NEW ORLEANS – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Friday's UFC 318 fighter weigh-ins. The early weigh-ins take place at the UFC host hotel in New Orleans and precede the ceremonial weigh-ins for the fans, which take place at 6 p.m. ET at Smoothie King Center. The same venue hosts Saturday's event (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).

UFC BMF champion Max Holloway clashes with sixth-ranked Dustin Poirier in a UFC lightweight bout on Saturday. The main UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 card is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. ET from Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.

To be sure, Poirier (30-9) has had a decorated career. The former Interim UFC lightweight champion owns 15 wins by knockout and eight by submission, with 13 first-round finishes. “The Diamond” holds wins against Conor McGregor twice, and his two most recent victories are against Benoit Saint Denis and Michael Chandler.

Legendary Louisiana-based fighter Dustin Poirier is ready to host fans for his final UFC fight. This weekend, Poirier will face off against Max Holloway

Dustin Poirier will receive a hero's welcome in his native Louisiana at UFC 318 when he battles Max Holloway for a third time in their careers. It's a respect Poirier earned from his peers and the promotion that they would take a PPV event to New Orleans for the first time in 25 years as a proper send off to one of the good guys in the sport's history.