division has been the deepest and most exciting the UFC’s ever had, from Eddie Alvarez to Rafael dos Anjos, Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Charles Oliveira, Islam Makhachev, and now Ilia Topuria rising at the top. Dustin Poirier was the glue holding it all together — the gatekeeper, the tough test every contender needed to pass.

Elsewhere on UFC 318, Brendan Allen took the spotlight as another Louisiana guy, defeating Marvin Vettori by unanimous decision. Allen showed flashes but still seems to struggle with consistency, especially against top middleweights like Paulo Costa or Roman Kopylov, who could be great matchups down the line. Marvin Vettori looked off his game, a shadow of the fighter who challenged Israel Adesanya for the title.

Other standouts included Nico Price’s win over Francisco Prado, Vicente Luque continuing his killer streak, and Karine Silva making a strong statement with a big finish. The card was stacked with talent and showed the depth across multiple divisions.

If you want to get into the nuances of fight strategy, training culture, and MMA community, this breakdown digs deep into the challenges fighters face both in and out of the octagon. From American Top Team’s support network to the intense fight camps, and the highs and lows of careers that span decades, UFC 318 was a night full of stories.

For fight fans who love detailed fight commentary, analysis of the lightweight division, and insights into rising prospects and veterans alike, this video hits all those marks. Whether you’re following Dustin Poirier’s legendary career, Max Holloway’s continued evolution, or curious about the middleweight scene with Brendan Allen and Marvin Vettori, this breakdown has you covered.

Stay tuned for Fightfinder 7 coming soon, where we follow Olympian Tom Scott at the US Karate National Championship. It’s all about celebrating fighters, martial arts culture, and the journey that makes this sport so compelling.

If you’re into UFC fight night recaps, MMA fight analysis, and deep dives into fighter legacies, this video is made for you. Thanks for watching and make sure to subscribe to catch more fight breakdowns and commentary from the best in the game.