Dustin Poirier concluded his professional MMA career with a unanimous decision defeat to Max Holloway at UFC 318 on Saturday night in Louisiana. The fight marked Poirier’s final appearance in the Octagon, where he faced off against the reigning BMF champion in a fiercely contested, five-round matchup that captivated the New Orleans crowd.
The bout was a back-and-forth struggle featuring multiple knockdowns from both fighters, showcasing the intensity and skill that defined Poirier’s career. Despite the thrilling nature of the contest, Poirier expressed his dissatisfaction with the judges‘ scoring after the fight, questioning the wide margin of victory awarded to Holloway.
Controversy Over Scoring in a Closely Contested Five-Round Fight
Throughout the fight, both Poirier and Holloway landed significant strikes and knockdowns, exchanging momentum several times. Poirier was knocked down twice early, in the first and second rounds, but managed to turn the tide with a late knockdown of his own that ignited the crowd. The atmosphere grew so loud after this moment that the referee missed the round-ending bell.
In a post-fight interview, Poirier challenged the judges‘ assessments, believing the fight was much closer than the official scorecards indicated. Two judges scored the fight 49-46 for Holloway, while the third gave a narrow 48-47 edge to the champion as well.
“Max is a great fighter, a tough competitor. Just being inside the eye of the storm, it felt a lot closer to me. I really thought it might have been 2-2 going into the fifth [round]. Mike Brown checked the scorecards when we got to the locker room and I think the judges gave me different rounds.”
—Dustin Poirier, UFC Fighter
Poirier suggested that at least one round—specifically the second, where he scored a knockdown—was seen differently by the judges than by him and by Holloway himself.
“I think all the judges gave him the second round. I thought I almost had him out.”
—Dustin Poirier, UFC Fighter
He continued by describing his perspective on that pivotal moment, noting the silence around the referee and Holloway’s own admission after the fight.
“He hurt me, too, but I thought my shot when I followed up with elbows, I was cracking him. He told me in the medical tent, ‘Hey man, you had me out.’ We couldn’t hear the bell. Being in the fight, it felt a lot closer than that. When I heard the judges’ [scores], I was like no way. It was closer than that. Like the man says, it is what it is.”
—Dustin Poirier, UFC Fighter
Poirier Reflects on His Retirement and Career Legacy
Despite the frustration with the outcome, Poirier emphasized that he is content with his decision to retire and proud of how he finished his career. Fighting in his home state of Louisiana added emotional significance to the night, and he aimed to demonstrate his competitiveness until the very end.
“I wanted to go show I can compete and make it close to where I can say look I’m still at the top of my game,”
said Poirier.
I’m going out because I want to. I wanted it to be a war and a drag-em-out fight.”
His final fight against Max Holloway was an intense battle that lived up to the high expectations fans and fighters alike had for their retirement showdown. While the judges’ decision sparked debate, Poirier’s legacy as one of the UFC’s most resilient and skilled fighters remains unquestioned.
Looking ahead, Poirier’s departure leaves an open field in the lightweight division, while Max Holloway continues to hold the BMF title. The close nature of the fight is likely to prompt further discussion around judging standards in MMA, especially in title bouts of this magnitude.