Overview

• UFC 318 on July 19 in New Orleans will feature Max Holloway defending his BMF belt against Dustin Poirier in a trilogy bout that doubles as Poirier’s retirement fight.
• After his knockout defeat to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308, Holloway announced a full-time move to lightweight, citing better recovery and nutrition without the 145-pound cut.
• Holloway publicly criticized the UFC for still listing him as the No. 1 featherweight contender despite his declared focus on 155 pounds.
• The former featherweight champion outlined a two- to three-year retirement timeline, estimating four to five more fights as long as he remains competitive at the top level.
• Islam Makhachev forecasted that Poirier will prevail in his final Octagon appearance, heightening anticipation for the trilogy’s conclusion.