Despite suffering a loss in his final UFC fight, Poirier walks away from fighting as a legend, and added one more signature performance to his stellar resume. But early on in the fight, it looked like Poirier\u2019s last hurrah would be cut short as Holloway earned a big knockdown in the opening minutes.<\/p>\n
![\"Max](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2226081603-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty ImagesAljamain Sterling questions Max Holloway\u2019s inability to finish Dustin Poirier at UFC 318<\/p>\n
Just under two minutes into Round 1, Holloway dropped Poirier twice in a wild sequence and appeared on the cusp of finishing his three-time rival. But despite Holloway\u2019s pressure and brutal ground-and-pound offense, Poirier was able to survive the early barrage and go the full five-round distance.<\/p>\n
Holloway\u2019s Round 1 highlights led him to earn a unanimous decision victory over Poirier and spoil the latter\u2019s retirement bout. But according to a former UFC champion, Holloway purposely refused to finish Poirier in Round 1 despite having him on the edge of a stoppage.<\/p>\n
In a recent post on X<\/a>, former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling<\/a> expressed his position that Holloway let Poirier off the hook at UFC 318.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought I was the only one that felt that way about this sequence,\u201d Sterling began. <\/p>\n \u201cOnly Max can say but it looked like he could\u2019ve stepped on the gas a bit more if he wanted to during the gaps where he just seems to slow down on throwing strikes.\u201d<\/p>\n Holloway repeatedly echoed his intentions to play the \u2018spoiler\u2019 role at UFC 318 as he looked to bounce back from a brutal KO loss to Ilia Topuria<\/a> in his last fight. Holloway and Poirier have shared a lot of respect<\/a> for one another during their careers, fueling Sterling\u2019s assertion.<\/p>\n In addition to Sterling\u2019s claims, Poirier says Holloway told him he \u2018was out\u2019<\/a> after getting stunned in Round 2. Poirier nearly secured a guillotine choke submission after dropping the BMF champion with a massive punch.<\/p>\n Yall aren\u2019t gonna wanna hear this right now and I totally understand\u2026but Max pulled back here pic.twitter.com\/PXLOS89OGB<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 MMA\u00b2 (@mma_squared) July 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Dustin Poirier shared a heartwarming moment with Max Holloway\u2019s son backstage at UFC 318<\/p>\n After their five-round war at UFC 318, Holloway, Poirier, and their respective teams shared some heartwarming moments backstage. Poirier had a viral moment with Holloway\u2019s son, Rush, as the latter congratulated Poirier on his retirement.<\/p>\n Poirier and Rush\u2019s interaction came six years<\/a> after Poirier comforted Rush backstage following Holloway\u2019s rematch loss at UFC 236. Rush was visibly emotional after Holloway\u2019s long winning streak<\/a> came to an end, and Poirier showed class in assuring him that his father was okay and healthy.<\/p>\n After retiring at UFC 318, Poirier\u2019s next UFC stop will likely be in the promotion\u2019s Hall of Fame wing. As for Holloway, he\u2019s nearing a potential lightweight title shot and a chance at revenge against Topuria.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n