Poirier acknowledges last chance lightweight title tilt, but open to Volkanovski blockbuster
Dustin Poirier has said that he could retire after Sunday’s lightweight title fight as one of the UFC’s greatest ever, despite leaving the door ajar for a ‘huge fight’ against Alex Volkanovski.
Dustin Poirier could step into the Octagon for the very last time at UFC 302 this weekend, but says a blockbuster showdown with Alex Volkanovski might tempt him to keep fighting.
The 35-year-old Poirier fights pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title in Newark this weekend, and has hinted that – win or lose – it could be his last appearance in the UFC.
UFC 302: MAKHACHEV VS POIRIER | SUN 2 JUNE 12PM AEST | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel is the exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View.
A fan favourite and a former interim champion, Poirier has fought all the best 155 pounders on the planet, but freely admits he’s closer to the end of his career than the start.
Despite his record and popularity, he risked becoming a gate-keeper when he fought rising French sensation Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 299 in March.
But a stunning second round knockout win silenced the doubters and propelled ‘The Diamond’ into a third lightweight title fight this weekend.
“That one felt good, especially coming off a loss, then knocking out an up and coming guy on a win streak – that one felt good,” Poirier tells this masthead just days ahead of UFC 302.
“They were trying to see if I still had it. They had a rising star who was representing France who could potentially be a star and had been finishing everybody.
“They wanted to see if he was ready for the next level, but it wasn’t his night, and I flew home very happy the next day.”
But, after lightweight title fight defeats to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira, Poirier knows he won’t get another shot at the belt if he loses this weekend.
And even if he wins, he could take off his gloves in the Octagon and retire.
“I still love the sport, and it’s given me everything,” he said. “The reason I’m talking about getting to the end is because I don’t want to disrespect the sport.
“I don’t want to disrespect my legacy either.
“I don’t want to be pushed out of the sport, or become a gatekeeper sticking around for paydays and things like that.
“I don’t want the sport to retire me, I want to retire from the sport.”
The owner of 12 performance of the night bonuses totalling over $600,000, Poirier doesn’t have much more to achieve in MMA.
He has a number of successful businesses, including a line of hot sauces and a bourbon, but still gets excited at the prospect of big time fights.
And one of those possible bouts is against Volkanovski if the Aussie ever decides to move to lightweight full time.
“Oh, of course,” Poirier says when asked if he’d ever fight featherweight GOAT Volk. “That would be huge. A huge fight.
“Volk, the way he’s built, and his size, it’s a tough style of fight.
“He’s one of the best guys out there and was top of the pound-for-pound list for a long time.”
Of the nine fighters who have been full or interim lightweight champion in the past decade, Poirier has fought seven of them, but doesn’t need much time pin-pointing the highlights.
“Beating Max Holloway, getting the interim title and snapping his 12 or 13 fight win streak was a big one,” he said. “That was a big night for me, I got to put my hands on UFC gold and fly home with the belt.
“But knocking out Conor in Abu Dhabi is right up there too. That was a good one.”
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There seemed to be genuine bad blood between Poirier and McGregor following their third fight, which the Louisianan won when McGregor broke his leg in the first round.
But the Irishman, who returns against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in Las Vegas on June 29 has tipped Poirier to beat Makhachev by knockout this weekend.
“I hope Mystic Mac is correct again,” Poirier said. “I think he’s gonna knock out Chandler as well.”
Originally published as Poirier acknowledges last chance lightweight title tilt, but open to Volkanovski blockbuster
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