Dustin Poirier’s latest training footage has left some fans believing Max Holloway could knock him out at UFC 318.
Poirier bows out of professional MMA on July 19 when he faces Holloway in the main event of UFC 318 in his native New Orleans, Louisiana.
Poirier and Holloway will run it back for the third time at UFC 318Getty Images - Getty‘The Diamond’ is calling it quits on an iconic 15-year, 41-fight career that has witnessed him challenge for a UFC title on three separate occasions.
He was submitted by former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in his last fight, meaning the chances of another title shot at 36 years old were greatly reduced.
Hence, Poirier decided that his fight against fellow veteran Holloway would be his last.
He has had over a year to prepare for the bout with Holloway, and took to Instagram on Sunday with some fresh training footage, hitting pads with his coach, Dyah Davis, at American Top Team.
The New Orleans man let loose some heavy combinations, with a variety of exchanges thrown into the mix as he looked genuinely pretty sharp overall.
But some fans don’t believe this will be enough for Holloway, with many predicting a knockout from ‘Blessed’ on July 19.
One fan wrote on X in response to Poirier’s training: “He is hitting the canvas harder than [Justin] Gaethje,” referring to Holloway’s iconic KO win over Gaethje at UFC 300 in April.
Another added: “I have a feeling Max Holloway will knock out Dustin Poirier.”
And a third said: “He’ll be sleeping very soon here.”
Poirier vs Holloway is a trilogy, as the former welcomed the latter to the UFC in 2012, and the pair shared the Octagon once again seven years later in an interim lightweight title bout, with Poirier winning both.
Poirier was seen hitting pads with his American Top Team coach Dyah Davis@dustinpoirier - InstagramIt will also be one of the longest-standing trilogies in UFC history, though Holloway was the last person Poirier expected to fight in his retirement bout.
Poirier has previously explained feeling ‘blindsided’ during negotiations with Dana White‘s promotion, as he had asked to fight Gaethje ‘because we’re one and one.’
Although some fans are strongly in Holloway’s corner for the main event bout, others stated the complete opposite, with some claiming Poirier could be convinced to stay in the sport with a devastating finish at UFC 318.
One said: “Sleeping Max to finish the trifecta of wins will be cinema.”
A second wrote: “Max Holloway, make sure to bring a pillow…”
While a third added: “Calling it now. He beats Max and then calls out Ilia [Topuria] for one more.”
Poirier was submitted by Makhachev last time out at UFC 302GettyTopuria was crowned the new champion at 155 lbs last weekend when he brutally knocked out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317.
The Georgian-born Spanish fighter is undefeated (17-0) in pro MMA and unbeaten in eight successive UFC fights.
He knocked out Holloway in his last fight before doing the same to Oliveira, with many fans calling for ‘El Matador’ to make the first defence of his lightweight title against Liverpool’s star Paddy Pimblett next.
Should Poirier defeat Holloway, he may have the urge to favour one final outing if there is a UFC title on the line.
Poirier has previously stated he has ‘nothing but respect’ for Topuria, but has asserted multiple times that there will be no more action after Holloway.
“My next fight will be my last fight,” he told talkSPORT in February.
UFC 318: Holloway vs Poirier 3
Card so far
Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier – Lightweight for BMF Title Dan Ige vs Patricio Freire – Featherweight Paulo Costa vs Roman Kopylov – Middleweight Ateba Gautier vs Robert Valentin – Middleweight Marvin Vettori vs. Brendan Allen – Middleweight Michael Johnson vs Daniel Zellhuber – Lightweight Neil Magny vs. Gunnar Nelson – Welterweight Kyler Phillips vs. Vinicius Oliveira – Bantamweight Adam Fugitt vs. Islam Dulatov – Welterweight Jimmy Crute vs. Marcin Prachnio – Light Heavyweight Ikram Aliskerov vs. Brunno Ferreira – Middleweight Carli Judice vs. Nicolle Caliari – Women’s Flyweight“I’m going to put the gloves down, and I’m just hoping I will be able to do that here in New Orleans, Louisiana, where I picked them up.
“I started fighting in Louisiana, I would love to retire here in Louisiana in the summer.”
Poirier’s wishes have since been granted as he will headline a UFC card for one final time before turning his back on MMA for good.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( ‘Sleeping soon’ – Dustin Poirier posts training footage and fans make bold Max Holloway UFC 318 prediction )
Also on site :