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‘How about a triple retirement main event?’: Fans react to Dustin Poirier announcing final fight against Max Holloway

April 26, 2025 Frank Doyle MMA, UFC

Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier
Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier | Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

Dustin Poirier has booked his final fight.

“The Diamond” announced Friday on The Pat McAfee Show that he is set to fight longtime rival Max Holloway in a trilogy bout that serves as the lightweight main event of UFC 318 on July 19 in New Orleans, in Poirier’s home state of Louisiana. Holloway’s “BMF” belt is on the line.

This is the third meeting between the two, with Poirier owning a 2-0 record in the series. In Holloway’s UFC debut in February 2012, Poirier submitted him with a triangle armbar. They clashed again seven years later at UFC 236 for an interim lightweight title and Poirier was again victorious, this time after a five-round battle widely recognized as one of the greatest UFC championship bouts of all time.

For the most part, reaction has been overwhelmingly positive for this matchup of future legends, with fans and fighters looking forward to Poirier putting a thrilling cap on his one-of-a-kind career. However, a few voices are questioning what the point is of running this one back and whether this would be a logical endpoint not just for Poirier, but for Holloway and the BMF belt itself.

Check out reactions to the announcement below.

JonMoansJones
Hoping that if Dustin wins, he takes the BMF title into the sunset with him, never to be used again.

Nicolas Caged
How about a triple retirement main event? Dustin, Max and the BMF belt.

Runner60fo
Storybook ending. Especially if Dustin can get a finish.

semantic5
It’s a good fight for Dustin to end on.
If he wins, he’s not beating a guy in line for a title shot, so he shouldn’t be tempted to reconsider.
If he loses, there are far worse people to lose to.

Bigs-
Why fight for the BMF belt if you’re going to retire? Makes no sense.

Beeunleashed
It’s a good fight, but kind of hard to get excited for.

someguy234
It’s going to be a fun fight and I’ll watch but would have liked to see Dustin vs Paddy or Gaethje

Wyld Stallones
This is an entertaining fight, but far less than what Poirier’s final fight should be. Both fighters are past their prime. The stakes are not exciting. Dustin has whooped Max twice. There’s no grudge. Better options would have been Poirier vs. Gaethje, Topuria, Chandler, and even…….. McGregor, if you can get the delicate flower to sign, train, and then show up.