UFC 318 roundtable: Can Dustin Poirier author the most feel-good MMA ending ever?

Dustin Poirier, it’s time to say goodbye.

Parting is such candy sorrow, particularly once we’re speaking about one of the vital thrilling, most completed, and most beloved fighters in MMA historical past. You already know a fighter is particular when the UFC is keen to construct a present round them with no title on the road.

True, the UFC 318 principal occasion technically entails a belt as Poirier will get his second likelihood to turn out to be “BMF” champion when he takes on Max Holloway, however let’s be actual, that is all about honoring Poirier as he makes the stroll to the octagon for the final time.

He couldn’t have a extra becoming dance accomplice as he takes on Holloway, a fellow legend whose profession has ran nearly parallel to Poirier’s. They first met in 2012, then once more in 2019, and now, as elder statesmen, they put together to ship off Poirier in fashion.

MMA Combating’s Damon Martin, Alexander Ok. Lee, and Jed Meshew sit up for this Saturday’s pay-per-view in New Orleans and ponder what the trilogy bout means for these two warriors, plus different storylines to observe on the UFC’s July pay-per-view.

1. What does Holloway vs. Poirier 3 imply for his or her respective legacies?

Martin: As a lot as this occasion is constructed round Dustin Poirier’s retirement, the battle itself means a complete lot extra for Max Holloway as a result of he’s not completed but. Had he determined to stay round at light-weight after delivering one of many best finishes in MMA historical past together with his last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, Holloway might already be a title contender at 155 kilos. As a substitute, he went again to featherweight and misplaced to Ilia Topuria. He can catapult himself proper again close to the highest of the light-weight division with an emphatic win.

Add to that, Holloway is at the moment 0-2 towards Poirier and there’s no manner he needs to finish this trilogy with a 3rd straight loss.

For Poirier, it’s a uncommon likelihood for a fighter to finish his profession off a marquee win — and let’s be trustworthy these glad moments can just about be counted on one hand. However Poirier is cemented as an all-time fan favourite whatever the consequence of this battle. He will surely slightly retire off a win than a loss, however the New Orleans crowd, each fan watching world wide, and anyone who is aware of something about MMA goes to provide Poirier his flowers it doesn’t matter what occurs at UFC 318.

Lee: Though Holloway is actually being introduced in to do a job (whether or not that job is sending Poirier out on his protect or giving Poirier another highlight-reel win continues to be to be decided), that is an oddly significant bout for him from a pure numbers perspective.

If he loses on Saturday, he’ll be 0-3 towards two of his best rivals, Poirier and Alexander Volkanovski. That’s bizarre, proper? There isn’t one other all-time nice fighter that has skilled that stage of futility when getting into the cage with their most famous opposition and it’s simply one thing I’ll take into consideration at any time when we speak about Holloway’s legacy. So there’s that.

On the flip-side, Poirier can add another unbelievable win to probably the greatest résumés that doesn’t embody an undisputed title. He completed Holloway within a spherical within the first battle, gained an all-time basic of their rematch, and if he beats Holloway in one other thriller he’ll have the ability to experience these good vibes for the remainder of his days. Let’s simply hope it doesn’t end up like Katie Taylor-Amanda Serrano 3.

Meshew: Not a factor.

Saturday’s principal occasion is unbelievable and might be the front-runner for Combat of the 12 months with no punch being thrown, however it’s surprisingly meaningless.

By my estimation, if Holloway retired tomorrow, he’d be one of many 20 best fighters of all time, and you can make a powerful argument he’s greater than that. By the identical token, no matter what occurs on Saturday, Poirier will go down as one of many 50 best fighters ever, and extra importantly, one of the vital beloved.

Poirier already has two wins over Holloway, two wins over Conor McGregor, and a slew of different large wins. On high of that, he’s considered one of only a few fighters to earn Combat of the 12 months honors greater than as soon as. Regardless of by no means having gained an undisputed title, Poirier is a no-doubt-about-it, first-ballot Corridor of Famer, no matter occurs on Saturday. He simply has the prospect to do one thing only a few individuals do on this sport, exit on a win.

And for Holloway, his profession doesn’t appear near ending. Whereas Holloway undoubtedly looks like he’s not on the peak of his powers, he’s nonetheless fairly younger, and all-time nice fighters tend to have nice performances for years after their primes. A win over Poirier can be a pleasant extra feather in his cap, nevertheless it wouldn’t actually transfer the needle, and a loss makes nearly no distinction.

The that means of this battle is totally within the fan expertise and having fun with one final stroll from one of many best motion fighters ever as he matches up with one other all-time nice. It’s a completely self-contained battle, and actually, that’s good.

2. Who wants a win extra? Paulo Costa or Patricio Pitbull?

Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Meshew: Patricio Pitbull and it’s not shut.

Everyone knew when Pitbull came visiting to the UFC that he was previous his prime, however there was nonetheless the hope that he’d magic his manner right into a title battle, for outdated time’s sake. In spite of everything, Michael Chandler isn’t even good and he was two punches away from profitable the belt, why couldn’t Pitbull do it? Sadly, if Pitbull can’t beat Dan Ige, then he’s undoubtedly not going to do it.

On the opposite facet, how a lot does anybody actually care about Paulo Costa anymore? It looks like he hasn’t fought in a lifetime, and whereas he had a second close to the highest, Costa is one other basic occasion of a fighter who was sizzling for a second after which finally burned out.

Martin: There’s little doubt Pitbull desperately wants a win right here or out of the blue he turns into very irrelevant as a 38-year-old veteran with the sand operating out of the hourglass. Pitbull is arguably the best Bellator fighter in historical past and he made a complete lot of noise to get launched from the PFL so he might lastly signal with the UFC.

Sadly, his first efficiency was utterly forgettable. He simply regarded like a deer within the headlights in his battle towards Yair Rodriguez. If Pitbull can’t present some pleasure and an enormous win on Saturday towards a really harmful however fringe high 15 fighter in Ige, his prospects for the long run are nearly null and void. Chandler earned himself some grace by laying waste to Dan Hooker in his debut even when he’s solely gone 1-5 since then.

Pitbull not solely wants a win, he has to point out he can dangle with elite featherweights within the UFC or his profession contained in the octagon may finish faster than former Bellator champion Will Brooks.

Lee: Costa doesn’t simply want a win, he wants a knockout, as a result of he’s another loss away from fading all the way in which into irrelevance.

Each time individuals convey up Costa’s supposed punching energy, I chortle. The person has not gained a battle by KO/TKO in seven years. Clearly, that has quite a bit to do with inactivity, however he’s fought six occasions since his most up-to-date end and out of doors of a few shiny spots, he hasn’t been capable of put anybody down. I get that he’s standard nonetheless, however being a meme lord can solely take you up to now.

So please, Costa, give your followers some hope that your in-cage profession hasn’t gone utterly bust since you’re two extra disappointing performances away from campaigning to be the B-side in an influencer boxing match.

3. Exterior of the principle occasion, what’s the most “BMF” battle on the cardboard?

Picture by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Lee: Oh my goodness, Kyler Phillips vs. Vinicius Oliveira, why are you flying below the radar?

We don’t get to see Phillips battle sufficient, so it’s straightforward to overlook that when he began his UFC profession he instantly stood out as one of the vital thrilling fighters within the deep bantamweight division. At 30, “The Matrix” nonetheless has loads of time to make a run to a title shot and stealing a few of Oliveira’s shine can be an enormous step in that course.

Additionally, let’s admit it, the entire “BMF” theme for UFC 318 is fairly shaky and I select to consider the matchmakers pushed to ensure this battle occurred on this card. As a result of if Phillips and Oliveira ship to their full potential, even Holloway and Poirier will discover themselves with a tricky act to observe.

Meshew: In any basic sense, it’s fairly clearly Kevin Holland vs. Daniel Rodriguez.

Whereas individuals suppose “BMF” stands for “Baddest Mom F*cker” they’re mistaken. It truly stands for “Bmost Mpopular Fjourneyman” belt. The B, the M, and the F are all silent. Simply take a look at who created the belt within the first place: Nate Diaz, to advertise a battle with Jorge Masvidal. I’ve been round this sport a very long time, and whereas each males have been rock-solid fighters over their careers, Diaz and Masvidal are usually not within the Prime 100 of all-time greats. Possibly not within the Prime 500. They have been good fighters whose reputation vastly outstripped their talents.

And that feels just about completely aligned for Kevin Holland. “Massive Mouth” is wildly standard however has by no means put collectively a sustained run of excellence, partly as a result of he’s bounced round weight courses. On his finest day he could be a drawback for anybody, however he’s additionally liable to shedding to less-talented fighters with a stable sport plan (and certain some wrestling). And whereas Rodriguez is definitely not almost as standard as any of the aforementioned fighters, he nonetheless looks like he’s in the identical boat. Good however not nice, however most likely extra well-regarded casually than he truly is.

Martin: I’m going to face on an island with this choose however I’m saying Brendan Allen vs. Marvin Vettori—and never as a result of I anticipate this to essentially seem like a Combat of the 12 months. What it actually comes right down to is how a lot these two hate one another—there’s a lot dangerous blood, they famously received right into a brawl inside a on line casino at a PFL occasion this previous August.

Now we’ve seen prior to now that utter disdain between fighters can nonetheless result in an actual stinker—look no additional than Muhammad Mokaev vs. Manel Kape—however Allen and Vettori are each coming off back-to-back losses and neither of them needs to provide an inch to the opposite with regards to a possible third consecutive defeat. That would end in a staring contest, nevertheless it might additionally pressure one or each of them to throw warning to the wind and go for the end to make sure job safety. And there’s a great likelihood this one doesn’t finish with a handshake when it’s throughout so the fireworks may not cease with the ultimate horn.