“The Diamond” isn’t done yet …
Dustin Poirier has hinted at retirement for the last few years and was very close to calling it a career after his last loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 301 earlier this year in June (watch highlights). However, he is not done yet because, depending on the timing, he wants one more fight or two.
“I will fight again,” Poirier told Ariel Helwani. “It’s just how this thing unfolds. I will see when I do retire. I could be uno mas [one more] or could be dos mas [two more]. I had a good meeting at the UFC headquarters. I was out there with Celsius at a trade show and had a good meeting. My goal is to get an event here in Louisiana, whether that is in Lafayette or New Orleans. I want to lay the gloves down where I started fighting – that’s my goal. It’s just opponent availability and what makes sense…my goal is to take my gloves off in Louisiana and retire at home.”
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has not held an event in Louisiana since UFC Fight Night 68 in 2015. Daniel Cormier, who was born in the state, was supposed to headline the event. However, he got pulled from the event to fight at UFC 187 for the Light Heavyweight championship. Poirier fought on the card and finished Yancy Medeiros in the first round in the “Featured bout.”
As to who Poirier wants to fight, there are a few but limited options which include Nate Diaz, Dan Hooker, and someone he wants to complete a trilogy with.
“Me and Gaethje are 1-1, I would love to do the last fight with him in Louisiana. Our first fight was in his backyard, our second fight was in neutral ground, the third one, let’s do it in my backyard,” Poirier said.
The trilogy with Justin Gaethje makes perfect sense to take place in Poireier’s home state, and the UFC is due to return to The Pelican State, as the promotion has a few fighters who can fill the card.
Poirier stopped Gaethje in their first brutal outing in Arizona, and then Gaethje knocked “The Diamond” out in their rematch at UFC 291 in Salt Lake City (watch highlights).
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