UFC legend Dustin Poirier experienced a career-first in the final chapter of his MMA career at UFC 318.
Dustin Poirier‘s final UFC hurrah fell short on the judges’ scorecards against Max Holloway at UFC 318. But despite the loss in his final fight, Poirier was celebrated by many around the sport for putting on another signature performance inside the Octagon.
The competitive fire inside Poirier’s heart remained as he left the Octagon as fans rushed to get a glimpse of the departing legend. Poirier repeatedly questioned the judges’ scorecards in Octagonside conversations with fans and supporters, believing he did enough to win the fight.
Dustin Poirier says he had feelings of ‘self-preservation’ for first time in MMA career at UFC 318
After reflecting on his performance and rewatching the fight, Poirier has a new perspective on what went wrong in his final fight at UFC 318. During his fight with Holloway, Poirier experienced a feeling of preservation that he hadn’t experienced at any point in his career.
In a recent interview on The Bohnfire podcast, Poirier reflected on what went wrong in his final fight at UFC 318.
“Going through the fight, immediately my thoughts about what just happened, I thought I did enough,” Poirier said. “But I went back and watched it. What you’re feeling and going through in there, and what you see from an outside view, is two different things. I could see him winning rounds, throwing more volume, body shots, pulling away in rounds.
“What I watched was different than what I felt. I just wanted one more battle, and he gave it to me. In there, I felt like in between rounds I was talking to my boxing coach, and I could’ve taken more chances,” Poirier admitted. “But I was trying to protect myself at the same time, and I’ve never really fought like that before. I’d always put myself in harm’s way to land the big shots, and this one I didn’t, and maybe that’s a sign that the decision I made was the right one.
“Self-preservation, get home to my family safe, that type of thing.”
One former UFC champion believes Holloway could’ve finished Poirier early on, but ‘pulled back’ punches during a frantic exchange. Aljamain Sterling believes Holloway left a lot on the table in his fight with Poirier, despite coasting to a decision victory.
Poirier’s loss at UFC 318 was a first in his MMA career in more ways than one. For the first time, Poirier lost back-to-back fights, after dropping a lightweight title bout to Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 last year.
Meanwhile, Holloway is focused on running it back with a former featherweight foe in his next BMF title defense after UFC 318, and there’s some bad blood brewing.
Max Holloway accused potential next opponent of faking an injury in 2015 fight
In post-fight interviews after UFC 318, Holloway accused former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira of faking an injury in their 2015 featherweight showdown at UFC Saskatoon. After Oliveira was asked about a potential rematch with Holloway, he revealed how the esophagus injury he suffered in their first fight left unfinished business with the BMF titleholder.
As of this writing, Oliveira hasn’t responded to Holloway’s comments. Oliveira is looking to return by year’s end after a vacant lightweight title loss to Ilia Topuria last month at UFC 317.
Holloway put on the ‘heel’ hat for one of the few times of his UFC career in response to Oliveira’s recent remarks. As Holloway looks ahead to what’s next, the Oliveira rematch seems like a viable option for both stars.
