Fans voiced disappointment following the reveal of the UFC 318 fight card featuring Dustin Poirier’s UFC 318 retirement fight announcement against Max Holloway. The event, set to take place in New Orleans, Louisiana, includes nine fights announced so far, but the overwhelming majority of fans have shown little enthusiasm for any bouts aside from the main event.
Criticism Grows Over UFC 318 Fight Lineup Beyond Headlining Match
The updated UFC 318 card was shared on the social media platform X by West Till Death, spotlighting Max Holloway versus Dustin Poirier as the main event and Marvin Vettori against Brendan Allen as the co-main. Additional key matchups include Ikram Aliskerov versus Brunno Ferreira, Amanda Ribas facing Tabatha Ricci, and Kyler Phillips taking on Vinicius Oliveira to complete the main card.
Despite these announcements, fan reactions have been predominantly negative, focusing on the perceived lack of compelling fights outside of Poirier’s retirement bout. In the comments, many expressed that the card needs stronger matchups or championship fights to create real excitement. Some fans remain hopeful for further additions. Reactions included:
“This is legit awful, one intriguing fight and it’s a retirement fight”
—Fan comment
“If Dan Hooker was on this then I’d be happy. A DP fight and a Hooker fight on the same card would be unreal”
—Fan comment
“This isn’t the official card yet there will be more announcements I’m sure of it”
—Fan comment
Dustin Poirier Honored to Host Final Fight in New Orleans
Dustin Poirier confirmed that his upcoming bout against Max Holloway for the ‘BMF’ title at UFC 318 will mark his retirement from professional fighting. Poirier expressed profound appreciation that the UFC organized the event in his hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana, making his last fight even more meaningful.
During a recent segment on The Pat McAfee Show, Poirier announced his participation in a trilogy bout with Holloway and reflected on the uncertainty before finalizing the location of his retirement fight. He said:
“I’m just honored to have the UFC on the same page and the state of Louisiana on the same page to make all this work. I didn’t know if it was gonna all come together, but it did… Max is a legend. I said legends only. There’s not a better guy I could think to fight in my retirement fight.”
—Dustin Poirier, Fighter
What UFC 318 Means for Fighters and Fans Moving Forward
The anticipation surrounding Dustin Poirier’s UFC 318 retirement fight announcement centers on the emotional and historic nature of the match in his home city, giving it added significance beyond the usual fight card excitement. However, fan response reflects broader concerns about the overall event quality and whether UFC will enhance the card with additional high-profile bouts.
With Poirier closing a remarkable career against a respected adversary, the event promises to be a landmark moment for the sport, especially for fans in New Orleans. As UFC 318 approaches, watchers will be closely monitoring any updates to the card that might shift fan sentiment and add excitement to the event’s undercard fights.