Holloway retires Poirier, keeps BMF belt at UFC 318

Max Holloway spoiled Dustin Poirier's retirement fight Saturday, taking a unanimous decision to retain the BMF belt in the main event in New Orleans.

The judges scored the bout 48-47, 49-46, and 49-46. Holloway avenged two previous losses to Poirier by taking the trilogy encounter.

The lightweights fought in front of a raucous crowd that was firmly behind Poirier, a Louisiana native. Poirier announced months ago that this would be the final fight of his legendary career.

Holloway and Poirier rocked each other early in the fight, with Holloway scoring a knockdown in the first round and Poirier returning the favor in the second. Poirier went for his notorious guillotine submission after decking Holloway, but "Blessed" escaped and eventually wobbled his way to the stool for Round 3.

Holloway outlanded Poirier throughout the final three rounds, landing numerous combinations as opposed to the single strikes that Poirier offered. Holloway pointed to the ground in the final 10 seconds of the fifth round to propose an impromptu slugfest, just as he did at UFC 300 when he knocked out Justin Gaethje. Poirier obliged, and both landed shots as the final horn sounded.

Poirier wrapped up his career with a 30-10 (1 NC) record. The 36-year-old recorded signature wins over the likes of Holloway, Gaethje, Conor McGregor, Eddie Alvarez, and Anthony Pettis. He captured the interim lightweight championship in the second Holloway meeting. He fought for the undisputed 155-pound championship three times and the BMF title twice.

Holloway, meanwhile, bounced back from the first knockout loss of his career. Ilia Topuria, now the lightweight king, stopped him last October in a featherweight title fight. Holloway is 27-8 and has featherweight and BMF title defenses under his belt.