UFC 318: Max Holloway vs Dustin Poirier 3 – Expert Predictions & Odds
Max Holloway vs Dustin Poirier is the ‘talk of town,’ and the octagon (this July 19, 2025) is yet again set to see the two square off for the third time and BC.Game has just the offer!
Make a $10+ deposit on BC.Game, and you get a 180% match bonus of up to 20,000 BCD. This bumped up to 300% for deposits within the first 7 minutes! You can use your bonus bets on this clash for the BMF title. As Poirier’s final bout and Holloway’s redemption fight, there’s much at stake. Let’s dig in!
Holloway vs Poirier: rivalry decades in the making
As the D-day draws closer (July 19, 2025), all eyes are on the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, with cards on the main event! UFC betting sites, like BC.Game are one way to join in on the action. So, how did we get here?
Going down the history lane, Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier’s first encounter was at UFC 143 in 2012. We saw Poirier debut Holloway, with the fight to his win in the first-round with a triangle armbar. Fast forward to 2019 at UFC 236, Poirier, yet again, outlasted Holloway in a five-round bout that saw him claim the interim lightweight title via unanimous decision.
Cue 2025, the stage is set for the trilogy’s final chapter, with Poirier announcing this as his retirement fight. On the other hand, Holloway, the reigning BMF champion, defends his title while aiming to, finally, secure a victory over Poirier.
Our experts weigh in: favorite picks, odds, and predictions
The stage is set, and the two legendary careers have spurred quite the buzz! Max Hollaway’s relentless volume striking vis-à-vis Poirier’s power, precision, and grappling — the signature jumping guillotine choke could be the deciding factor.
Still, there’s a lot that could sway the fight one way or the other and below, we share some tidbits, plus our favorite picks to help with your betting decision that you can leverage with the BC.Game bonus offer. So keep reading!
Dustin Poirier is a fan favorite, with a career that’s well-deserving of his moniker as “The Diamond!” Taking a look at his record, Poirier stands at 30-9-0 (W-L-D) in the Lightweight Division — 16 wins by knockout, 7 by submission, and 13 first-round finishes.
What’s more, going by historical encounters, Poirier’s 2-0 record against Holloway gives him a psychological edge. Add to that the fight is scheduled in his hometown, New Orleans and that it’s his final bout; Poirier could close out his career with a bang. Recent fights, including a knockout win over Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299, show that he’s still a threat and that’s despite the loss by submission to Islam Makhachev at UFC 302.
It would not be far-fetched to say that Poirier’s power and precision make him a likely candidate for an early or mid-round finish. Moreover, if Holloway leaves an opening, his signature jumping guillotine choke could decide the fight.
Max Holloway, nicknamed the “Blessed,” is a former UFC featherweight champion and the current BMF belt titleholder. Holloway’s resume speaks for itself with 26-8-0 (W-L-D) in the lightweight division, 12 wins by knockout, 2 by submission, and a staggering 3,457 significant strikes landed — he’s a statistical marvel going by the book.
His performance at UFC 300, where he faced Justin Gaethje for the BMF title (April 3, 2024), saw him knock out Gaethje cold, with one second remaining in the fifth round. A combo of trading punches (faster hands) and elusive footwork delivered the buzzer-beating knockout finish. Despite a recent loss by KO/TKO to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308, Hollaway’s move to the lightweight division, i.e., UFC 318, plays to his strengths.
The game plan will likely center on his barrage of punches (high-volume striking) and footwork, plus cardio, to overwhelm Poirier. Holloway’s adaptability mid-fight and combos could pose a problem for Poirier, especially if the fight drags on.
In this bout, a victory for Holloway at odds: -133 on BC.Game could be the smart play, with prop bets like Holloway by KO/TKO (+330) for great value.
Curtain closing event for the trilogy
The Max Holloway vs Dustin Poirier fight is too close to call with absolute certainty. Yes, it’s easy to lean on Poirier being the likely victor. Critics might reference the 2-0 win against Max, but these are from a time long gone (2012 and 2019), and they don’t best reflect their current form/growth. Holloway at odds -133 is more agile, capable of delivering the fighting barrage, and has the stamina to go the distance.
Even so, being the curtain closing event for Poirier’s, ardent fans can join in to support the legend in a fitting send-off. Either way, BC.Game has everything to make this fight night unforgettable. Click on the banners to sign up today, claim the exclusive bonus, and make your pick ahead of time.
