ATLANTA, GA – APRIL 11: Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier face-off for the media during the UFC 236 … More
A trilogy fight between two of the most popular, respected, and violent fighters in UFC history headlines the UFC 318 fight card. In that matchup, Max Holloway puts his BMF title on the line against Dustin Poirier, in what will likely be Poirier’s retirement fight. We look at the opening betting odds for the UFC 318 main event fight, Holloway vs. Poirier 3.
UFC 318: Holloway Vs. Poirier 3 Betting Odds
ATLANTA, GA – APRIL 12: (L-R) Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier face off during the UFC 236 weigh-in … More
When BetOnline published the opening betting lines for the Holloway vs. Poirier 3 matchup, Poirier opened as the -150 betting favorite over Holloway, who opened as the +130 betting underdog.
The betting lines have moved on this matchup, and today the fight is a pick ’em with Holloway listed at -102 and Poirier at -118.
UFC 318 Fight Card: Date
Saturday, July 19, 2025
UFC 318 Fight Card: Time
Main Card: 10 p.m. ET
Preliminary Card: 8 p.m. ET
Early Preliminary Card: TBA
UFC 318 Fight Card: Location
Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA
UFC 318 Fight Card: How To Watch Or Stream
Main Card: ESPN+ pay-per-view
Preliminary Card: TBA
Early Preliminary Card: ESPN+
UFC 318 Tickets
TBA
UFC 318 Main Event: Dustin Poirier
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JUNE 01: Dustin Poirier battles Islam Makhachev of Russia in the UFC … More
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.
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. Poirier was the No. 3 ranked fighter in the UFC 155-pound division at the time, April 2019. Poirier claimed the interim crown with a decision win.
In September 2019, Poirier faced Khabib Nurmagomedov in a title unification bout. Nurmagomedov won that contest by third-round submission.
Three wins after that, including two TKO victories over Conor McGregor, put Poirier in another lightweight title fight. He lost that battle to Charles Oliveira, falling to a rear-naked choke in the third round of their December 2021 matchup.
The 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.
Poirier has 15 fight-night bonus awards, which ties him for fourth all-time in that category. Poirier is the No. 5 ranked UFC lightweight.
UFC 318 Main Event: Max Holloway
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 13: Max Holloway reacts to the knockout of Justin Gaethje in the BMF … More
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. 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 defended 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.
Holloway’s championship run ended in December 2019 when Alexander Volkanovski beat him by decision. 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 followed that setback with wins over Arnold Allen, the Korean Zombie, and Justin Gaethje. The Gaethje victory, a fight that many voted “Fight of the Year” and “Knockout of the Year,” earned Holloway the BMF title. That fight took place at 155 pounds.
Holloway followed 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 is the No. 1 fighter in the official UFC featherweight rankings. He is also ranked at No. 12 at 155 pounds and sits at No. 12 in the pound-for-pound rankings.
UFC 318: Holloway Vs. Poirier Previous Meetings
LAS VEGAS, NV – FEBRUARY 04: Dustin Poirier (blue shorts) attempts to submit Max Holloway during … More
Poirier is 2-0 against Holloway. They first met in a featherweight scrap at UFC 143 in February 2012. The bout was Holloway’s fifth pro fight and first as a member of the UFC. He was 4-0 heading into the contest. Meanwhile, Poirier had been with the WEC/UFC for two years by then with a 11-1 pro record. Poirier won that fight, and earned Submission of the Night, for his first-round triangle armbar stoppage.
ATLANTA, GA – APRIL 13: (R-L) Dustin Poirier reacts after defeating Max Holloway in their interim … More
The two faced off for the second time in April 2019 at UFC 236. 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.
We will have more on UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 as fight night nears.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/trentreinsmith/2025/05/15/ufc-318-main-event–holloway-vs-poirier-3-opening-betting-odds/