COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – Dustin Poirier admits it "was a blindside" when the UFC came to him with Max Holloway as his retirement opponent, especially because he proposed different names.
Poirier's (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) highly anticipated final MMA fight is official for the UFC 318 main event on July 19 when he will challenge Holloway (26-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) for the BMF belt in a trilogy bout in the lightweight division, which takes place at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).
According to Poirier, who already holds two victories over Holloway in 2012 and 2019, his first choice for his swan song was Justin Gaethje, whom he is 1-1 against in their series with each man holding a knockout victory.