Whether it’s Max Holloway or Dustin Poilier, the real winner will be the fans.
Diamond took his final walk to the Octagon this Saturday night in his hometown of New Orleans, headlines for UFC 318 inside the Smoothie King Center. It is Holloway to stand on Poirier’s great victory path with his MMA Swan song.
Poilier will take part in the trilogy battle with a 2-0 lead over the former featherweight title holder, but fans will definitely be there for the treat, whether he has achieved a clean sweep or not.
At least that’s what Eddie Alvarez thinks, but it’s going to be hard to find fans you disagree with.
“In the end, those who win this will be fans,” Alvarez told Schmo. “You won’t be Dustin or Max. The winner of this – the real winner will be a fan on the night of the fight.”
Dustin Poirier is ready to close his career with a BMF title victory over Max Holloway
Alvarez knows one or two things about how tough “diamonds” are. Their first scrap ended with an unfortunate non-contest following an illegal knee, but a year later Poirier ran it with his second TKO on the “Underground King.”
Since then, Poirier has added numerous highlight reel finishes to his resume, including a 2021 Conor McGregor knockout.
He also choked Michael Chandler and landed a crazy knockout against Benoit Saint Dennis, securing a title opportunity against then lightweight champion Islamic Makhachev.
Despite his brave efforts, Poirier succumbed to filing in the fifth round, putting an end to a six-year bid, becoming an indisputable title holder.
Poirier never won the 155 pound crown, but when Holloway places a bragging rights belt (BMF title) on Nora’s line, he still has the opportunity to retire as a champion.