As UFC 318 approaches, anticipation is building for the main event: a third encounter between lightweight standout Dustin Poirier and former featherweight king Max Holloway. Adding to the discussion, former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping offered his seasoned perspective on this pivotal clash, a fight carrying unique stakes for both men.
Their history is well-documented. Poirier holds two wins over Holloway, the first a quick submission back in 2012 when both were early in their UFC journeys, and the second a grueling five-round interim title fight in 2019, which Poirier clearly won. Bisping acknowledges these past results but points out that the dynamic has shifted considerably for this third meeting.
“They`ve fought twice,” Bisping noted, recalling Poirier`s previous victories. However, he observes that the advantages Poirier held then – being slightly older, more experienced, and physically a bit stronger – may now be turning into liabilities. “All those advantages that he had are now turning into disadvantages. There`s more miles on the clock, he is a little bit older, the wear and tear starts to add up.”
Bisping also highlighted the mental toll accumulated losses can take, suggesting they can “become little chinks in the armor” and potentially lead a fighter to question their invincibility or championship aspirations. For Poirier, who has openly discussed this potentially being his final fight and has stated that the inability to reach championship status is a factor in his decision, this rings particularly true.
The context of UFC 318 being held in New Orleans, Poirier`s hometown, adds another layer of complexity. While framed as a potential “fairy tale farewell,” Bisping, drawing from his own experiences fighting in his native England, cautioned about the inherent pressure. “It brings a lot of pressure, it brings a lot of anxiety,” he stated. “You`ve got friends and family… they all want to see you perform, you`re like the local hero… It brings a lot of pressure, I`m telling you right now.” Yet, he conceded this pressure can also fuel an athlete, pushing them to perform for their home crowd.
Max Holloway, on the other hand, arrives with his own set of powerful motivations. Having recently moved up to lightweight, this trilogy bout against a top-tier opponent like Poirier represents an immediate opportunity to insert himself into the title picture. More pressingly, perhaps, Holloway is keen to avoid a second career trilogy loss, having dropped three straight contests to featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski. Bisping quipped that Holloway certainly doesn`t want to lose “three in a row to Dustin Poirier” as well.
“If he can beat Dustin Poirier, he inserts himself into the conversation,” Bisping asserted regarding Holloway`s lightweight title prospects. A big win here could significantly accelerate his ascent in the division.
When predicting the nature of the fight itself, Bisping was unequivocal. Given the striking pedigrees of both men, he anticipates a stand-up battle with minimal grappling. “When you look at them both, they`re both great strikers. I don`t think we`re going to see any wrestling out of this. They`re both going to go toe-to-toe, they`re going to throw down,” he predicted. The expectation is for an “absolutely sensational” contest, a fitting potential final act for Poirier`s career.
However, despite the clear expectation of a striking clinic, Bisping remained hesitant to definitively pick a winner. He acknowledged the concern surrounding Holloway`s chin following his recent knockout loss to Ilia Topuria, noting that sometimes such events can change a fighter permanently. Conversely, that same loss could have served as powerful motivation, lighting “a fire under his ass” to prove a point. Reflecting on the unpredictable nature of the fight game, Bisping concluded with classic fight fan uncertainty: “Listen, never doubt Dustin Poirier, but never doubt Max Holloway… Honestly, at this point, I don`t know which way it`s going down.”
Regardless of the outcome, the third meeting between Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway is widely anticipated as a potential `Fight of the Year` candidate, pitting two legendary action fighters against each other for what could be a final, memorable dance in the octagon.
