The bayou air will carry whispers of legend come July 19th! Not the myths of old, but the living chronicle of a fighter whose signature shorts pull, hair adjustment, and dance of violence have painted the canvas of UFC red for over fifteen years. We are, of course, talking about Dustin Poirier! Forged in Lafayette’s heat and pressure, ‘The Diamond’ returns to Louisiana soil to close the book he first opened in 2009. This isn’t just another fight card. This is a ceremony! UFC 318 in New Orleans isn’t merely hosting a main event—it’s bearing witness to the twilight of a gladiator whose name has become synonymous with heart. Standing across from him? None other than Max Holloway, who will put his coveted BMF title on the line.

For legacy! For the memories! Poirier made his professional debut back in 2009 against Aaron Suarez at USA MMA 7 in Louisiana. And in 2025, his hometown will once again serve as his proving ground for one last time. And this is indeed a full-circle moment for the former interim champ. Not to forget that in 2012, a 20-year-old Holloway made his Octagon debut against a 23-year-old Poirier at UFC 143, and 13 years later, ‘Blessed’ will welcome Poirier inside the fabled cage for the final time to slug it out. And it turns out lightweight contender Beneil Dariush and verbose analyst Chael Sonnen were indeed ahead of the curve.

Amidst the speculation surrounding Poirier’s final opponent — with names like Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria in the mix — Dariush had already dropped a major hint. “My understanding is that Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway are going to fight. At least that’s what I’m hearing.” Now, the rumors have given way to reality: Poirier vs. Holloway III is officially set! With ‘The Diamond’ already leading the series 2-0, the stakes this time are less about rivalry and more about legacy.

So why Holloway instead of a highly anticipated trilogy bout with Gaethje? ‘The Diamond’ shared his heartfelt reasoning during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. “It’s going to be my final fight. I’m going to lay the gloves down in Louisiana, where it all started for me. The whole journey started there, and 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 going to all come together, but it did.”

He added, “There’s not a better guy I could think of to fight in my retirement fight,” Poirier said. “I was his first fight in the UFC back in 2012, and now he’s going to be my last fight in the UFC. It’s an honor.”

Poirier also talked to MMA Junkie just after the announcement and said, “This has been a long time in the works, getting Louisiana on board, getting the UFC to even think about coming back to Louisiana. It’s happening. I’m super excited. There’s nobody else I would rather be standing across from when I lay the gloves down, or when I go into my final fight. Max is a legend. I’ve got so much respect for the guy. He’s done it all right. I was his first fight in the UFC, and he’s going to be my last.”

For the unversed, the duo have already slugged it out twice inside the cage at UFC 143 (as already mentioned) and UFC 236, respectively, with Poirier emerging victorious on both occasions, once by submission and by decision in the rematch seven years later. Interestingly, Poirier’s sole piece of UFC gold came against Holloway in their second outing when he won the interim 155lbs title back in 2019.

The Diamond sparkles most brilliantly under pressure. Though the undisputed gold has remained just beyond his grasp through the years, Poirier’s legacy glimmers with victories over Conor McGregor, Gaethje, Eddie Alvarez—a constellation of scalps that tell the tale of a man who never walked the easy path.

In contrast, Holloway clinched the coveted BMF belt last year at the legendary UFC 300, knocking out Gaethje with just a second remaining in their lightweight bout. Fast forward to Holloway’s most recent Octagon appearance, which came six months ago at UFC 308, where Ilia Topuria dismantled Holloway’s renowned “granite chin,” ultimately dashing his hopes of reclaiming the featherweight title.

However, fate had other plans, and now the former 145lbs kingpin’s third meeting with ‘The Diamond’ is set to unfold in Dustin Poirier’s hometown. As the Louisiana native prepares to wrap up his incredible 16-year career in the sport, one question remains: What’s next for him after a lifetime of fighting? Let’s hear it from Poirier himself.

What are Dustin Poirier’s retirement plans?

Dustin Poirier has built a reputation in the sport as a true “fighter’s fighter”— a competitor who may not have captured the undisputed title, but whose impact on MMA is undeniable. As he prepares for what will likely be his final bout at UFC 318, ‘The Diamond’ remains calm and unruffled by the weight of retirement. At 36 years old and with a 2-3 record in his last five fights, he is resolute in his decision that this will be his last. Over the past eight years, Poirier has consistently found himself in undisputed title contention or fighting for the fan-favorite BMF belt.

His career has seen him face the likes of McGregor, with the Louisiana native even serving as the Irishman’s final opponent. While Poirier believes the chances of McGregor returning are slim, he knows that after UFC 318, he will be hanging up his gloves. His resume includes notable wars against guys like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Charles Oliveira, Gaethje, and Islam Makhachev — names that reflect the elite level of competition Poirier has always embraced. Although he’s at peace with his decision, Poirier is confident that he could still perform at a high level for a few more years.

However, his focus has always been on the pursuit of titles, not paychecks. When asked about life after fighting, Poirier shared his perspective with Mike Bohn: “I’ve been doing this for a long time. I’m good. My family’s good. I want to get out of (the sport) with my faculties and be able to speak and work the (analyst) desk, be healthy for my daughter and my future kids. I just think it’s time. After 18 years, 19 years in this sport, fighting tooth and nail, bleeding every week, I think it’s a responsible decision and respect to the sport.”

What’s your take on Dustin Poirier’s “last dance”? Do you think Max Holloway is the opponent fans have been waiting for? Share your thoughts below.