Beating Dustin Poirier Could Put Max Holloway Back in UFC Title Picture
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Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier will clash for the third and final time at UFC 318, with Poirier’s MMA retirement looming.
Poirier is back where it all started for him in Louisiana, as the night is set up to be an emotional farewell for ‘The Diamond’. However, Holloway seeks to spoil Poirier’s party by avenging his two losses, one of which included his UFC debut.
More importantly for Max, a win against Dustin could propel him back into title-fight contention.
Holloway’s Potential for UFC Lightweight Gold
Holloway’s last fight saw him get knocked down and out for the first time in his career at the hands of the exceptional Ilia Topuria. The new UFC lightweight champion has since continued his villainous warpath, knocking Charles Oliveira out at UFC 317.
Still, Holloway’s performance against the champ sees continued praise for how competitive he made the fight up until the knockout. Many believe that a perfectly executed game plan would give Holloway the ability to beat Topuria in a rematch.
Official lightweight rankings from the UFC’s website:
| (C) | Ilia Topuria |
| #1 | Islam Makhachev |
| #2 | Arman Tsarukyan |
| #3 | Charles Oliveira |
| #4 | Justin Gaethje |
| #5 | Max Holloway |
| #6 | Dustin Poirier |
While Max certainly won’t be next for Topuria, a win at UFC 318 would be a statement. He would improve on what is already a strong position in the rankings.
Former champion Islam Makhachev is fighting Jack Della Maddalena for the UFC welterweight title, so his ranking here is controversial. But Topuria vs. Makhachev is certainly a fight that could happen down the line.
Oliveira is unlikely to fight for the belt anytime soon, as long as the gold is over Topuria’s shoulder. Title eliminator suggestions have included Arman Tsarukyan, Justin Gaethje, and number #10 ranked Paddy Pimblett.
Assuming Topuria’s next title defence is based on the victor of a title eliminator, Holloway would then have the ability to jump ahead of the loser of that bout, potentially putting himself next in line for gold.
So the opportunity is there for Holloway to springboard into another title shot. But first, the Hawaiian has to get through one of the toughest fighters he has ever faced.
Holloway’s Key to Victory at UFC 318
Holloway has openly admitted that he does not want to be on the end of another 0-3 record in a trilogy. Unlike the quick-fire trilogy with Alexander Volkanovski, Holloway enters a completely different kind of battle in his third bout with Poirier.
Max fought Dustin at the age of 20, turning out to be his first of many fights inside a UFC octagon. Their rematch took place seven years later, with Dustin snapping Max’s astonishing 13-fight win streak.
The first fight saw two raw talents going at it. But even since the second fight, which saw them at the top of their game, they’ve both added even more experience and have evolved further.
In their last bout, Holloway made his lightweight debut, moving up after clearing out the featherweight division. The fight was close, but Poirier’s natural power at lightweight was too much for Max. He struggled to gain any rhythm in the fight.
Since then, Holloway has gained comfort at 155 pounds, going toe-to-toe with knockout specialist Justin Gaethje, and producing arguably the greatest moment in UFC history.
Holloway has never looked more prepared for Poirier, and his vastly improved movement inside the octagon could be his path to victory. More specifically, his nuanced lateral movement and ability to find angles could be the slight edge he needs to walk away with victory at UFC 318.
If Holloway can showcase his movement and get the win, then it would be no surprise if people started talking about a rematch between Topuria and Holloway.
Max Holloway may have already set his blueprint to beat Topuria. So a win over Poirier could give him a good chance at becoming the lightweight champion of the world.
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