Former UFC interim lightweight boxer and fan favorite Dustin Poirier is planning on retiring from the Octagon. After his most recent bout against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, Poirier said he would like to fight one more time before retiring.
In other news: UFC signs former two-division ONE Championship titleholder
An Instagram post simply saying “one more time” suggests he plans to fight one more time, but it didn’t say who Poirier will face in what is likely his final bout with UFC.
Poirier’s options are limited given that he has faced some of the best in the lightweight division, and while his “retirement” fight won’t be against Makhachev, he could still face some of the best in the division.
Poirier is still ranked No. 4 in the division and is open to facing anyone in the top 10, but it appears “The Diamond” already has his final opponent lined up.
Poirier posted a cryptic hint at another word for X: “Trilogy?”
The X word can be parsed in detail, but many fans believe it’s a reference to Poirier’s eventual fight with fellow lightweight Justin Gaethje, who have faced each other twice before, with wins and losses.
more
Chris Gardner/Getty Images
The two first met at UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Gaethje in April 2018, where Poirier won by TKO in the fourth round. The two fought hard and traded blows for four rounds, but Poirier was able to finish Gaethje off.
Gaethje won the second bout at UFC 291: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2 in July 2023. Gaethje landed a devastating leg kick one minute into the second round, sending Poirier to the ground, and Gaethje’s final blow forced referee Herb Dean to step in and stop the bout.
Both fights have come by way of TKO, and a third bout would provide lifelong bragging rights for either fighter. Gaethje is also looking to return to a title fight, having most recently been knocked out by Max Holloway for the BMF belt at UFC 300 in April 2024.
In other news: Aljamain Sterling withdraws, loses highly-anticipated bout at UFC 307
With Gaethje taking some time off to recover from his knockout and Poirier taking time to recover from injuries sustained in the Makhachev fight, both fighters should be back in action soon, with a possible clash in early 2025.
Fans don’t want Poirier to retire from fighting – he has stated on multiple occasions that now is the time – but a final fight against Gaethje would be the perfect swan song to his illustrious career.
For more UFC news, check out Newsweek Sports.
