Great fight in UFC. Both fighter gave their best
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00:00Holloway competing in the division in which many people actually believe he
00:03will do his best work going forward Dustin Poirier in the blue trunks out of
00:12the southpaw stance Max Holloway is in the black and gold befitting a champion
00:16well Dustin clearly reached another level once he moved up to lightweight and
00:20many expect that this is the weight class where Max is gonna physically be
00:25much better it was a nice leg kick right there by Poirier people a lot of
00:31people feel this is Max Holloway's weight class you know I mean obviously it's
00:34hard to say he isn't because he's the champ but they feel like at 155 without
00:39depleting himself so much he may even be able to take that cardio to another
00:42level which is crazy to think about and he was saying how much energy he had
00:46during this camp how much easier this cut was
00:50how's he gonna deal with the power of Poirier Poirier has said now that he's
00:56struggling to even make 155 he's so big when he looks big he looks wide big old
01:02back yeah and that's where all that power is coming from
01:06Poirier had what amounted to a 13 week training camp in Florida nice flurry there
01:13from Dustin you've seen some good leg work right off the bat by Poirier
01:17really chomping at those legs of Max Holloway
01:23Poirier closing a plus 200 underdog tonight
01:26oh good left hand by Dustin Poirier right off the bat he thinks he's got Max hurt
01:32oh Max clipped him
01:35but you got to be careful with a guy like Poirier
01:39oh oh my goodness Poirier's in trouble
01:41Poirier resets about two minutes gone by here round one
01:46Holloway loads up on the left hand
01:52those are some good shots that Holloway got off on Poirier there
01:56nice left hand and then a right hand straight up the gut
02:00oh
02:01massive right for Poirier
02:02he hurt Poirier
02:03he hurt Poirier's all over him
02:08Dustin's got him hurt
02:11when you've been in fights like this with Justin Gaethje though
02:14Poirier's coming in oh my goodness these boys are going at him
02:18Holloway still firing offense back
02:20these boys are going at it
02:23my goodness holy smokes we can't possibly have another one
02:29uh-huh
02:32oh he hurt him again
02:34Poirier with big power
02:36jeez my wheeze
02:38Max is in trouble Max is in trouble
02:40he's having a tough time seeing
02:42he's having a tough time seeing the strikes of Poirier right now
02:45oh he hurt him again
02:46oh he's having a huge right
02:48holy smokes
02:52Max has to grab Max can't just fight
02:56but his style is to do this
02:59he can't just stand there in front of a big strong Poirier
03:02because Dustin's not going to waste the technique
03:04he'll find the shots
03:06but Dustin's looking to close the show here
03:10and Max is trying to stay in the pocket
03:12and land counters
03:14oh my goodness
03:16oh that left hand
03:18that Dustin Poirier is a phenomenal boxer
03:22but how about the chin of Max Holloway
03:26he's still standing
03:27incredible
03:28he's been stunned
03:30more in this round
03:32than in any fight in recent memory
03:34including the Conor McGregor fight
03:36this is probably the most we've ever seen Max hurt
03:39big deep breath from Poirier
03:42who's already landed 40
03:44significant strikes in round
03:45oh he hurt him again bro
03:47he's hurt him again
03:47every time he's landing he's hurting Holloway
03:49Max is struggling a little bit with the power of Dustin Poirier
03:57yeah that's what the American Top Team guys were saying all week
04:03huge power edge
04:04huge
04:06I mean we're really seeing it here
04:08and remember these are two guys that fought the same weight class
04:13you know like Dustin was a 45 pounder
04:15Max has got to gather himself up
04:19to try to slow the rush of Poirier
04:21oh my goodness again
04:26that one bothered the right eye of Max Holloway
04:29nice land by Holloway backing up
04:32he's just getting caught so often
04:37it's so clean
04:39we're just not used to seeing this from Max Holloway
04:41he's trying to get it back
04:43he's got that championship mentality
04:45but the way he's trying to get it back
04:47keeps putting him in danger
04:49and Poirier said he didn't feel like Max had that one knockout
04:52one punch knockout power
04:53it's always from an accumulation of him beating up on the guy
04:57and that right eye
04:58starting to swell for Max Holloway
05:01big first round for the underdog
05:09he throws
05:11hug it tight
05:12he needs space
05:14he sets
05:15he pushes
05:16this is some of the beautiful work from Dustin Poirier
05:29look at that
05:30straight left to the body
05:31dip
05:44kick outside
05:46right here look
05:48dip
05:49boom
05:49straight left hand
05:50straight left hand
05:51I mean just the fact that Max Holloway is still standing
05:54it's crazy because Dustin carries so much power
05:56that lands a big right hand over the top
05:58he and Dustin Poirier with massive shots in that round
06:03Dustin Poirier landed some huge bombs in that round
06:08and that was probably as good as we've ever seen Dustin look
06:12he looks like he has prepared perfectly for this championship match
06:17that said he was not able to get Max Holloway out of there
06:22we'll see how Holloway responds here in round two
06:28the corner Max Holloway is asking for tight angles
06:30they said he's moving too big as he's evading
06:35but if you're Dustin Poirier for as good as you feel right now
06:38you know that you got to do this for 25 minutes
06:40unless you get Max Holloway out of there
06:42yeah
06:48and we don't really know how badly Max was hurt right
06:51how much has he recovered
07:04pretty active yeah round two early
07:08again Holloway lands to the body now goes up top
07:12Poirier continuing to mix it up well on the feet
07:19Holloway splits the guard with the right hand
07:24it's the activity of Max Holloway
07:26is going to be the power of Dustin Poirier
07:28I like how Holloway is mixing it up to the body
07:34and again he's really trying to take some of the wind
07:39out of Dustin Poirier's sail
07:41Southpaw now switches back and forth effortlessly
07:50Max does that really good he'll be made combination
07:54and he'll switch stances
07:55Dustin just swing for the bleachers there
07:58but after hurting Holloway so much in round one
08:04if you're Poirier shouldn't you slow down a little bit
08:07instead of expending so much energy
08:09because Max is always going to be there
08:11Mike Brown continuing to call for a level change out of the Dustin Poirier corner
08:23Blake Grice warning Poirier for spitting in the direction of Holloway
08:32Poirier does a really good job with that high guard
08:45he doesn't really get hit clean
08:47he's blocking a lot of the contact that Max is making
08:50the body shots are landing but up top he's doing a good job of rolling
08:54and keeping his hands high
08:55Holloway gets caught on the way in but he has started to close that gap
09:11there's the level change or at least a takedown attempt
09:15Poirier now 0 for 2
09:17Holloway clapped at him
09:25both men just so in their element in a fight
09:33Holloway lands
09:39Poirier expended a lot of energy trying to get Holloway out of there in round one
09:42yeah he did
09:47good kick to the body by Holloway
09:51and you can never question the cardio Max Holloway
09:54he's always going to be there
09:56fighting at the same pace
09:58he melted Anthony Pettis
10:00just with his pace and pressure
10:02watch the fingers at his eye
10:03watch the fingers
10:04let's go
10:05we do have to remember that that was the only fight
10:07or one of the only fights where Pettis tried to make 145
10:10and it was a brutal cut for him
10:16nice counter from Poirier but Holloway
10:18certainly the more active guy in this second round
10:21yeah he's having a much better round
10:23he just got clipped
10:25he got hurt again
10:26he got hurt again
10:27every hole
10:29but again like Poirier hurts him
10:32and then he spends all this energy trying to finish
10:35but he looks calm now he's being technical
10:42good right hook
10:44he's hurting him bad man that right hook is nasty
10:56so some big power shots late in the second round for Poirier
11:01in a round that Max was doing really well in
11:04and that right eye increasingly could become a problem for Holloway as we get deeper in this fight
11:13Dustin Poirier is a savage
11:16both of these guys are just savages
11:19holy smokes
11:20holy smokes
11:22what
11:23we get
11:24what did we do to get two of these one night
11:27well this card is as advertised that's what's going on
11:31jeez louise
11:33hey much better round okay
11:34much better round
11:35so we gotta stay with touching him up okay
11:37yeah yeah my guy my guy
11:38you're right you're right
11:39you're right
11:40you're doing a great job okay
11:41but he just needs three stops
11:42he needs three stops
11:43he's waiting
11:44okay
11:45just have to stay on that work place
11:46you can't slip up with it
11:47he's just countering
11:50and he's going to me
11:52he's there for you
11:54okay
11:55just sit up
11:56basic stuff
11:57okay
11:58112
11:59don't be jabbed up there and he's there for you
12:00okay
12:01don't get over there
12:02three is always there
12:03you'll catch him right away
12:04so whenever he's worse
12:053-2
12:063-2
12:10when you hurt him take your time
12:12don't get reckless
12:13hey you're cruising to a victory
12:14you just gotta be careful
12:15be focused
12:16be focused
12:17that back elbow
12:18that back elbow is there
12:19round three
12:24round three
12:26round three
12:28this is already the second most significant strikes that Max Holloway has ever absorbed
12:33in 20 UFC fights
12:3699 have landed for Dustin Poirier through the first 10 minutes
12:40I think they're the most significant because we've never seen him hurt like that before
12:43even though he might have been hit more by Ortega
12:46it was never this kind of impact
12:48right
12:49no he was never rocked
12:50this fight he's been rocked four times already in two rounds
12:53and so Max Holloway had a lot of good work in the beginning of that round
12:57but the work that Poirier did towards the end in my mind eclipsed it
13:02well yeah when you get hurt so badly
13:06clearly he won that round
13:07it's hard to score a round for you
13:09but meanwhile he had a significant strike advantage up to that point
13:13oh
13:14oh
13:15counter right hook
13:16Holloway's coaches recognize that they go he's just countering but Max can't stay on the outside
13:20because that's not his fighting style Holloway's fighting style is to pressure and overwhelm you
13:25every time he tries to incorporate that right now he's getting stung and having to go on the defensive
13:30and he just doesn't seem to have the same kind of power he just he's an overwhelming volume striker whereas Poirier is stunning him right with every big shot
13:43and Poirier most didn't think he could match the volume he's been the more busy guy 191 total strikes thrown by Poirier
13:58big kick to the body nice combination there by Holloway
14:02but even think about the two crazy fights that Poirier had with Alvarez the Gaethje fight he's been in those dog fights at 155 pounds
14:10with giant punch yes with big punchers and big men
14:13both Alvarez and and Gaethje are huge punchers
14:17oh
14:18oh
14:19oh
14:20stung him again
14:28nice head movement defensively there by Poirier
14:30oh again
14:35I mean just boxing Dustin is just so crisp
14:38Daya Davis in his corner has to like nice right hand by Max
14:43another one
14:49good counter there by Poirier though
14:53Poirier is not slowing down
14:55and he's long too he's the shorter man but has the longer reach and has found the target
15:01with great efficiency here tonight you see the head strike picture 106 already landed for Poirier
15:05I think that's what it is John like at 45 maxes long and he's fighting a guy that has that same type of long reach and and he's he's landing he's just not landing as effectively at this point
15:18nice jab from Holloway
15:29nice jab from Holloway
15:32he's having a little bit of a
15:39yes
15:40yeah it's hard to see
15:42both guys landing right up the middle now under two minutes here round three
15:49three
15:50yeah he's swelling up
15:51yeah he's swelling up
15:52that right eye's closing
15:53oh nice
15:54hand by Holloway
16:01thing is even when he's landing he's not stinging Poirier the way Poirier's hurting him
16:06no I know
16:07it just you just see the different effect the punches take even from the jab
16:10oh
16:11there was a good left hand
16:13but Max has landed see this is Max's type of fight though
16:16going forward
16:17volume
16:18volume
16:19but he's just not used to absorbing punches with this kind of power
16:24no for sure
16:25and Mike Brown is begging for a level change for whatever that's worth
16:29that's worth
16:34Holloway's volume now
16:41Holloway poured it on
16:43oh
16:44beautiful knee to the body
16:51Poirier in on the legs of Max Holloway here
16:55for as good as Max fought he needs to avoid this takedown
16:58Poirier cannot finish this
17:00this is a great round for Max Holloway
17:12and if you're Dustin Poirier you don't waste the energy trying to secure this
17:15oh
17:16oh he hurt
17:17excellent elbows
17:22Holloway tweaks the angle there to avoid the 12-6 final seconds round three
17:26looks like Poirier is going to ride out the rest of this round
17:35wow
17:40this is when Max normally starts to come on
17:45it's all rounds this is all rounds
17:52hey
17:53he's getting the angle out every single time
17:54but now we gotta throw that right kick
17:55yes sir
17:56you gotta let it go okay
17:57black and weird
17:58I know I know but when he dips out
17:59he dips out like this
18:00okay
18:01so he's straight up high
18:02it's fine
18:03he's bracing
18:04okay
18:05that'll make him keep that left hand at bay a little bit more
18:06all right
18:07here we see Dustin Poirier with a nice
18:14straight
18:15look at that
18:16right jab
18:17left hand
18:18right hand
18:21and now Max coming on strong towards the end of the round connects with that
18:25here's a right hand
18:27a couple of lefts and a right
18:29he's piecing them up here towards the end of the round
18:37the volume by Holloway towards the end of that round
18:40yeah
18:41where Poirier was still looking for those big shots
18:45already 125 strikes absorbed to the head by Holloway
18:49Poirier
18:50but if the stools are any indication DC he appeared to be the fresher guy after round 3
18:54yeah John Poirier did some good work but Holloway's activity in that round
18:58did win him the round
18:59and you gotta remember it will not stop
19:01it's the same pace he's gonna fight with for the next 10 minutes
19:04he just tagged him in the straight right
19:12yeah and if Poirier starts slowing down at all
19:14he's in trouble
19:15yeah
19:16but he's deep in on this shot
19:17deep
19:18deep
19:19he's deep
19:20he's got it
19:21and this is what the great Mike Brown has been calling for for three rounds
19:27Holloway pushing down on the head
19:28and that will keep Dustin from building
19:30he cannot let him secure his legs
19:32you let him start stepping over
19:33and hooking the legs
19:34then you end up in the position like Habib always has people in
19:37you can't let him step over the legs
19:39but even as Poirier starts to slow down a little bit how much energy does it take trying to get this take down
19:54right and this could slow him down if Holloway gets back up to his feet
19:58but Holloway could be the fresher guy
20:02Holloway's looking for a guillotine here
20:06oh nice knee to the body
20:10nasty nasty knee to the liver
20:12excuse me Joe now Poirier with a pretty significant cut around that right eye
20:16man Holloway just non-stop
20:33his cardio is off the charts
20:36off the charts at either weight class
20:38just the ability to push push push push push
20:40it's crazy to watch
20:42look at that volume
20:46Poirier gotta be careful here
20:48Poirier's trying to take a break
20:50Holloway's not letting him
20:52he won't let him breathe
20:54Dustin's tired or so it would appear
20:56here he is Poirier wants a break
20:58Holloway's just pursuing
21:00he'll just keep touching you keep touching you keep touching you
21:03he isn't trying to hurt you with one attack
21:06he's just trying to wear on the gas tank
21:08oh my goodness
21:14Poirier fires back
21:18he's got him hurt
21:20Poirier does a better job when he's the guy going forward
21:28good counter right from Poirier after Holloway landed the elbow
21:34we haven't seen that right kick from Holloway that his corner called for
21:37after round three
21:43oh nasty body work
21:45by Holloway
21:47Poirier just took a big deep breath
21:49Holloway just have to be really careful
21:51when he's just throwing all those punches not to get caught
21:53with a big right hook
21:55oh Holloway in the body now the right
21:59nasty jab by Poirier in the left hand
22:05oh right cross from Dustin Poirier on the switch
22:21Holloway with a big deep breath
22:29Holloway with a big deep breath
22:31Holloway with a big deep breath
22:33oh that knee caused some damage
22:39he cut him open bad
22:41oh Holloway busted wide open Joe
22:49wide open
22:51oh he's spraying blood now
22:53holy smokes
22:55looks like a huge gash right in the middle of the forehead
23:01that patented Hawaiian toughness
23:03gonna have to be leaned on by Holloway
23:05oh
23:09oh
23:11whoo
23:13guillotine
23:15look like Poirier just smiled at UFC president Dana White gotta love it
23:27there it is again
23:29maybe he was looking at Shaq
23:53Darce
23:55easy boy
23:57four rounds down
23:59they will call the doctor in
24:01to look at the cut on Max Holloway
24:03oh boy look at that gash
24:17big breath
24:19hey we're good
24:21Max
24:23you got this
24:25this is our fight
24:27let's do this
24:29hey mix it all up
24:31okay
24:33everything is there
24:35everything is there
24:37let's go
24:39here's the knee
24:41glancing knee
24:43glancing shots that wind up cutting you off
24:45keep moving your feet
24:47don't stop
24:49yeah
24:51yeah
24:53yeah
24:55yeah
24:57hands high
24:59tight dig
25:01let's go
25:03the great
25:05the great
25:07don house working overtime there in the corner
25:09trying to close that gash on Max Holloway's
25:11forehead
25:13when you're a cup man you get this assignment
25:15you buckle up
25:17fifth and final round
25:19five minutes or fewer to determine the UFC's interim
25:21lightweight champion
25:23will it be Dustin Poirier
25:25or will Max Holloway exit with a belt over each shoulder
25:29fifth and final round here we go
25:31nice jab by Holloway yes
25:41yes
26:05Atlanta crowd trying to get behind Max Holloway here
26:07Poirier loads up on the right hand unable to land
26:19ooh
26:21power discrepancy on display once again in that exchange
26:25the sharpness of that counter too
26:27perfect precision
26:37if anybody doubted the cardio of Justin Poirier is on display here
26:41yes
26:42this has been a fast paced fight
26:45it's so clear
26:47that the guy that's going forward is the guy that's successful
26:50if Holloway's pressing, Holloway's the guy's landing
26:53if Poirier's pressing, he's the guy landing the jab
26:56but neither of these guys want to go backwards
26:59so it's a war of attrition
27:01another strong counter from Dustin Poirier coming up on three minutes to go
27:17this is such a crazy fight
27:33crazy fight
27:34I mean jeez Louise
27:36look at the difference though in the way they look
27:39I mean Dustin Poirier even though he's eaten a bunch of shots from Max Holloway
27:43they did not have nearly the same effect
27:45yeah he's big and strong man
27:46he's a big strong lightweight
27:48even the frame right the big side the size of the back
27:53right look at Poirier's arms
27:55Max looks good at 55 but he doesn't look nearly as big as Dustin
27:59nice right hand yeah Holloway splits the guard
28:08beautiful left hand touch there by Poirier
28:22Max Holloway puts those punches together so well man
28:24it'll be head head head body body head
28:27it's beautiful to watch but the jab of Dustin Poirier is just a piston
28:34that right hand has worked really however he's thrown it as a jab as a hook
28:38under two minutes now to go
28:57Dustin in on the single
29:04and I believe the corner Holloway right Dustin taking a break here
29:09he realized earlier that he can't take a break in space anymore he has to get close
29:14and right there on the single leg he's trying to rest and get ready for what is going to be a crazy last minute
29:29under a minute now to go
29:32in this UFC Interim Lightweight Championship fight
29:35Khabib Nurmagomedov beckons for the winner
29:38Poirier has to understand that if Holloway gets space
29:42with a minute to go he's going to be coming guns blazing
29:46but Poirier might not let him out of here
29:50well we expected a classic and that is what these two men have turned in under 30 now to go
30:03final 10 seconds the standing ovation has already started here in Atlanta
30:24what a fight
30:29Poirier and Holloway go the distance
30:33amazing fight an amazing show of respect at the end
30:36wow
30:39so Dustin Poirier comes over to the broadcast table appears to think he has done enough
30:48he said it's uncomfortable and it hurts but fighting is pure and he loves it
30:59ladies and gentlemen after five rounds we go to the judges scorecards for decision
31:05all three judges score this contest 49 46 for the winner by unanimous decision
31:12and new interim UFC lightweight champion of the world Dustin the Diamond Poirier