Dustin Poirier
The Diamond
USA
HOF career ends with defeat
Poirier lost to Max Holloway via unanimous decision (47-48, 46-49, 46-49) at UFC 318 on Saturday in New Orleans.
ANALYSIS
Now 36 years of age and competing in the 24th and final fight of his storied UFC career, Poirier put on another classic bout. The end result doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things. Dustin wasn't particularly sharp the vast majority of the fight. Holloway won the significant strike count by a 198-109 mark. Poirier was knocked down in Round 1 and in all sorts of trouble early in Round 2. He recovered to the point he was able to drop Max late in the second frame and remain competitive over the final 15 minutes, but the crispness of Holloway's boxing and the overall volume ultimately won out. Dustin's UFC victories include Holloway (twice), Conor McGregor (twice), Eddie Alvarez, Michael Chandler, Anthony Pettis, Dan Hooker, and the list goes on and on. He's a great ambassador for the sport and always did things the right way. It's great he got to close the show in his native Louisiana in front of family and friends. Poirier's next and final stop is the UFC Hall of Fame.
Now 36 years of age and competing in the 24th and final fight of his storied UFC career, Poirier put on another classic bout. The end result doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things. Dustin wasn't particularly sharp the vast majority of the fight. Holloway won the significant strike count by a 198-109 mark. Poirier was knocked down in Round 1 and in all sorts of trouble early in Round 2. He recovered to the point he was able to drop Max late in the second frame and remain competitive over the final 15 minutes, but the crispness of Holloway's boxing and the overall volume ultimately won out. Dustin's UFC victories include Holloway (twice), Conor McGregor (twice), Eddie Alvarez, Michael Chandler, Anthony Pettis, Dan Hooker, and the list goes on and on. He's a great ambassador for the sport and always did things the right way. It's great he got to close the show in his native Louisiana in front of family and friends. Poirier's next and final stop is the UFC Hall of Fame.
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Last dance set
Poirier will take on Max Holloway in a lightweight bout at a UFC event in New Orleans on July 19, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Poirier will step into the Octagon for the last time in his home state of Louisiana. He'll duke it out with Holloway with the BMF title on the line. This bout will be the main event of the UFC slate that day represent the end of an era that saw Poirier climb into the UFC history books. He'll be looking to go out on a high note after losing his last bout to Islam Makhachev back in June of 2024.
Poirier will step into the Octagon for the last time in his home state of Louisiana. He'll duke it out with Holloway with the BMF title on the line. This bout will be the main event of the UFC slate that day represent the end of an era that saw Poirier climb into the UFC history books. He'll be looking to go out on a high note after losing his last bout to Islam Makhachev back in June of 2024.
Multiple injuries lead to medical suspension
Poirier has received an indefinite medical suspension from the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board pending medical clearance of nose and left knee injuries, Nolan King of USA Today reports.
ANALYSIS
This all may be a moot point if Poirier chooses to retire, as he insinuated might be the case after Saturday's fight. Given a clear path to the title is no longer in play following his defeat, he would likely need a prime opportunity in order to get coaxed back into the Octagon. Even if that opportunity presents itself, he'll need a doctor's clearance for multiple injuries if he intends to compete again within the next six months.
This all may be a moot point if Poirier chooses to retire, as he insinuated might be the case after Saturday's fight. Given a clear path to the title is no longer in play following his defeat, he would likely need a prime opportunity in order to get coaxed back into the Octagon. Even if that opportunity presents itself, he'll need a doctor's clearance for multiple injuries if he intends to compete again within the next six months.
Signals retirement after loss
Poirier lost to Islam Makhachev via submission (D'Arce choke) at 2:42 of Round 5 at UFC 302 on Saturday in Newark.
ANALYSIS
As if looking to show how much he had improved since his submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov, Poirier stayed safe in every early ground exchange and denied 11 of the 16 takedown attempts from the most dominant wrestler in the sport. Ultimately, however, it was for naught as Makhachev was able to grab Dustin's foot, bring him to the mat, and secure a choke in Round 5. While he was finished, Poirier gave Makhachev his toughest fight since his knockout loss in 2015 by a wide margin, landing jabs, shots to the body, and slicing the champion open with a nasty elbow as the two separated from a ground exchange. The end result was a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus for both men. After the bout, Dustin was asked if he wanted to continue in the sport, to which he made it clear that he didn't want to fight if he had no path to a title. As this was his third attempt to secure gold, it seems overwhelmingly likely that the 35-year-old has had his last opportunity to fight a champion. There will be fights for him to return to, but if he does opt to retire, then MMA fans were privileged to follow the career of a legend who has secured dominant victories over other champions like Max Holloway and Conor McGregor. He currently holds a record of 30-9 in professional MMA.
As if looking to show how much he had improved since his submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov, Poirier stayed safe in every early ground exchange and denied 11 of the 16 takedown attempts from the most dominant wrestler in the sport. Ultimately, however, it was for naught as Makhachev was able to grab Dustin's foot, bring him to the mat, and secure a choke in Round 5. While he was finished, Poirier gave Makhachev his toughest fight since his knockout loss in 2015 by a wide margin, landing jabs, shots to the body, and slicing the champion open with a nasty elbow as the two separated from a ground exchange. The end result was a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus for both men. After the bout, Dustin was asked if he wanted to continue in the sport, to which he made it clear that he didn't want to fight if he had no path to a title. As this was his third attempt to secure gold, it seems overwhelmingly likely that the 35-year-old has had his last opportunity to fight a champion. There will be fights for him to return to, but if he does opt to retire, then MMA fans were privileged to follow the career of a legend who has secured dominant victories over other champions like Max Holloway and Conor McGregor. He currently holds a record of 30-9 in professional MMA.
Considering retirement after UFC 302
Poirier is considering retiring after UFC 302, Shakiel Mahjouri of CBS Sports reports.
ANALYSIS
Poirier is fighting Islam Makhachev for the UFC Lightweight Championship in UFC 302 on June 1, and is considering retirement after the bout no matter the result. The 35-year-old is coming off a victory over Benoit Saint-Denis in March. He will put his 30-8-0 record on the line in Newark before making his final decision on retirement.
Poirier is fighting Islam Makhachev for the UFC Lightweight Championship in UFC 302 on June 1, and is considering retirement after the bout no matter the result. The 35-year-old is coming off a victory over Benoit Saint-Denis in March. He will put his 30-8-0 record on the line in Newark before making his final decision on retirement.
Given championship fight
Poirier will challenge Islam Makhachev for the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 302 in Newark on June 1, according to Andreas Hale of ESPN.com.
ANALYSIS
Poirier hopes the third time is the charm for his championship prospects. He got a taste of gold by defeating Max Holloway for an interim lightweight title back in April 2019. Unfortunately, the former submitted to Khabib Nurmagomedov during their undisputed championship fight later that year. After defeating Conor McGregor twice, Poirier had an opportunity to cap off what would have been a perfect 2021 against then-lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, who submitted the American. This time around, The Diamond kept himself in title contention by finishing Michael Chandler and Benoit Saint-Denis.
Poirier hopes the third time is the charm for his championship prospects. He got a taste of gold by defeating Max Holloway for an interim lightweight title back in April 2019. Unfortunately, the former submitted to Khabib Nurmagomedov during their undisputed championship fight later that year. After defeating Conor McGregor twice, Poirier had an opportunity to cap off what would have been a perfect 2021 against then-lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, who submitted the American. This time around, The Diamond kept himself in title contention by finishing Michael Chandler and Benoit Saint-Denis.