Dustin Poirier captured the interim lightweight strap by defeating Max Holloway at UFC 236 in Atlanta. The Diamond” would attempt to unify the titles later that year against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242, but fell to “The Eagle” by way of third-round submission.
Regardless, the history books will recognize him as champion and you should too.
That’s according to former middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya, who defended “The Diamond’s” legacy ahead of Poirier’s third Holloway fight — this time for the “BMF” belt — atop the UFC 318 pay-per-view (PPV) event this weekend in New Orleans.
“People try and try to discredit his win as champion,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “He is a champion no matter what. He’s got a belt at his house, at his gym, sitting there to represent him as a champion at one point. So people who are trying to say, ‘Oh, you never really became the undisputed.’ No, when you’re the interim champion you’re the [expletive] champion. He’s had a career in the UFC that’s second to none. You’d be blessed to have the career, even half the career that Dustin’s had in the UFC.”
Adesanya also won the interim title at UFC 236 by narrowly defeating Kelvin Gastelum.
“Dustin’s been the guy in the UFC that’s always a company man,” Adesanya continued. “Whenever it’s time to toe the line in battle, he’s a guy that’s always ready to go. Hard worker, represents his people of Lafayette, Louisiana, he’s always represented his people, he’s always represented himself well. Carries himself as a champion. Whether he wins or loses, this is going to be one for the books, and I’m going to feel something when he puts those gloves down, regardless of the results.”
Adesanya has not competed since losing to Nassourdine Imavov last February.
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LEGENDARY TRILOGY / BMF SHOWDOWN! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) continues its 2025 pay-per-view (PPV) schedule on Sat., July 19, 2025, with a thrilling trilogy set to headline UFC 318 from inside Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. In UFC 318’s PPV main event, Max Holloway defends his BMF title against former interim Lightweight champion (and No. 3-ranked contender), Dustin Poirier, in a high-stakes, five-round clash that will mark the final fight for “The Diamond” before he retires from the sport. UFC 318’s PPV co-main event features Middleweight contenders Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov in a pivotal 185-pound bout rescheduled from UFC 317. UFC 318 will also showcase a Welterweight clash between Kevin Holland vs. Daniel Rodriguez, a Featherweight showdown pitting Dan Ige vs. Patricio Pitbull, a Lightweight bout featuring Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber and much more! UFC 318’s start time is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. ET (“Early Prelims”), 8 p.m. ET (“Prelims” undercard) and 10 p.m. ET (PPV main card).
Don’t miss a single second of EPIC face-punching action!
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 318 fight card right RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN2/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the UFC 318 PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 318: “Holloway vs. Poirier 3” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 318 fight card and PPV lineup click here.
