From 2009 to 2025, Dustin Poirier has had one of the most illustrious careers in MMA history. Although he never got hold of the undisputed gold, he managed to earn the interim title and record a 75 percent winning rate. Ahead of his final clash against Max Holloway for the BMF title at UFC 318, ‘The Diamond’ finally opened up and revealed the real reason behind his decision to hang up his gloves, and unsurprisingly, it has to do with how his body feels.
Dustin Poirier went to war with Islam Makhachev, becoming one of two fighters to have taken the champion to his limits, besides 2-time 145 lbs champ, Alexander Volkanovski. He showed great takedown defense, which was one of the highlights of his performance that night. While he looked good in that fight, he has come to terms with the fact that he’s just not motivated enough to go back to the drawing board anymore to earn another title shot.
“In the moment [after UFC 302], you know, I felt like this might be it. This is it. That’s why I kinda spoke to Joe. I didn’t officially announce my retirement, but I thought this was it,” Dustin Poirier told Ariel Helwani’s YouTube show. “I came short of another title fight. I’m never going to get another title fight. You know, I would have to win ten in a row, probably to get another one.”
Dustin Poirier realized that starting from scratch could be difficult after he saw the damage his body took in his last fight. Moreover, he came into the fight with injured ribs, much like Islam Makhachev, who came into the fight with a staph infection. Immediately after the fight, ‘The Diamond’ mentioned having been hurt in three places on his body, and he reiterated the same during the recent interview, which took him a considerable time to heal from.
“I don’t think I have it in me to go through what it’s going to take to get another one. You know, I’ve been doing this for a long time. And I got back home, healed my injuries,” Dustin Poirier further stated. “My knee was banged up. I went into the fight with busted ribs. So, I had that to heal. And then, obviously, the nose was crushed in five, broken in five places.”
However, Dustin Poirier did not want the loss to bow him out of the game. When he got back in training and had some sparring sessions with his teammates, it became clear that he wanted, much like Anthony Smith at UFC Kansas City, to go out on his “own terms.” And even though Poirier can probably give many of the top 15 fighters a tough challenge now, at the age of 36, he just doesn’t feel like going for it because he doesn’t feel like he can drag his body to another title shot.
NEW YORK CITY, NY – NOVEMBER 12: Dustin Poirier prepares to fight Michael Chandler in their Lightweight fight during the UFC 281 event at Madison Square Garden on November 12, 2022 in New York City, New York, United States. Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages Louis Grasse / SPP PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBRAxMEX Copyright: xLouisxGrassex/xSPPx spp-en-LoGr-lrg2211121091192_UFC281_MAIN
“So, I just healed up, got back on the mats, went back to American Top Team later on, trained a little bit, came back home, and I just went again a couple weeks ago. Got beat up by Gamrot, and I was like, ‘You know what? I got to do this right, go out with a big one,’” Dustin Poirier added. “I still have it in me to fight. It’s just chasing that title and climbing back up a ladder once again. You know, I’m getting old. My body hurts. I can train like I used to, but I can still scrap. So, I just want to have a great fight and go out on my terms.”
Well, UFC 318 will be a full-circle moment for Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway. ‘The Diamond’ was the one who welcomed the BMF champion into the UFC back in 2012, and now, it’s ‘Blessed’s time to bid farewell to the former interim lightweight champion. On that note, Holloway shared a message to Poirier ahead of their trilogy bout.
Max Holloway’s reaction to being Dustin Poirier’s final opponent
When Dustin Poirier announced that he’d be capping off his career with a final fight against a legend, speculation and rumors popped up about Nate Diaz possibly coming back and taking on ‘The Diamond’ in a big-time money fight. After all, these speculations made rounds because Dana White has remained open about the idea of the Stockton native making his way back into the promotion after the Jake Paul boxing match.
But at the end of the day, Dustin Poirier chose to cap off his career against Max Holloway, who’s no less of a legend himself. After the BMF champion got the news, he showed nothing but respect to one of the most exciting and credible lightweights in UFC history. “Honored to be ‘The Diamond’s’ Last Dance. July 19, 2025, New Orleans, Louisiana. Smoothie King Areana,” Holloway wrote in an X post a few days ago.
It may not be an undisputed title fight, but Dustin Poirier will have the chance to win a belt that stands to signify the most violent fighter in the UFC. The last time he tried, he failed against Justin Gaethje, but this time, there’s a chance because he’s already 2-0 against Max Holloway. But then again, we can never count out the former featherweight champion because he has the capability to shock people, much like he did at UFC 300.
It will be interesting to see how things pan out for Dustin Poirier at UFC 318. But in the meantime, let us know your thoughts about his retirement decision in the comments down below.
The post “I Don’t Have It in Me” – Dustin Poirier Makes a Tough Confession on UFC Retirement Decision appeared first on EssentiallySports.
