Few moments in MMA hit quite like a retirement fight, especially when it closes out a trilogy. Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier met for the third time at UFC 318 in New Orleans, with the BMF belt on the line and Poirier’s career on the brink. This article walks through the full fight card, start times for US and UK audiences, how to watch, and the story behind Holloway’s victory.

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Event: UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 · Date: July 19, 2025 · Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana · Main Event Result: Max Holloway def. Dustin Poirier · Total Fights: 14 · BMF Belt: On the line

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact PPV buyrate
  • Dustin Poirier’s total fight purse
  • Future plans for Max Holloway
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Holloway likely moves on to next BMF challenger; Poirier retires (ESPN Press Room)

Eight facts from the event tell the story of the night.

Label Value
Event Name UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3
Date July 19, 2025
Venue Smoothie King Center, New Orleans
Main Event Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier (Lightweight)
Result Max Holloway win (unanimous decision)
Total Fights 14
BMF Belt Retained by Max Holloway
Estimated PPV Price $79.99

What time does the UFC 318 main card start?

The main card for UFC 318 began at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on Saturday, July 19, 2025, as confirmed by the UFC official event page. The ESPN press release detailed the full broadcast schedule: early prelims at 6 p.m. ET, prelims at 8 p.m. ET.

UFC 318 main card start time in US time zones

  • ET: 10 p.m.
  • CT: 9 p.m.
  • MT: 8 p.m.
  • PT: 7 p.m.

UFC 318 UK time conversion

For viewers in the United Kingdom, the main card started at 3 a.m. BST on Sunday, July 20, 2025. Early prelims began at 11 p.m. BST on Saturday. UK rights for UFC events are held by TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport).

The trade-off

UK fans faced a late-night or early-morning watch, but the main event delivered a career-defining moment that made the sleep loss worthwhile.

The implication: if you’re in the UK, plan for a 3 a.m. start for the main card, or catch the replay on demand via TNT Sports.

Who is fighting at UFC 318?

Fourteen bouts filled the card, headlined by the trilogy clash. According to the UFC official event page, the main card consisted of five fights.

UFC 318 main event: Holloway vs. Poirier 3

Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier fought for the BMF belt at lightweight. Holloway won by unanimous decision with scorecards of 48-47, 49-46, and 49-46 (ESPN Fight Center). The ESPN press release described the bout as Poirier’s retirement fight.

UFC 318 co-main event and featured bouts

UFC 318 preliminary card

The prelims featured nine fights, including Kyler Phillips vs. an unannounced opponent (details per UFC official event page). The full preliminary card is available on the UFC event page.

Why this matters

With four unanimous decisions on the main card, UFC 318 was a night of clear outcomes—no split decisions, no controversy—giving fans definitive results in every featured bout.

The pattern: the main card was dominated by decision wins, suggesting high-level grappling and defensive striking across the board.

How much does UFC 318 cost?

Like most UFC pay-per-view events, UFC 318 was available on ESPN+ PPV in the US. The standard price for a UFC PPV on ESPN+ is typically $79.99, though no official price was listed on the event page. Subscribers could purchase the main card on ESPN+; prelims and early prelims were included with the subscription (ESPN Press Room).

UFC 318 PPV price

US viewers paid a one-time fee of $79.99 for the main card on ESPN+ PPV. No additional charge after purchase.

How to watch UFC 318 without cable

  • US: ESPN+ PPV (requires subscription + purchase)
  • UK: TNT Sports (check local listings)
  • Replay available on Apple TV (Apple TV episode page)

The catch: while the PPV price is standard, the total cost for a UK viewer could be higher due to a TNT Sports subscription fee.

What time is the Murphy vs Evloev fight?

Contrary to early speculation, the fight between Jack Murphy and Movsar Evloev did not take place on the UFC 318 card. The official UFC official event page lists the co-main event as Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov, with no Murphy or Evloev on the main card or prelims.

Murphy vs Evloev fight time on the main card

No such bout was scheduled. The main card opened with Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber at approximately 10 p.m. ET, followed by the other four bouts.

Where Murphy vs Evloev falls on the card

It doesn’t—the fight was never officially added. Fans looking for a Murphy vs Evloev clash will have to wait for a future event.

What this means: if you came for that matchup, you won’t find it here. The actual card delivered a different set of matchups.

Who won the UFC 318 main fight?

Max Holloway defeated Dustin Poirier by unanimous decision in the main event. The ESPN Fight Center recorded the scorecards: 48-47, 49-46, 49-46 in favor of Holloway. With the win, Holloway retained the BMF belt.

Holloway vs. Poirier 3 result

Holloway’s victory marked the end of the trilogy. Poirier, who had won their first meeting and lost the second, came up short in the rubber match.

UFC 318 main event highlights

  • Holloway’s volume punching outworked Poirier over five rounds
  • Poirier showed durability but couldn’t find the finish
  • Post-fight: Poirier announced his retirement inside the octagon
The upshot

Holloway proved he is still elite at lightweight, while Poirier walked away on his own terms—a rare clean exit for a legendary fighter.

The implication: Holloway’s BMF legacy now includes a trilogy win, positioning him for a potential title shot or a super fight.

Timeline: UFC 318 from announcement to result

  • Early 2025 — UFC announces event in New Orleans (UFC official event page)
  • May 2025 — Main event announced: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 (UFC official event page)
  • July 18, 2025 — Official weigh-ins
  • July 19, 2025 – 6 p.m. ET — Early prelims begin (ESPN Press Room)
  • July 19, 2025 – 8 p.m. ET — Prelims on ESPN/ESPN+ (ESPN Press Room)
  • July 19, 2025 – 10 p.m. ET — Main card on ESPN+ PPV (UFC official event page)
  • Post-fight — Poirier announces retirement (ESPN Press Room)

What we know and what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

  • UFC 318 took place July 19, 2025 at Smoothie King Center (UFC official event page)
  • Max Holloway defeated Dustin Poirier by unanimous decision (ESPN Fight Center)
  • The event featured 14 fights (UFC official event page)
  • Poirier fought his final UFC bout (ESPN Press Room)

What’s unclear

  • Exact PPV buyrate
  • Dustin Poirier’s total fight purse
  • Future plans for Max Holloway
  • Murphy vs Evloev result (fight not on the card)

Fighter quotes from UFC 318

“This night was bigger than a belt. Dustin gave this sport everything. I’m just glad we could share that moment.”

— Max Holloway, post-fight interview

“I gave it everything I had. It’s time to be a dad, be a husband, and hang up the gloves. Thank you, New Orleans.”

— Dustin Poirier, octagon farewell speech

Summary

Max Holloway walked away from UFC 318 with the BMF belt and a definitive trilogy win over Dustin Poirier. For Poirier, the fight marked the end of a Hall of Fame career. For fans in the UK who stayed up until 3 a.m., the result was a night of decisive fights and a clean goodbye. Holloway now faces a clear choice: chase a lightweight title shot or defend the BMF belt against the next contender.

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Frequently asked questions

Is UFC 318 available on ESPN+?

Yes, the main card was available on ESPN+ PPV in the US. Prelims and early prelims streamed on ESPN+ and ESPN2 (ESPN Press Room).

What time do the early prelims start for UFC 318?

Early prelims began at 6 p.m. ET on July 19, 2025 (ESPN Press Room).

Did Dustin Poirier really retire after UFC 318?

Yes, Poirier announced his retirement inside the octagon after the fight, and the ESPN press release billed it as his retirement bout.

Who won the BMF belt at UFC 318?

Max Holloway retained the BMF belt after defeating Dustin Poirier by unanimous decision (ESPN Fight Center).

How many fights were on the UFC 318 card?

There were 14 fights in total: 5 on the main card and 9 on the prelims (UFC official event page).

What was the attendance for UFC 318?

Attendance figures have not been officially released.

Where can I buy UFC 318 merchandise?

Official UFC merchandise is available at the UFC Store (shop.ufc.com) and the Smoothie King Center’s pro shop.