Prior to the Topuria loss, Holloway scored an iconic knockout of Justin Gaethje in his return to lightweight at UFC 300. This time, Holloway looked like a much more natural 155-pounder than he did when he lost to Poirier on short notice for the interim title at UFC 236.

One former champ isn't sold on Topuria's resume — even after a crushing first-round finish. With a thunderous first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira, the undefeated champion delivered one of the most emphatic statements of his young career.

As much as he loves how that has become part of his legend, Holloway selfishly admits that providing something so memorable also gives him the chance to get exactly what he wants in the end. At UFC 300, Holloway became the most talked-about fighter on one of the biggest cards of all time.

Max Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) defends his BMF title in a trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) in Saturday's headliner (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) from Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.

A little over a month separates former UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway and former interim Lightweight Champion Dustin Poirier from locking horns at UFC 318 in Poirier’s home state of ...

Poirier will be flanked by five-time Grammy-winning rapper Lil Wayne, fellow Louisiana royalty, for his retirement fight at UFC 318 against Max Holloway. Poirier will make his final entrance on ...