It’s fight week for Hawaii’s Max Holloway, who returns to the Octagon Saturday to defend his BMF title in the main event of UFC 318 against longtime rival Dustin Poirier in New Orleans.
Holloway (26-8), the former UFC featherweight champion now competing full-time at lightweight, enters the bout looking for his first win over Poirier after dropping their previous two matchups, including his UFC debut back in 2012. For Poirier (30-9), nicknamed “The Diamond,” the fight will be the final bout of his career before retirement.
Reflecting on his journey, the Waianae native shared what advice he would give his 20-year-old self ahead of that first meeting with Poirier.
“Go out there and have fun,” Holloway said. “Don’t let the crowd or the excitement get to you. Go prove to the world that you belong here.”
Looking ahead to Saturday, Holloway also noted what he hopes to remind fans about his legacy.
“Go out there and remind people who you are,” he said. “There’s a lot of people saying they’re better boxers, better strikers, better fighters. This man’s got history against Hawaii. So go get one back for the Hawaiians.”
Holloway joked that Hawaii is due for a win against Poirier, as he and teammate Yancy Medeiros are winless against Poirier, and was reminded that Hawaii could use a win in New Orleans, period. Recalling the University of Hawaii football team’s loss to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl at the Superdome back in 2007.
“Yeah, I didn’t even count that,” he laughed. “We gotta get something from Louisiana, bro.”
Holloway vs. Poirier III for the BMF title headlines UFC 318, which airs at 4 p.m. Hawaii time on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
Also on the card, Haleiwa’s Dan Ige will take on former Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull.