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Original Description
On First Take, Max Holloway joins to discuss competing against Dustin Poirier in his final fight at UFC 318.
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Video Transcript
Gentlemen, this is the main event of the
evening.
Who is the BMF
of the Octagon?
We've got a huge fight going down
Saturday, UFC 318. And to get us set,
we've got fivetime UFC title winner and
current BMF belt holder Max Holloway
joining us. Max, thanks so much for
joining the show today. Dustin Pier,
your first opponent in the UFC. Since
then, you've both compiled Hall of Fame
careers. What does it mean to you to be
his final opponent on Saturday?
It means a lot, man. I mean, uh, here's
my first fight. He gave me my first L.
He took my 13 fight win streak in the in
our second fight. Now I get to take his
retirement fight. So should be a fun
one.
How would you describe his legacy in the
UFC in the whole sport of MMA as a
whole?
Uh he's a legend. You know, he's a
legend. He fought a hooh who he fought
the best guys uh during our time and
guys coming up too. So just an absolute
legend. and uh it's an honor to be his
last dance and uh it sucks that I got to
be spoiler, but I can't wait to go out
there uh Saturday night and do the damn
thing.
Okay. So, the mindset just changed cuz
we're talking about the history. You
immediately go to the fact that it still
bothers you that he beat you and now
you're saying I'm going to send him on
the way out as a loser. That's what you
just said. Correct.
That That's the plan. You know, that's
the plan. He I got I got two L's to one
man and um it's not sitting right with
me. He beat uh one of my Hawaiian
friends, too. And uh we gota get one
back for Hawaii. So, should be fun.
So, obviously it's his final fight, as
we said, but you're walking to the
octagon as the BMF champion. How do you
put all the talk around him aside and
focus on playing spoiler and defending
your title?
Uh just focus, you know, this is another
fight. You know, we may be in his
hometown. We may this is, you know, the
last dance and they giving him a good
harrah. You know, I gave the man his
flowers, but when we step in there 25
minutes, he's going to be an enemy. And
uh we get to figure out after.
How does that work afterwards? Because
this is not relatable to average
everyday people. You're in that octagon.
You have their long-teranding
relationship. You put it to side to the
side for that moment and then afterwards
shake hands, hug as if nothing ever
happened. H how do you do that mentally
and separate those two things?
Uh, it's just a business, you know.
We're we're in the entertainment
business and that's just all it is. You
know, I know some guys, some fighters,
they got to take it super personal and
they need they need that extra, you
know, that push for them to go out there
and fight. But it is what it is. You
know, we get paid a lot of money doing
this. You know, I'm not going to go and
fight someone in the street. That makes
zero sense to me. But uh at the end of
the day, you know, whatever if you don't
cross the line talking about family or
you know, there's a there's a very thin
line to cross and uh if you cross it,
then then after, you know, hugging and
shaking and shaking hands after the
fight won't do it. But Dustin's a great
guy. He's a cool dude. He's your
fighter's favorite fighter. And um you
know, at the end of the day, we just put
that to the side. We slug it out for 25
minutes and then uh we can go back to
being friends. Max, you won the BMF
title at UFC 300 with one of the
greatest knockouts in history. Are there
chances we see you point to the ground
and try to top one of the greatest
moments in UFC history?
100%. 100%. Like I said, man, you know,
all respect to Dustin, but uh Dustin is
a point down fighter, too. You know, I
wouldn't be surprised if he beats me uh
beats me to the point down in the last
10 seconds if the fight goes there. So,
for sure, 100%.
Well, best of luck on Saturday.
Obviously a full circle moment. You
start, he finishes against each other.
And the third match between the two of
you, Saturday, UFC 3:18, 10 p.m.
Eastern, ESPN Plus and pay-per-view, of
course. Thank you, Max. We appreciate
it.