Dustin Poirier does not want to retire on a loss.
That’s why “The Diamond” is currently working with the promotion to secure his final UFC fight, which could come at the end of 2024 or perhaps early 2025. His most recent appearance ended in a submission defeat to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
“The shift needs to be internally for what the motivation for fighting is,” Poirier told the Anik & Florian podcast. “Because if it’s not about the world title, why am I fighting? And after the Islam fight, when I got back home I thought, ‘Maybe this is it?’ A few weeks went by, injuries started hurting less-and-less, and I was like, ‘I’ve got to do this again.’ I’ve never lost two in a row. I can’t leave this sport on a loss.”
Poirier, 35, stands at 30-9 (1 NC) with 13 finishes.
“At the same time, I want to be 100 percent in it if I’m going to do it again, because I don’t want to disrespect the sport,” Poirier continued. “I honor this stuff. I do. I just want to do it right and get my hand raised and leave on my terms with a win. But that’s no guarantee. I could go back out there and somebody could whip my ass. That’s the thing.”
So who will “The Diamond” fight next?
BetOnline.ag has longtime rival Conor McGregor leading the pack at +350, even with “Notorious” (loosely) attached to a Michael Chandler fight later this year. Poirier was first stopped by a featherweight McGregor at UFC 178, then joined the Irishman at lightweight to capture consecutive wins at UFC 257 and UFC 264 in 2021.
Here are the current “Who’s next?” odds for Poirier’s next fight:
Conor McGregor 7/2 (+350)
Charles Oliveira 4/1
Michael Chandler 11/2 (+550)
Beneil Dariush 6/1
Arman Tsarukyan 7/1
Rafael Fiziev 8/1
Max Holloway 9/1
Renato Moicano 10/1
Jalin Turner 12/1
Bobby Green 14/1
Rafael Dos Anjos 14/1
Dan Hooker 20/1
McGregor broke his leg at UFC 264 and has yet to return.
“Do you believe that your next opponent will come out of this batch of names?” Anik asked. “Nate Diaz, Conor McGregor, Alexander Volkanovski, Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, and Colby Covington.”
“100 percent,” Poirier responded. “For sure. If I do fight again and when I do fight again, it will be definitely one of those guys you just said.”
Maybe this bold prediction was right all along?