Dustin Poirier is days away from his final UFC battle. At UFC 318, he’ll lock horns with Max Holloway at UFC 318 in his home state of Louisiana. The BMF belt will be on the line, but for Poirier, it’s much more than just gold. It’s legacy. And part of that legacy has been written in a single nickname, ‘The Diamond’.
But have you ever wondered why he’s called that? Where did it come from? What does it mean to the man whose blood has been spilled inside the cage? Let’s dig into the story behind the name that’s come to define one of the UFC’s most beloved warriors!
Why is Dustin Poirier called ‘Diamond’?
Nicknames are earned, not given. For Dustin Poirier, it came before the bright lights and UFC title shots. Back when he was just an amateur fighter, one coach saw something rare. That coach was Tim Credeur, a former UFC fighter and black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
In an interview with ‘Full Violence’ on YouTube, the Louisiana native shared, “I actually got the nickname ‘Diamond’ from Tim Credeur, a former UFC fighter. He was on The Ultimate Fighter TV show… But he named me ‘The Diamond’ when I was still an amateur fighter.”
He was the same man who later awarded Dustin Poirier his own black belt. We dub Poirier as ‘The Diamond’ inside the Octagon, but there is no doubt that he is a gem on the outside as well. Dustin and his wife run a charity called ‘The Good Fight Foundation.’ For his outstanding charity work, the UFC awarded Poirier with the ‘ Forrest Griffin Community Award’.
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The organization generates funds for those in need, primarily through the auction of Poirier’s fight-worn gear, but also through donations. Many prominent names in the UFC have contributed to Poirier’s foundation. Some of these include UFC boss Dana White and former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. With one mystery solved, let’s now shift our focus over to some facts even long-time MMA fans may not be aware of when it comes to ‘The Diamond’.
More unknown facts about Dustin Poirier
Sure, he’s a warrior in the Octagon. But outside it? Dustin Poirier’s story is filled with heart, humor, and hometown pride. Let’s start with a surprise: his first celebrity crush? Pamela Anderson. His most starstruck moment? Meeting Mike Tyson. “Funny thing is, I went on to bite someone later that night,” he joked, clearly referencing Tyson’s infamous moment in his interview with US Weekly.
Born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana, Poirier dropped out of high school after constant fights. By 2009, he turned those scraps into something more, he went pro. That same fire took him to UFC gold in 2019 when he became Interim Lightweight Champion. He called it his “proudest moment.”
Food plays a big role in his life too. If he wasn’t fighting, he believes he’d be a chef. His favorite thing to cook? “Anything Cajun! Jambalaya to gumbo, I love it all,” he said. And when it’s time to cheat? “A burger and onion rings.”
He even turned his love for Louisiana cuisine into a business. In partnership with Heartbeat Hot Sauce, he launched Poirier’s Louisiana Style, a spicy tribute to his roots.
But nothing comes close to fatherhood. He lights up when talking about his daughter, Parker Noelle. “I love everything about being a girl dad. It’s incredible.” On off days, he keeps things simple, just spending time with his wife Jolie and Parker.
As he steps into the cage one last time at UFC 318 to face Max Holloway, the meaning behind The Diamond has never been clearer. It’s not just about toughness. It’s about resilience, heart, and a life lived for more than just wins!
The post Meaning & Story Behind Dustin Poirier’s Nickname ‘The Diamond’ appeared first on EssentiallySports.
