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

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

On Saturday, UFC 318 went down in New Orleans, the place in the primary occasion, Holloway lastly obtained a win over Poirier, profitable a unanimous resolution in one of many higher fights of 2025. It was the ultimate battle 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 a lot to debate, let’s handle your questions this week.

Dustin Poirier’s legacy

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

This can be a actually good query, and whereas I feel lots of people would say Poirier — with good purpose — I’m nonetheless going to aspect with Islam Makhachev. However it’s not as easy as you may imagine.

The case for choosing Islam is simple: he’s dramatically extra completed in MMA than Poirier is. Makhachev held an undisputed title, set the report 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 big, and the type of factor that can stand the take a look at of time as new generations of followers enter the game.

The case for Poirier is a bit more tough however nonetheless necessary: Poirier is beloved. Positive, Makhachev is nearly universally revered, however does anybody love him? Probably not. The truth is, 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 related with them emotionally in the best way Poirier has.

There’s additionally the matter that for those who take away any issues for title defenses, Poirier has fought a more durable energy of schedule, and arguably has higher wins. That’s not Makhachev’s fault — you possibly can solely battle who’s there to battle — however the poison capsule in his title reign nonetheless stands out: it’s largely 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 basically places it excessive. If Makhachev was simply the undisputed light-weight champion, possibly I could possibly be satisfied to commerce that for the love and respect of everybody else. However Makhachev is one of the best fighter on Earth, and that’s one thing a valuable few individuals have been capable of declare. Gotta aspect with him.

Light-weight

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

Generations of fighters nearly by no means stick round for very lengthy. It’s extremely tough to hold on to a spot within the High 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 means of and put the previous canine out to pasture. This type of longevity is particular in a single individual, a lot much less a complete crop of them, and we aren’t prone to see it once more anytime quickly.

However it’s not fully over but. Gaethje and Oliveira are nonetheless kicking round and whereas their time on the prime appears close to its finish, these previous battle 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 handle this: Dustin Poirier goes within the Corridor of Fame and he clearly deserves it. No, he by no means received an undisputed title, however he’s an integral a part of the historical past of this technology of fighters. In case you are establishing your Corridor of Fame the place it doesn’t embody guys like Poirier, you then’re doing it improper. 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 battle a yr is outrageously silly. Yearly there’s one other Combat of the 12 months, which means by definition the UFC is staying behind the curve on battle inclusion. There are dozens of fights that deserve recognition, and they need to induct two or three a yr, similar to with fighters.

Second, they solely induct fights, not performances. There are numerous necessary performances that can by no means be inducted as a result of the battle wasn’t exception. I’m pondering particularly of one thing like Poirier’s win over Conor McGregor of their second battle. That battle was nice, however not outrageous, however the second and the importance was huge. That needs to be within the Corridor of Fame. Possibly in the future they’ll repair it to permit for precisely this type of factor.

Max Holloway

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

Yeah, man. Max seemed unimaginable in most methods on Saturday, however I’m now nearly 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 harm through the years. That provides up.

Max has now been dropped in three straight fights, together with his first TKO loss. Poirier has at all times been an enormous puncher however nonetheless, as soon as a fighter begins getting dropped a bunch, you recognize 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 contemplate transferring ahead.

Rematch

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

Not settle for the battle.

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

Max’s chin just isn’t the identical because it as soon as was. He’s had plenty of years within the battle recreation, and he’s on the downslope. Topuria just isn’t. He’s nonetheless getting higher. Which suggests a worse model of Topuria thumped a greater model of Max final yr. That doesn’t bode effectively 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 like 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 pretend title, it feels actual. So defend the BMF belt in opposition to essentially the most enjoyable opponents potential, and let Ilia do the work of being an precise divisional champion — if he’ll even consent to try this.

Thanks for studying, and thanks for everybody who despatched in tweets (Xs?)! Do you’ve got any burning questions on issues not less than considerably associated to fight sports activities? Then you definately’re in luck, as a result of you possibly can 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.