Dustin Poirier has scheduled the final fight of his professional career.
Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show on Friday, “The Diamond” confirmed his intention to face long-time rival Max Holloway in a trilogy bout. This highly anticipated matchup is slated to headline UFC 318 as the lightweight main event on July 19 in New Orleans, Louisiana, which is Poirier`s home state. An additional layer of significance comes from Holloway`s “BMF” belt, which will be contested in the fight.
This upcoming fight marks the third occasion these two fighters will compete against each other. Poirier currently holds a 2-0 record in their previous encounters. Their initial meeting took place in February 2012 during Holloway`s promotional debut, where Poirier secured a victory via triangle armbar submission. Seven years later, they clashed again at UFC 236 for an interim lightweight championship. That bout also ended in Poirier`s favor after a demanding five-round battle that is widely considered one of the greatest championship contests in UFC history.
For the most part, the reaction to this pairing of two esteemed fighters has been overwhelmingly positive. Fans and fellow competitors alike are eagerly anticipating Poirier concluding his distinctive career with this thrilling contest. However, a few dissenting voices have raised questions about the necessity of a third fight and whether this event might represent a logical endpoint not only for Poirier`s fighting career but potentially for Max Holloway and the status of the BMF title itself.
Marcus Blakely 
Wesley Dunham