The UFC is back in the bayou for the first time in 10 years, and one of Louisiana’s own will hang up the gloves after the headliner. UFC 318 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.

Another opponent on Poirier's UFC resume, however, is former "BMF" champion Justin Gaethje. Unlike Holloway, both men are 1-1, with Gaethje having won the latter fight at UFC 291 with an emphatic head-kick KO in July 2023.

Get the best Holloway vs. Poirier predictions ahead of Saturday's bout in New Orleans. Free UFC picks for July 19.

Holloway was not intimidated, however, as he stood up to Poirier in front of the hostile crowd. "Blessed" will need to overcome that element at UFC 318 in addition to trying to avenge a submission loss to Poirier at UFC 143 in February 2012 and a unanimous decision defeat in the rematch at UFC 236 in April 2019.

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Louisiana legend Dustin Poirier toured the New Orleans Saints' facilities and shared his take on the state of the team before his final fight.

The promotion has released the UFC 318 cold open video, and it pays tribute to the rivalry between the two longtime UFC standouts, who have fought two times previously. Poirier beat Holloway in Holloway's promotional debut in 2012, then beat him for the interim lightweight belt in 2019.

Dustin Poirier will receive a hero's welcome in his native Louisiana at UFC 318 when he battles Max Holloway for a third time in their careers. It's a respect Poirier earned from his peers and the promotion that they would take a PPV event to New Orleans for the first time in 25 years as a proper send off to one of the good guys in the sport's history.