Justin Poirier couldn’t safe a dream sendoff in closing combat of his 16-year storied UFC profession, shedding to Max Holloway.
The trilogy combat between Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier could not have been a microcosm of their first two encounters, but it surely delivered an electrifying closing 15 seconds when Holloway and the retiring Poirier traded blows within the fifth spherical.
The consequence was a victory for light-weight Holloway by unanimous determination on the three judges’ playing cards – 48-47, 49-46, 49-46 – at UFC 318 in New Orleans on Saturday evening.
Holloway (27-8 MMA) was stylish in victory in opposition to Poirier, as he had misplaced the primary two fights of the collection earlier than returning the favour in Louisiana native Poirier’s final combined martial arts bout.
“The baddest man alive, bro,” stated Holloway, 33. “Give it up for Dustin Poirier.”
A primary-round knockdown from the Hawaiian set the tone early as Holloway almost completed Poirier (30-10), however his 36-year-old opponent persevered.
By the fourth spherical, Poirier had little power left however admitted post-fight that he was impressed that the previous featherweight champion Holloway’s hanging was nonetheless as sharp as ever. Based on the ultimate stats on the printed, Holloway outlanded Poirier 113-99 in important head strikes.
“I believed he was going to be in right here cracking just a little bit more durable, which he was,” Poirier stated of Holloway. “This man is hard to cope with when he’s in entrance of you. He’s slick. He’s artful. He’s quick. He’s the [BMF] champ. I acquired nothing however respect for Max, man. He’s one of many good guys.”
Holloway made his first defence of the “BMF” title a profitable one since successful it final April at UFC 300. It’s unclear what path the belt takes, as it’s not related to a division and has been used occasionally since November 2019.
In earlier matches, Paulo Costa of Brazil acquired again within the win column with a unanimous determination over Roman Kopylov, utilising his boxing to brush the playing cards 30-27, 30-27, 29-28. Costa (15-4) stays within the middleweight title image, whereas Kopylov (14-4) has received his final two fights.
The subsequent two fights additionally noticed one other string of selections, with welterweight Daniel Rodriguez outlasting Kevin Holland regardless of a late rally from Holland, almost ending him within the third spherical with strikes. The playing cards learn 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, as Holland (28-14) was one other betting favorite on the expense of Rodriguez (20-5).
Patricio Pitbull earned his first UFC victory with a win by unanimous determination over featherweight Dan Ige by similar 29-28 scores. Pitbull’s wrestling was an excessive amount of for Ige, who entered the combat having misplaced two of his final three fights. Pitbull (37-8) final fought in April at UFC 314, the place Ige (19-10) earned a win on the identical card.
UFC 318’s pay-per-view acquired underneath means with light-weight Michael Johnson incomes a unanimous determination in an upset of Daniel Zellhuber. The 39-year-old Johnson (24-19) was a big underdog coming into the combat however received the playing cards with matching 29-28 scores. A second-round knockdown swung the combat in Johnson’s favour, as Zellhuber (15-3) has now misplaced back-to-back outings.
