Justin Poirier couldn’t safe a dream sendoff in last struggle of his 16-year storied UFC profession, dropping to Max Holloway.
The trilogy struggle between Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier could not have been a microcosm of their first two encounters, nevertheless it delivered an electrifying last 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 towards 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 practically completed Poirier (30-10), however his 36-year-old opponent persevered.
By the fourth spherical, Poirier had little vitality left however admitted post-fight that he was impressed that the previous featherweight champion Holloway’s hanging was nonetheless as sharp as ever. In response to the ultimate stats on the published, Holloway outlanded Poirier 113-99 in important head strikes.
“I believed he was going to be in right here cracking slightly bit more durable, which he was,” Poirier stated of Holloway. “This man is hard to take care of when he’s in entrance of you. He’s slick. He’s artful. He’s quick. He’s the [BMF] champ. I bought 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 profitable it final April at UFC 300. It’s unclear what course 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 bought 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, practically 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 an identical 29-28 scores. Pitbull’s wrestling was an excessive amount of for Ige, who entered the struggle 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 bought beneath 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 major underdog coming into the struggle however received the playing cards with matching 29-28 scores. A second-round knockdown swung the struggle in Johnson’s favour, as Zellhuber (15-3) has now misplaced back-to-back outings.
