In a night stacked with heart, history, and high stakes, UFC 318 delivered fireworks—but not without igniting a firestorm of controversy when it came time to hand out bonuses. While Brendan Allen and Marvin Vettori were awarded Fight of the Night honors for their three-round scrap, it’s Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier who walked out of the Smoothie King Center with bruises, legacy, and one very loud question: How did we not get the bonus?
That’s not just a fan opinion—it’s the fighters themselves saying it. Backstage after the dust settled, cameras caught the moment Holloway and Poirier learned they’d been passed over for the $50,000 bonus. Their reactions were unfiltered and telling. Holloway’s immediate response: “That’s bullsh*t.” Poirier followed with a mic-drop line of his own, pointing out that “we knocked each other out in the same round.”
The moment Dustin and Max find out they didn’t got FOTN bonus
#UFC318 pic.twitter.com/z7KFnorgUc
— Diana Belbiță (@DianaBelbita) July 20, 2025
Let’s pause on that.
In Round 2, it got wild, and things moved so fast that commentators were scrambling to catch up. It was a gladiator’s duel—Poirier’s swan song, Holloway’s redemption arc, and a culmination of a rivalry spanning over a decade.
Sure, Allen vs. Vettori was competitive, and it carried the weight of a personal feud. But in terms of drama, technique, and emotional stakes, it was overshadowed by Holloway vs. Poirier 3—plain and simple.
Now, the Allen vs. Vettori fight was good, and maybe Dana used the fight to send some extra money to each fighter, as both of their families are dealing with tragedies.
Dustin Poirier breaks down the last 10 seconds of the Max Holloway fight:
“He hit me with a few shots and I said ‘okay, we’re gonna wrestle a little bit’.” 💀 #UFC318 pic.twitter.com/gTCJywdm8q
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 20, 2025
At the post-fight press conference, Holloway was furious and called out Dana White about the snub. “C’mon, Dana,” he said, shaking his head in disbelief. It was more than just a complaint—it was a fighter standing up for the spirit of competition and the value of putting on a show for the fans.
In the end, Allen and Vettori leave with the official Fight of the Night, but Holloway and Poirier may have won something harder to quantify: the crowd’s heart, the sport’s respect, and a permanent place in the UFC’s most unforgettable trilogies. Whether the bonus reflected that or not, the fans—and likely the fighters—won’t forget what happened in New Orleans.
Max Holloway’s son thanked Dustin Poirier for giving his father the chance to complete the trilogy — a moment full of heart and respect. 🤝❤️ #UFC318
(via @espnmma ) pic.twitter.com/rTbiCuKTa3
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) July 20, 2025
