Looking Back at Dustin Poirier’s Best Moments in the Octagon

UFC 318 goes later this week at Smoothie King Arena in New Orleans, where the BMF (that’s ‘Baddest Mother Well You Know’) five-round title bout finds champion Max Holloway as the current 5-4 (-125) UFC fight odds favorite against the +105 Dustin Poirier.

Over (-155)/under (+130) is 4½ rounds as UFC makes a first trip to NOLA in a decade.

Thirty-three-year-old Hawaiian Holloway was last seen losing (third-round knockout) to Ilia Topuria in a UFC 308 (United Arab Emirates) lightweight title fight. With a record of 26-8, he had won five of his previous half-dozen fights.

Thirty-six-year-old Louisiana native Poirier has a record of 30-9 (1 no contest). He also comes in off a (fifth-round submission) loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 (Newark, N.J.), a UFC lightweight title event. Poirier is ‘home’ in what is (theoretically) his retirement fight.  

Holloway and Poirier are not exactly strangers to one another (more about that later in this missive), as both remain popular wagering propositions in UFC fights. 

UFC boss Dana White has put together an intriguing card in the Big Easy, which also includes a featherweight tilt between Dan Ige and Patricio Pitbull as well as middleweights Ateba Gautier-Robert Valetin and Paulo Costa-Roman Kopylov. 

Back to our theme, here’s a bit of a primer on Dustin Poirier, headlining July’s UFC schedule…    

Will Dustin Poirier Retire?

If you buy the premise that fighters ever actually retire and stay that way, UFC rumors suggest this is indeed scheduled to be the Dustin Poirier swan song. Though unable to secure the lightweight title belt (aforementioned loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 302), Poirier’s 13-year career has been one of the more storied in UFC annals. As was mentioned, he is 30-9 (1 no contest), 15 of the lefthander’s victories by knockout. 

Some of his best work includes a pair of wins over both Conor McGregor and Max Holloway. That second bout versus Holloway (taking the interim lightweight title at UFC 236 in Atlanta in 2019) is regarded by observers as perhaps the premier effort of Poirier’s career.   

Who Has Dustin Poirier Lost To?

Nine losses by Dustin Poirier have been via knockout (3), submission (4), and decision (4). Those defeats have come against Danny Castillo, Jung Chan-sung, Cub Swanson, Conor McGregor, Michael Johnson, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje, and Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 in his last bout. 

Does BetUS Offer Constant Updates on UFC Fights Betting Lines?

While UFC news is the place to see who’s fighting whom, BetUS is the go-to site to find the latest UFC fights odds ahead of every numbered event, as well as any Fight Night program. 

Looking at the post-UFC 318 schedule, there’s UFC 319 (August in Chicago), UFC 320 (early October in Las Vegas), and UFC 321 (late October in the United Arab Emirates). The next UFC Fight Night is in late July in the United Arab Emirates.

UFC 319’s ledger includes Khamzat Chimaev (-175) against Dricus Du Plessis (+146) in a middleweight title bout. Odds around other bouts figure to be available in the next few days.  

Remember the entire board, including UFC fight odds, is fluid, thus subject to change. 

Any Final Thoughts?

As was mentioned, Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier know each other quite well. Their UFC 318 engagement completes the trilogy. Poirier was a winner (unanimous decision) at UFC 236 (Atlanta) in 2019, after Poirier won (first-round submission) way back at UFC 143 (Las Vegas) in 2012.

While UFC fans can recite the resumes of both Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier, the latter looks to complete a three-bout sweep, going out a winner in his hometown. Those who wager on UFC would be wise to bookmark BetUS to find the latest odds.