Holloway Kept the BMF Belt as Poirier Took His Final Bow
Max Holloway defeated Dustin Poirier on July 19, 2025, at UFC 318 in New Orleans. The five-round main event at Smoothie King Center ended by unanimous decision, with scores of 49–46, 49–46 and 48–47 as Holloway retained the BMF championship.
A third meeting carried a different kind of significance
Poirier entered the contest having announced that it would be his final walk to the Octagon. Fighting in his home state, he faced an opponent whose UFC debut had come against him thirteen years earlier.
The previous two meetings had both favored Poirier: a submission in 2012 and a decision in their 2019 interim lightweight championship bout. Holloway therefore had both a title defense and a chance to reverse their rivalry’s direction.
Five rounds settled the final chapter
Holloway started quickly and hurt Poirier early, but the farewell fight continued through the full distance. The result depended on the accumulated work across twenty-five minutes rather than a sudden stoppage.
All three judges favored Holloway, although they differed on the margin. The verdict gave him his first victory over Poirier and preserved the BMF belt at the end of their trilogy.
The farewell remained the evening’s central moment
Poirier removed his gloves after the contest and left them in the Octagon. The gesture closed a career that had included an interim UFC lightweight championship and multiple high-profile title challenges.
Holloway left New Orleans with the championship, while Poirier received a final home-state appearance against a familiar rival. The shared history gave the result meaning beyond the belt that remained with the defending champion.
Sources
- MMA Fighting: trilogy history and final UFC appearance
- Sherdog: gloves farewell and official scores
- Smoothie King Center: July 19 farewell event
- UFC: BMF title retention and fast opening
