UFC 318 mailbag: Reflecting on Dustin Poirier’s career and where Max Holloway goes next

Dustin Poirier is formally accomplished combating, and Max Holloway stays the ‘BMF’ champion.

On Saturday, UFC 318 went down in New Orleans, the place in the principle occasion, Holloway lastly acquired a win over Poirier, successful a unanimous determination in one of many higher fights of 2025. It was the ultimate combat of Poirier’s storied profession, and now that he’s gone, raises questions on his place in MMA historical past, together with the place Max goes from right here.

So, with loads to debate, let’s deal with your questions this week.

Dustin Poirier’s legacy

Placing cash apart, would you fairly have Dustin’s or Islam’s light-weight profession?

It is a actually good query, and whereas I feel lots of people would say Poirier — with good cause — I’m nonetheless going to facet with Islam Makhachev. But it surely’s not as simple as you may consider.

The case for selecting Islam is straightforward: he’s dramatically extra completed in MMA than Poirier is. Makhachev held an undisputed title, set the file for many title defenses at light-weight, and was the highest pound-for-pound fighter within the sport for some chunk of time. That’s large, and the kind of factor that may stand the check of time as new generations of followers enter the game.

The case for Poirier is a bit more troublesome however nonetheless vital: Poirier is beloved. Certain, Makhachev is sort of universally revered, however does anybody love him? Probably not. In actual fact, most of Makhachev’s prime years have been him because the spoiler, the good darkness to beat. First it was Charles Oliveira, then it was Alexander Volkanovski that followers cheered for, then it was Poirier, and now it’s Ilia Topuria. The broader public has by no means gotten behind Makhachev, and he’s by no means linked with them emotionally in the best way Poirier has.

There’s additionally the matter that should you take away any concerns for title defenses, Poirier has fought a more durable energy of schedule, and arguably has higher wins. That’s not Makhachev’s fault — you may solely combat who’s there to combat — however the poison capsule in his title reign nonetheless stands out: it’s principally featherweights.

Nonetheless, for as nice as Poirier’s profession was, I’ve to go together with Makhachev, and it’s the pound-for-pound spot that actually places it excessive. If Makhachev was simply the undisputed light-weight champion, perhaps I might be satisfied to commerce that for the love and respect of everybody else. However Makhachev is the most effective fighter on Earth, and that’s one thing a treasured few individuals have been capable of declare. Gotta facet with him.

Light-weight

The best era of lightweights we’ve ever seen is over Jed, can we get an ode to the lightweights of 2017-2025.

So we’re clear, this wasn’t simply the best era of lightweights we’ve ever seen, it was the best era of fighters in a single weight class. Khabib Nurmagomedov, Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, and Tony Ferguson simply to call the most important ones. And that doesn’t embody guys like Eddie Alvarez, Anthony Pettis, and Michael Chandler, who’re within the dialog as properly. It’s a crop of ludicrous expertise that has accomplished the unimaginable: proceed to hold on.

Generations of fighters nearly by no means stick round for very lengthy. It’s extremely troublesome to hold on to a spot within the Prime 10 for years on finish, a lot much less for a number of individuals to take action. The brand new blood is available in and forces the previous blood out. However that hasn’t occurred at 155. There have been a couple of new entrants (Arman Tsarukyan) however each time a brand new contender arose, the previous guard despatched them packing. Rafael Fiziev, Benoit Saint Denis, Dan Hooker, and extra, merely couldn’t break by way of and put the previous canine out to pasture. This kind of longevity is particular in a single particular person, a lot much less a complete crop of them, and we aren’t prone to see it once more anytime quickly.

But it surely’s not fully over but. Gaethje and Oliveira are nonetheless kicking round and whereas their time on the high appears close to its finish, these previous conflict horses have proven repeatedly to not rely them out. We might have a couple of fights left.

Corridor of Fame

What number of fights do Dustin Justin and Max deserve within the corridor of fame if there’s not a restrict on it?

First, let’s simply deal with this: Dustin Poirier goes within the Corridor of Fame and he clearly deserves it. No, he by no means gained an undisputed title, however he’s an integral a part of the historical past of this era of fighters. In case you are organising your Corridor of Fame the place it doesn’t embody guys like Poirier, then you definately’re doing it fallacious. Simply have a Corridor of Champions.

Now to your query. For Max, 4 fights needs to be within the Corridor of Fame: Dustin 2 and three, Gaethje, and Alexander Volkanovski 2. For Dustin, six: Max 2 and three, Gaethje 1, Korean Zombie, Dan Hooker, and Chandler.

However right here’s the factor, each males ought to have extra that get in. I’ve two main frustrations with the UFC Corridor of Fame. The primary is that inducting one combat a 12 months is outrageously silly. Yearly there’s one other Struggle of the Yr, that means by definition the UFC is staying behind the curve on combat inclusion. There are dozens of fights that deserve recognition, and they need to induct two or three a 12 months, similar to with fighters.

Second, they solely induct fights, not performances. There are numerous vital performances that may by no means be inducted as a result of the combat wasn’t exception. I’m pondering particularly of one thing like Poirier’s win over Conor McGregor of their second combat. That combat was effective, however not outrageous, however the second and the importance was large. That needs to be within the Corridor of Fame. Perhaps at some point they’ll repair it to permit for precisely this kind of factor.

Max Holloway

Did Max’s chin look slightly bit suspect to you?

Yeah, man. Max seemed unbelievable in most methods on Saturday, however I’m now just about sure his chin ain’t what it as soon as was. There’s no disgrace in that, the person had an ALL-TIME nice chin, however he’s taken a lot injury over time. That provides up.

Max has now been dropped in three straight fights, together with his first TKO loss. Poirier has all the time been a giant puncher however nonetheless, as soon as a fighter begins getting dropped a bunch, that we’re on the house stretch. Max is nice so this doesn’t essentially imply his profession is on borrowed time, however it’s one thing to think about transferring ahead.

Rematch

What ought to Max do completely different comparatively to the primary combat if he have been to face Ilia once more, this time at 155?

Not settle for the combat.

I’m not even joking. I do know that Max desires one other crack at Ilia Topuria, and there’s even a rising assortment of followers who wish to see it, however I’m not certainly one of them. sure, Max at light-weight has slightly extra energy, which is sweet, however that combat would solely be worse for him.

Max’s chin just isn’t the identical because it as soon as was. He’s had numerous years within the combat sport, and he’s on the downslope. Topuria just isn’t. He’s nonetheless getting higher. Which implies a worse model of Topuria thumped a greater model of Max final 12 months. That doesn’t bode properly for a future model of each.

And what does Max want the light-weight belt for anyway? I do know fighters like shiny issues, however he already has a belt. Defend that belt. I would love to see Max construct some stage of credibility within the BMF title by treating it like an actual belt, not an adjunct. As a result of as long as Max holds the faux title, it feels actual. So defend the BMF belt in opposition to probably the most enjoyable opponents attainable, and let Ilia do the work of being an precise divisional champion — if he’ll even consent to do this.

Thanks for studying, and thanks for everybody who despatched in tweets (Xs?)! Do you might have any burning questions on issues at the very least considerably associated to fight sports activities? Then you definately’re in luck, as a result of you may ship your tweets to me, @JedKMeshew, and I’ll reply my favourite ones! Doesn’t matter in the event that they’re topical or insane, simply as long as they’re good. Thanks once more, and see y’all subsequent week.