MMA
Holloway vs Poirier: Who is Better & July Fight Favorite
These two fighters have managed to craft incredible careers in the Octagon and so, it should come as no surprise to see the interest of the combat sports world captured by their mere mentions. They both share incredible moments, title fight wins and appreciation from the fans. But who really stands above the other? If these two titans were to face off this July, who would be the favourite?
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Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway/Getty Images
SB Market Index: Evaluating Who Has Had the Better Career
This evaluation combines a statistical analysis of their career win percentages with expert and media perception to provide a comprehensive ranking of their historical standing.
In order to determine which fighter has left a more impactful legacy, we turn our attention to the SB Market Index.
Industry Insights
A curated analysis from top 10 MMA and sports media sources measures how prominently each fighter is featured in discussions about all-time greatness.
| Source Name | Max Holloway | Dustin Poirier |
| Tapology – Greatest MMA Fighters of All Time | 1 | 1 |
| GiveMeSport – 20 Greatest MMA Fighters of All Time | 1 | 1 |
| Sports Yahoo – 30 Greatest UFC Fighters of All Time | 1 | 1 |
| TWSN – Top Ten MMA Fighters of All Time | 1 | 0 |
| Reddit – Is Dustin Poirier Top 10 All Time? | 0 | 0 |
| Reddit – Is Max Holloway Top 20 All Time? | 1 | 0 |
| TalkSPORT – Greatest Featherweights of All Time | 1 | 0 |
| MMAJunkie / MMA Fighting GOAT list | 1 | 1 |
| UFC.com – Pound-for-Pound Rankings | 1 | 0 |
| World MMA Awards – Fighter of the Year | 1 | 0 |
Total Media Recognition Score:
Max Holloway: 9
Dustin Poirier: 4
SB Score
| Fighter | Career Record | Win % | SB Score |
| Dustin Poirier | 30-9-0 (1 NC) | 76.92% | 1.000 |
| Max Holloway | 26-8-0 | 76.47% | 0.994 |
This score is calculated based on their career win percentage (100% weightage). The raw stats are used to calculate the final SB Score.
SB Market Index
| Rank | Fighter | SB Score | Industry Insights | SB Market Index |
| 1 | Max Holloway | 0.994 | 9 | 7.399 |
| 2 | Dustin Poirier | 1.000 | 4 | 3.400 |
Max Holloway: The People’s & Pundits’ Champion?
Holloway tops the SB Market Index, largely due to a almost unanimous acknowledgement from pundits, media and fans. His long reign as champion in the featherweight division, his unmatched pace and solid chin all add to his dominant career – even if this dominance doesn’t extend to his statistics.
Dustin Poirier: The Statistical Diamond
The media doesn’t seem to admire the “Diamond” as much as Max Holloway, but his slight edge in the win percentage carries Poirier through. He holds two wins over Holloway, a knockout victory against Conor McGregor and dominated the media’s attention with his clashes against Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker.
A consistent top-tier lightweight, Poirier is without question an elite lightweight fighter in the UFC.
Who Wins the Fight in July? A Hypothetical Matchup Analysis
So, if a hypothetical fight was to take place in July who wins?
Holloway is a relentless striker, but Poirier is often underrated in terms of his ability to grapple and manipulate encounters on the ground. Max has had the most success in the 145 lbs bracket, while Poirier is naturally about 10 lbs heavier. The Diamond leads the head-to-head 2-0, but has recently struggled. Holloway is coming off a knockout win over Justin Gaethje and is likely brimming with confidence.
Nevertheless, while Max might be a durable option, the size and natural prowess of Poirier sees us predict a win for Dustin.
Conclusion on a Legendary Showdown
Max leads the SB Market Index but Dustin edges him out with his superior win percentage and natural strength. Our hypothetical bout would bring the necessary hypothetical fireworks – but we would back Poirier to claim the victory.
Ryan Liberty is an experienced sports writer whose articles have featured in some of the biggest sports publications in South Africa. With a strong understanding of all major sports and an in-depth understanding of betting, Ryan consistently delivers insightful content. He's also known for his ability to break down complex topics into engaging, reader-friendly pieces.