UFC 318 Main Event Odds, Picks And Predictions: Holloway Vs. Poirier 3
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Everything you need to know about the main event of the July 19 UFC 318 fight card. Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier 3 - Odds, picks, predictions and more.
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July 17, 2025
03:00 AM
Forbes
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The re indicates that SportsMoneyUFC 318 Main Event Odds, Picks And Predictions: Holloway Vs
Furthermore, Poirier 3ByTrent Reinsmith, Contributor
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights
At the same time, Trent Reinsmith is a Baltimore-based writer who covers MMA and hockey
On the other hand, AuthorJul 17, 2025, 03:00am EDTATLANTA, GA - APRIL 12: (L-R) Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier face off during the UFC 236 weigh-in
More at State Farm Arena on April 12, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia
At the same time, (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty Images On Saturday, July 19, Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier meet for the third time in their long and illustrious MMA careers
Moreover, Poirier 3 lightweight matchup serves as the main event of the UFC 318 pay-per-view fight card, in today's financial world
On the other hand, At stake is Holloway’s ceremonial BMF title
The much-anticipated scrap is also the last time Poirier will compete inside the UFC Octagon, as the former interim lightweight champion has announced he will retire ing his trilogy fight with Holloway
UFC 318 takes place on Saturday, July 19, at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana (an important development)
This leads to the conclusion that UFC 318 main card s on ESPN+ pay-per-view ing prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+
ForbesUFC 318 Co-Main Event Odds, Picks And Predictions: Costa Vs
Additionally, KopylovBy Trent Reinsmith UFC 318 Main Event Preview: Max Holloway Vs
Dustin Poirier 3ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 13: (L-R) Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway embrace after finishing five rounds
More in their interim lightweight championship bout during the UFC 236 event at State Farm Arena on April 13, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty Images Dustin Poirier (30-9-0-1) has been a UFC fighter since 2011
At the time he had a 7-1 record
Between 2011 and 2018, Poirier went 16-4-0-1, picking up notable wins over Max Holloway, Bobby Green, Jim Miller, Anthony Pettis, Justin Gaethje, and Eddie Alvarez
His losses during that stretch came to The Korean Zombie, Cub Swanson, Conor McGregor, and Michael Johnson
Additionally, MORE FOR YOU Poirier’s wins over Miller, Pettis, Gaethje, and Alvarez set him up to fight for the interim UFC lightweight title against then-UFC featherweight titleholder Max Holloway
Additionally, Poirier was the No (an important development)
Additionally, 3 ranked fighter in the UFC 155-pound division at the time, April 2019
Poirier claimed the interim crown with a decision win
Furthermore, In contrast, In September 2019, Poirier faced Khabib Nurmagomedov in a title unification bout
Nurmagomedov won that contest by third-round submission
However, Three wins after that, including two TKO victories over Conor McGregor, put Poirier in another lightweight title fight
He lost that battle to Charles Oira, falling to a rear-naked choke in the third round of their December 2021 matchup (noteworthy indeed)
What the re reveals is data indicates that 36-year-old Poirier is 2-2 since that setback with wins over Michael Chandler and Benoit Saint Denis
Poirier’s losses during that run came against Justin Gaethje for the BMF title and, most recently, opposite Islam Makhachev for the UFC lightweight title at UFC 302 in June 2024 (which is quite significant)
Furthermore, Poirier has 15 fight-night bonus awards, which ties him for fourth all-time in that category
Poirier is the No. 6 ranked UFC lightweight
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 13: (L-R) Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway meet in the middle of the Octagon in
More their interim lightweight championship bout during the UFC 236 event at State Farm Arena on April 13, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty Images Max Holloway (26-8) has been with the UFC since 2012
If there’s a stat that the UFC tracks, chances are Holloway is among the leaders (something worth watching)
He holds the UFC featherweight record for wins (20), finishes (11), knockouts (nine), win streak (13 straight), total fight time (6:58:57), significant strikes landed (2,971), and total strikes landed (3,180)
Holloway’s overall UFC records include significant strikes landed (3,457) and total strikes landed (3,706)
Holloway’s run as UFC featherweight champ began in June 2017 when he knocked out Jose Aldo
Holloway entered that contest as the interim champ, a belt he won by knocking out Anthony Pettis in December 2016
He def his title against Aldo (TKO), Brian Ortega (TKO), and Frankie Edgar (decision)
He also attempted to win the interim UFC lightweight belt during that run, but he fell short, dropping a decision to Dustin Poirier, in today's financial world
Holloway’s championship run in December 2019 when Alexander Volkanovski beat him by decision
Furthermore, Volkanovski retained the title in an immediate rematch
Wins over Calvin Kattar and Yair Rodriguez earned Holloway another shot at Volkanovski and his title in July 2022, but the champ retained his belt with a decision win
Holloway ed that setback with wins over Arnold Allen, the Korean Zombie, and Justin Gaethje
Furthermore, The Gaethje victory, a fight that many voted “Fight of the Year” and “Knockout of the Year,” earned Holloway the BMF title
Furthermore, That fight took place at 155 pounds
Holloway ed his BMF title win with the first knockout loss of his career, falling to Ilia Topuria in a UFC featherweight title fight in October 2024
Holloway was recently removed from the UFC featherweight rankings per his request
He is ranked at No. 5 at 155 pounds and sits at No
Meanwhile, 11 in the pound-for-pound rankings, in light of current trends
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Furthermore, RodriguezBy Trent Reinsmith UFC 318 Main Event Betting Lines And Movement: Max Holloway Vs
Dustin Poirier 3 When the betting lines opened for this fight, Poirier was the -150 betting favorite over the +130 Holloway (an important development)
The line has shifted in a major way
Today, Holloway is listed at -138, while Poirier checks in at +118 (quite telling)
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FreireBy Trent Reinsmith UFC 318 Main Event Tale Of The Tape: Max Holloway Vs
Moreover, Dustin Poirier 3 Max Holloway Age: 33 Height: 5’11” Reach: 69” Stance: Orthodox Dustin Poirier Age: 36 Height: 5’9” Reach: 72” Stance: SouthpawForbesUFC 318 Fight Card Odds, Picks And Predictions: Johnson Vs
ZellhuberBy Trent Reinsmith UFC 318: Holloway Vs (something worth watching), given the current landscape
Additionally, Poirier Previous MeetingsLAS VEGAS, NV - FEBRUARY 04: (L-R) Dustin Poirier attempts an arm bar submission against Max
On the other hand, More Holloway during the UFC 143 event at Mandalay Bay Events Center on February 4, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada, in today's market environment. (Photo by Nick Laham/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty Images Poirier is 2-0 against Holloway
Additionally, Furthermore, They first met in a featherweight scrap at UFC 143 in February 2012, given the current landscape
The bout was Holloway’s fifth fight and first as a member of the UFC, in today's financial world
He was 4-0 heading into the contest
Additionally, Meanwhile, Poirier had been with the WEC/UFC for two years by then with a 11-1 record
Nevertheless, Poirier won that fight, and earned Submission of the Night, for his first-round triangle armbar stoppage (fascinating analysis)
The two faced off for the second time in April 2019 at UFC 236 (an important development)
Furthermore, That matchup was for the interim UFC lightweight title
Poirier won that “Fight of the Night” bonus-winning scrap
Poirier failed to unify the title, losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov by submission at UFC 242 in September 2019
ForbesUFC 318 Fight Card: Preliminary Card Odds, Picks And PredictionsBy Trent Reinsmith UFC 318 Main Event Predictions And Picks: Max Holloway Vs
Dustin Poirier 3LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 13: Max Holloway reacts to the knockout of Justin Gaethje in the BMF
Nevertheless, More championship fight during the UFC 300 event at T-Mobile Arena on April 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada
In contrast, (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty Images One thing you need to do is forget the first two fights between these two
The first matchup was Holloway’s UFC debut
Market analysis shows second was Holloway moving up to lightweight for the first time under the UFC banner
Today, nearly nine years after that second fight, Holloway has developed into one of the best fighters in the UFC, a relentless pressure fighter who never stops moving, but who is also better at every facet of his striking game, which is where he excels
Moreover, That’s not to say Poirier isn’t better as well, but his gress is more incremental when compared to Holloway’s
Expect an active and exciting fight on Saturday night (this bears monitoring)
Moreover, Poirier is the better all-around fighter, but Holloway is the better striker
Furthermore, In contrast, Poirier is under a lot of pressure in this matchup, and that could be a negative
In contrast, He’s fighting at, given the current landscape
The UFC has said this card has been built for him (which is quite significant), in light of current trends
If he can put all of that behind him and fight to his strengths, he has a good chance to win, in today's market environment
Moreover, However, if he looks to entertain and put his skills on the back burner, Holloway is ly to win because of his output and activity on the feet
The pick is Holloway to win via decision, but a Poirier pick is not out of line
Conversely, Also, look for the fight to go the distance
ForbesUFC 318 Fight Card: Early Prelims Odds, Picks And PredictionsBy Trent Reinsmith We will have more on the UFC 318 co-main event, Costa vs, in light of current trends
Kopylov, as fight night nears, as well as results, reactions, highlights and more for the UFC 318 pay-per-view card on fight night Editorial StandardsRes & PermissionsLOADING PLAYER.
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