Max Holloway is feeling much better at lightweight this time around now that there are no plans for a featherweight return.

MMA Knockout has you covered with predictions for ever prelim fight at UFC 318: Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier 3.

Max Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) defends his BMF title against the retiring Dustin Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) in Saturday's UFC 318 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) main event at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.

Prior to the Topuria loss, Holloway scored an iconic knockout of Justin Gaethje in his return to lightweight at UFC 300. This time, Holloway looked like a much more natural 155-pounder than he did when he lost to Poirier on short notice for the interim title at UFC 236.

'El Matador' is the new No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter after knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. His last three wins contain two featherweight greats in Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, whom he knocked out in devastating fashion.

Dustin Poirier admits the reality of his retirement probably won’t hit him until after his fight against Max Holloway at UFC 318 is finished, but it’s almost impossible for him to avoid that subject.