Dustin Poirier came close to Max Holloway on UFC 318.
The former UFC-Interim light weight champion fought on Saturday against the last fight of his career and an exciting five-round war with BMF champion Max Holloway in New Orleans.
UFC 318 was built in honor of the subtracting Poirier, who put down his gloves after losing old rival Holloway by unanimous decision in their trilogy.
While Holloway was the clear winner, Poirier certainly had his moments with an almost finish in the second round where he visibly stunned Holloway with punches.
On real Poirier -Mode 'The Diamond' tried his characteristic entry: the Guillotine, from which Holloway escaped in the last seconds of round 2.
So how close was Poirier to get Holloway away there?
Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Max Holloway brings Dustin Poirier's almost finish to UFC 318
During the press conference after the fight, Holloway described how heavy pain he was at the end of round 2.
“I was pretty hurt, Bro. I can't say anything,” Holloway told Bloody Elbow and other reporters.
“At the end of the day I was calm. I was cool. I was just chilling. I was happy that we were ready there.
Holloway was asked if Poirier might have found the finish if he would not have tried to stitch the guillotine.
“I don't know. I couldn't tell you,” Holloway replied.
“But when he grabbed my neck, I had something like that today, sir.
“Not today, Bro. You don't get your bronze statue for your house.”
Prior to his last undisputed title fight against Makhachev, Poirier had said that he would get a bronze statue that he would submit the champion with his characteristic guillotine, which he has never actually pulled in an MMA fight.
“Not on me, Bro. You have already submitted my A – once,” said Holloway, referring to the entry of Poirier to him in 2012.
Dustin Poirier does not regret trying Guillotine on Max Holloway
Poirier's Guillotine would be the last entry attempt of his career.
The Smoothie King Arena then roared Poirier Guillotine, making many think that this would be the way he would close his legendary career.
🤯📊 Interesting fact: Dustin Poirier has tried 15 Guillotines in his UFC career.
1 vs. Pablo Garza5 vs. Eddie Alvarez (two fights) 1 vs. Khabib4 vs. BSD3 vs. Dan hooker1 vs. Holloway pic.twitter.com/dqalypb5yyyyy
– Home of Fight (@home_of_fight) July 20, 2025
View tweet
Despite the fact that he did not receive the entry, Poirier is not someone who takes it back.
“No. Never,” Poirier said if he regretted the guillotine in Holloway.
“One last …
'And damn it, I really thought that would be the one, man.
“I had injured him, but he rolled on his back and I just couldn't control it,” said Poirier about losing the entry during the press conference after the fight.