Who is the only fighter who has managed to put the lights out on Max Holloway in the UFC?

A clean slate.That’s what Max Holloway was after when he stepped back into the gym following the first knockout loss of his career. Last October, Ilia Topuria made his first featherweight title defense against the Hawaiian, stopping him with a devastating KO in the third round.

Leaving that behind, Holloway is now set to face Dustin Poirier for the third time, defending his BMF title in the main event of UFC 318 in New Orleans, Louisiana, early Sunday morning (4:00 a.m. ET on MAX).

A brutal left hand landed square on Holloway’s face in Abu Dhabi. Just months earlier, he’d insisted no one could turn his lights out – a threat Topuria had repeatedly thrown his way. The Spanish-Georgian fighter followed through, and Holloway exited the arena surrounded by family and fan support. He had tried to reclaim the featherweight title – the one Alexander Volkanovski took from him and held through two rematches – but failed to bring it home.

Holloway had long bounced between the featherweight and lightweight divisions, but after his most crushing defeat, he decided to stick with the latter. Despite the shift, he remains ranked No. 1 at 145 pounds – something that clearly irritates him. “It’s ridiculous. I’m not going back. Take me off the rankings, that chapter is closed,” he said firmly. Cutting weight has never been easy, and at 5′11″, hitting just over 145 pounds has become, as he puts it, “crazy.” He knows he can’t keep pushing his body that far.

While Topuria remains the only fighter to have finished Holloway before the final bell, the Hawaiian isn’t exactly dazzled by his résumé – especially after Charles Oliveira, another former opponent, said Max hit him the hardest. “Topuria beat some big names, no doubt,” Holloway acknowledged. “But he beat Volkanovski right after he lost to (Islam) Makhachev. People just see the names, not the context. What win streak was Oliveira even on when he beat him?” In their bout, only the featherweight belt was on the line – Holloway’s BMF title wasn’t part of the stakes.

A trilogy for the ages

Nine months later, Holloway has taken his time to heal – and now he’s back, stepping into the octagon against a familiar face: Dustin Poirier. This will be their third clash, and it’s already being hailed as one of the most compelling trilogies in UFC history. This time, the BMF belt is officially up for grabs. “If he wants a war, that’s exactly what he’ll get,” Holloway promised. “There’s going to be a lot of head punches. I wouldn’t want it any other way – especially with the BMF on the line.”

For Poirier, this will be the final chapter of his MMA career. Known as “The Diamond,” he’s one of the sport’s most universally respected figures. He’s faced the best of the best, including his legendary trilogy with Conor McGregor. Though he never held the undisputed lightweight title, he did earn the interim belt – and both times he fought Holloway, he came out on top. The first meeting, in 2012, ended with a first-round submission. Their 2019 rematch went the distance, with Poirier winning by unanimous decision.

This weekend, Poirier looks to go out on a high – and Holloway wants revenge. One last fight, one final statement.

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