How It was Booked: A History of Interactions Between Max Holloway & Dustin Poirier

Everything grows, it's destined to change #Blessedera pic.twitter.com/ZaM4BzjTs8

— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) February 24, 2019

A couple of days ago, it seemed imminent that Max Holloway would be competing against Tony Ferguson for the interim lightweight title at UFC 236 on April 13. However, Ferguson declined the fight, and instead Dustin Poirier will now get his first opportunity to win a title in the Ultimate Fighting Championship when he takes on the featherweight champion in Holloway.

It is notably a rematch from seven years ago when Poirier defeated Holloway via mounted triangle armbar in the first round of a featherweight matchup back at UFC 143. But a lot has changed since then and with that said, here’s a look at the history of the two’s interactions with each other since their first meeting.

Respectful

The pair’s interactions with each other since their first fight have mainly been respectful and cordial. Holloway would pick Poirier to win his future fights on a number of occasions.

Gotta roll with Dustin in this one! Who you got? #UFC168

— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) December 29, 2013

@Matt_Sanzaro Dustin. Sub

— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) August 3, 2015

Interestingly, he also spoke about his bout with Poirier when a fan was comparing it to the latter’s defeat to Conor McGregor.

@Sam_Mawdsley can't even compare the fight with Dustin and he hurt his knee at the end of the 2nd I was hurt in the first 30sec of fight

— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) April 19, 2015

Meanwhile, Poirier congratulated “Blessed” on multiple occasions for securing an interim featherweight title fight, and then becoming undisputed featherweight champion following his TKO win over Jose Aldo in 2017.

thanks my man

— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) November 27, 2016

Congrats @BlessedMMA !!!!!!

— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) June 4, 2017

He was also impressed with the Hawaiian’s performance over Brian Ortega in the main event of UFC 231.

Amazing #UFC231

— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) December 9, 2018

Rematch in the making

There would be no more significant interactions between the two fighters until this year when their rematch started to look like a possibility. With lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov possibly not fighting until Nov. 2019, Poirier was making his case to fight one of Ferguson or McGregor as he felt he deserved it after going through the likes of Anthony Pettis, Justin Gaethje and Eddie Alvarez.

At the beginning of this year, Poirier spoke of Holloway as a potential opponent, though he would not be willing to drop back down to 145 pounds.

I have a lot of respect for Max. It would be a fun fight but I will never fight at 145lbs again. https://t.co/Zfhdhv5e55

— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) January 20, 2019

“The Diamond” would mention Holloway again in recent days, this time, in reference to a potential lightweight fight.

Listen its gotta be me and @TonyFergusonXT ......if he waits for Khabib then it has to be me and @TheNotoriousMMA or @BlessedMMA if he comes to 155lbs

— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) February 18, 2019

Interestingly, Holloway recently mentioned Poirier when reflecting on the retirement of Georges St. Pierre.

This was at my first UFC fight. It was against Dustin Porier. My career started by being finished. Becoming champion was not easy for me but the instructions were clear. I had to just… https://t.co/3gUMBrXzC0

— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) February 22, 2019

The news would then break soon afterward that Holloway would be facing Poirier for the interim lightweight title before it was made official.

Different fighters

While Holloway is yet to talk about the rematch in detail, Poirier has and believes the result from 2012 has no bearing on their upcoming title fight. “We’re both completely different people,” said Poirier to MMA Junkie. “We’re both men now. By the time we fight it’s going to be over seven years since we first fought. We were both kids. Seven years fighting in the top organization in the world is a lifetime. There’s lot of guys out there who wish they could’ve fought at this level for seven years.”

“We’re relatively both still young. I think we’re going to come into this fight over 40 fights of UFC experience between the two of us. This is going to be a very high-level fight. This guy is an established world champion – defending, reigning world champion.”

It will be interesting to see if the interactions between the duo continue to be respectful and cordial as the fight edges closer.