Dustin Poirier may not have claimed an undisputed UFC championship, but the ‘The Diamond’ has unquestionably captured the hearts of fight fans worldwide. As the Louisiana native prepares for his retirement bout later this year in New Orleans—the city where his professional journey began—speculation swirls around who will stand across the Octagon for his final walk. While prominent names like Max Holloway, Justin Gaethje, and Charles Oliveira have emerged as potential farewell opponents, Poirier has made one thing crystal clear: rising lightweight star Paddy Pimblett won’t be getting the call.
“It’s 100% not Paddy Pimblett. Legends only. I’m not gonna retire fighting Paddy Pimblett.” The former interim 155lbs champ said in a recent interview. And while the Louisianan may not have a very high opinion of Pimblett, the blonde-haired Englishman still holds Poirier in high regard.
“He’s half a legend, like, isn’t he? He’s probably one of the best fighters in the UFC scene [who] hasn’t won a title ‘Cuz a lot of people don’t, you don’t really include an interim title, do you, in champions. So he is probably one of the better fighters ever on the roster that never won the actual title. He’s like the Carlos Condit of the lightweight division,” Pimblett told ‘ShakMMA’ in an interview on the latter’s YouTube channel.
Carlos Condit, a beloved welterweight legend, shared a similar fate to Dustin Poirier when it came to undisputed UFC gold—both fell short despite their undeniable talent and fan-favorite status. Poirier claimed the interim lightweight title in a five-round war at UFC 236, but when the undisputed belt was on the line, he came up short against three all-time greats—Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242, Charles Oliveira at UFC 269, and Islam Makhachev at UFC 302. Talk about running the gauntlet against some of the best to ever do it!
Similarly, ‘The Natural Born Killer’ captured the interim welterweight title with a thrilling victory over Nick Diaz at UFC 143 but faltered in his two attempts at undisputed gold. His first shot came against Georges St-Pierre at UFC 154, where he was outclassed over five rounds but nearly produced a stunning upset with a head kick. His second chance at the belt ended in heartbreak at UFC 195, where he engaged in an unforgettable war with Robbie Lawler, only to fall short in a razor-close split decision.
Like Poirier, Condit was a dynamic and relentless striker, known for his aggressive, fan-friendly style—one that left a lasting mark on the sport despite his championship setbacks.
MMA: UFC 154-Weigh In Nov 16, 2012, Montreal, QC, Canada Georges St-Pierre left and Carlos Condit right shake hands while Dana White looks on during the weigh-in for UFC 154 at New City Gas. Montreal New City Gas Quebec CANADA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xEricxBolte-USAxTODAYxSportsx 6752260
Alas, since Poirier’s next fight would be his last, it is unfortunate that the fans will never get to see the undisputed belt around his waist, which is a shame. But then again, Poirier is part of the golden generation of UFC lightweights which includes the aforementioned list of giants. And with this level of competition, it is not surprising they never got the undisputed gold. Since Pimblett is completely out of the question, which legend will Poirier fight next? Well, one of his lightweight compatriots has shed some light on that.
Beneil Dariush gives an inside scoop on Dustin Poirier’s last opponent
UFC lightweight Beneil Dariush has claimed that he has gotten the inside scoop on who Poirier’s opponent would be. And it is none other than former 145lbs champ and current BMF title holder Max Holloway. “My understanding is Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway are going to fight. That’s what I’m hearing. I don’t know if it’s 100 percent sealed and done, but that’s what I’m hearing,” ‘Benny’ told ‘Submission Radio’ in a recent interview.
Needless to say, a Holloway-Poirier clash would be an absolute spectacle. The duo have already fought twice, with ‘The Diamond’ emerging victorious both times. As already stated, Poirier beat ‘Blessed’ in their UFC 236 to clinch the interim gold. Their first outing dated back to 2012 when 20-year-old Holloway made his promotional debut against 23-year-old Poirier at UFC 143.
MMA: UFC 236- Holloway vs Poirier, Apr 13, 2019, Atlanta, GA, USA Editors Note: Graphic Content Max Holloway red gloves fights Dustin Poirier blue gloves during UFC 236 at State Farm Arena. Poirier won by unanimous decision. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports, 14.04.2019 00:55:19, 12531765, State Farm Arena, Dustin Poirier, MMA PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJohnxDavidxMercerx 12531765
Both men, of course, are absolute warriors and two of the best boxers in the sport. Moreover, the duo is always ready to throw down and get into a good old-fashioned firefight. Whoever wins their trilogy fight, one thing is certain! It would be wildly entertaining. However, Holloway vs. Poirier 3 cannot be certain until the UFC makes an official announcement. What do you think about Paddy Pimblett’s thoughts on Dustin Poirier?
The post “He’s Like the Carlos Condit of Lightweight” – Dustin Poirier Faces Paddy Pimblett’s Uncanny Praise Before UFC Retirement appeared first on EssentiallySports.
