The Smoothie King Middle hosted Saturday’s UFC 318 struggle card. The occasion was headlined by a light-weight bout for the symbolic ‘BMF’ title between titleholder Max Holloway and former interim light-weight champ Dustin Poirier. The bout is a trilogy match and Poirier’s ultimate struggle.
The trilogy struggle got here 13 years after the 2 met for the primary time in a featherweight match at UFC 143 in Holloway’s octagon debut in February 2012. Poirier handed Holloway his first profession loss that night time in Las Vegas. Their paths would cross once more in 2019 for the interim light-weight championship. Poirier received the struggle through unanimous determination to choose up the interim title and a second victory over Holloway.
Poirier made the stroll to the octagon for the thirty second and ultimate time however did not get the fairytale ended that he needed.
Poirier landed first with a left hand. Holloway labored on the surface and answered with a leg kick. Holloway started concentrating on Poirier’s physique with kicks. Holloway landed a proper hand that dropped Poirier. Poirier labored to get to his toes and Holloway landed one other shot that knocked Poirier again to the canvas. Poirier lined and labored his means again to his toes.
Poirier pressed ahead with a mix. Holloway continued to focus on Poirier’s physique. Holloway linked with a proper hand. Holloway employed the upper output. He pressed ahead with a mix. Poirier responded with a stiff jab. MMAWeekly scored the primary spherical 10-9 for Holloway.
Poirier pressured Holloway to begin the second however Holloway circled away. Holloway landed a mix and Poirier answered with a left hand. Poirier linked with knee. Holloway discovered a house for a proper hand counter. Holloway landed a proper hand that wobbled airier. Holloway unloaded and linked. Poirier went down. Holloway mounted him. Poirier labored his means again to half guard. Holloway stood and let Poirier again to his toes with a minute remaining. Poirier linked with a mix. Poirier began landed extra. He landed a proper hand that damage Holloway. He adopted Holloway to the canvas and seemed for a guillotine choke. It wasn’t there and landed elbows. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for Holloway.
They exchanged leg kicks to begin the third. Poirier inched ahead behind his jab. Holloway linked with a counter left. The tempo slowed a bit. Poirier’s jab snapped Holloway’s head again. Holloway continued to focus on Poirier’s physique. Holloway stepped within the pocked with a mix. Poirier responded with a proper hand. Holloway pressed ahead with a clear proper hand. Poirier landed a tough left hand within the closing seconds. It was an in depth spherical. MMAWeekly scored it 10-9 for Poirier.
Poirier landed a left hand early within the fourth spherical. Holloway pressed ahead and landed a proper hand. Poirier landed a left and picked up the stress. They exchanged with each touchdown. Holloway continued to put money into physique pictures. Holloway landed a mix. Poirier responded with a giant left hand. Holloway had the upper output. Poirier landed a clear left hand late within the spherical. Holloway landed a spinning again kick to the physique and Poirier reacted with a mix. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for Holloway.
They touched gloves to begin the ultimate body. Poirier moved ahead. He landed a left hand. Holloway answered with a proper hand. Poirier pressed ahead with a mix. Holloway continued to land to the physique. Poirier discovered a house together with his proper hand. Holloway delivered a tough physique kick adopted by a mix. An unintentional eye poke by Holloway briefly halted the motion for just a few seconds. Again to motion, Poirier landed a left hand. Holloway landed back-to-back proper fingers. Poirier linked with a clear left hand. They pointed to th aground with 10 seconds to go. Holloway unleashes a flurry. One other shut spherical. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for Holloway.
The judges scored the struggle for Holloway through unanimous determination. The scorecards learn 48-47, 49-46 and 49-46.
