Tag: Dustin Poirier

Dustin Poirier Names The Man Who He Thinks Could Replace Dana White

Dustin PoirierDustin Poirier believes that former dual-weight champion, Daniel Cormier, is the man who could eventually succeed Dana White as UFC president. Under the guidance of White MMA’s premier promotion has gone from a failing business to the fastest growing sports franchise of all time. The 52-year-old began working for the UFC in 2001 when his […]

Dustin Poirier

Dustin Poirier believes that former dual-weight champion, Daniel Cormier, is the man who could eventually succeed Dana White as UFC president.

Under the guidance of White MMA’s premier promotion has gone from a failing business to the fastest growing sports franchise of all time. The 52-year-old began working for the UFC in 2001 when his friends the Fertitta brothers, Frank and Lorenzo, purchased the company for $2 million. After 15 years of growth, the Fertitta brothers cashed out, selling the promotion to Endeavour for just over $4 billion. White also made a lot of money from the sale but remained in his role of president. Ever since questions about how long White will choose to remain with the company have been asked.

Dustin Poirier Talks About ‘Honest’ Dana White & Who Might Succeed Him  

‘The Diamond’ gives credit to White but insists the popularisation of MMA is largely due to the fighters and the exciting bout they so frequently put on.

“I think a little bit of it for sure is Dana, his marketing ability, his thoughts, he made that for what it is,” Poirier told Patrick Bet-David. “But the fight sells itself because it’s so exciting. Like I was talking about variables, there’s so many ways to win and lose in mixed martial arts that it’s hard to get a boring fight.”

Poirier spoke about his limited experiences of dealing with White.

“He’s honest like that,” Poirier said. “If you go out there, leave it all out there, don’t play it safe, he’ll bring you back. He’s a pretty cut-dry, honest guy when it comes to that type of stuff. I haven’t (spent) a whole lot of time with him. I’ve gone to Vegas a few time and cut some deals where we had to sit down with the lawyers and stuff like that. Other times, it’s just been at events, behind the scenes, quick chats. But he’s honest in person.”

White’s current contract is due to expire in 2026. So, it’s not out of the realms of possibility that the MMA legend leaves the company he helped build in the next few years. If he does, Poirier thinks that Daniel Cormier might be the guy to replace him.

“That’s a tough spot to fill,” Poirier said. “I’m not sure. I think Daniel Cormier maybe? Maybe somebody who’s been in combat sports. I don’t know if he knows a whole lot about the business side, but I think he would be a great face of a company.” (Transcribed by MMA News)

Do you agree with Dustin Poirier? Could Daniel Cormier be the man to eventually replace Dana White as UFC president?

Poirier Names Who He Thinks Could Someday Replace Dana White

Dustin Poirier believes one of the UFC’s greatest ever champions could one day replace Dana White as its President. The Louisiana-native will attempt to enter the same rarefied air on December 11 when he faces off with Charles Oliveira for the lightweight title at UFC 269. But with that encounter some months away, Poirier sat […]

Continue Reading Poirier Names Who He Thinks Could Someday Replace Dana White at MMA News.

Dustin Poirier believes one of the UFC’s greatest ever champions could one day replace Dana White as its President.

The Louisiana-native will attempt to enter the same rarefied air on December 11 when he faces off with Charles Oliveira for the lightweight title at UFC 269. But with that encounter some months away, Poirier sat down for a lengthy one-on-one with entrepreneur and personal development guru, Patrick Bet-David, in which he laid bare his thoughts on UFC President Dana White.

Under White’s leadership, the UFC has grown to unimaginable heights. The 52-year-old has previously stated that when he and the Fertitta brothers, Frank and Lorenzo, purchased the UFC for $2 million in 2001, all they received was the brand name “UFC” and an old Octagon. In 2016, the trio sold its parent company, Zuffa, to William Morris Endeavour for just over $4 billion. 

Dana White 2001
Dana White in 2001 (PHOTO: PUNDIT ARENA)

When asked how much of this success is due to Dana’s leadership, and how much is a credit to the fighters, Poirier told Bet-David that it’s mostly thanks to the latter and the inherent entertainment value of MMA.

“I think a little bit of it for sure is Dana, his marketing ability, his thoughts, he made that for what it is,” said Poirier. “But the fight sells itself because it’s so exciting. Like I was talking about variables, there’s so many ways to win and lose in mixed martial arts that it’s hard to get a boring fight.”

Poirier Discusses Relationship With White, Names Possible Successor

While Dustin admits that his relationship with White has been limited to professional affairs, he credits his boss as being a straight shooter.

“He’s honest like that,” said Poirier. “If you go out there, leave it all out there, don’t play it safe, he’ll bring you back. He’s a pretty cut-dry, honest guy when it comes to that type of stuff. I haven’t (spent) a whole lot of time with him. I’ve gone to Vegas a few time and cut some deals where we had to sit down with the lawyers and stuff like that. Other times, it’s just been at events, behind the scenes, quick chats. But he’s honest in person.”

Dustin Poirier
Dustin Poirier (Photo: Chris Unger/Zuffa)

White is almost three years into his present contract as UFC President, which is due to run until 2026. Being such an omnipresent part of the promotion, it’s hard to imagine who can fill Dana’s shoes once he retires. Poirier agrees, but he feels there’s perhaps one man who can.    

“That’s a tough spot to fill,” said Poirier. “I’m not sure. I think Daniel Cormier maybe? Maybe somebody who’s been in combat sports. I don’t know if he knows a whole lot about the business side, but I think he would be a great face of a company.”

What do you think? Will Cormier likely replace White as UFC President, or someone else?

Continue Reading Poirier Names Who He Thinks Could Someday Replace Dana White at MMA News.

Poirier Sheds Light On Why He Thinks The UFC Stays Out Of Politics

Former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier explains that peace exists among MMA fighters despite political differences and various walks of life. Dustin Poirier is not only the #1-ranked lightweight in the division but is also responsible for some incredible philanthropy efforts. The 32-year-old started The Good Fight Foundation and has had great success with donations […]

Continue Reading Poirier Sheds Light On Why He Thinks The UFC Stays Out Of Politics at MMA News.

Former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier explains that peace exists among MMA fighters despite political differences and various walks of life.

Dustin Poirier is not only the #1-ranked lightweight in the division but is also responsible for some incredible philanthropy efforts. The 32-year-old started The Good Fight Foundation and has had great success with donations and auctioning off popular pay-per-view fight kits.

Following his two consecutive victories against Conor McGregor, Poirier was the shoo-in for the next shot against the current Brazilian champion Charles Oliveira. Last week, the 155-pound title bout was confirmed for UFC 269. UFC lightweight champion Oliveira is coming fresh off winning the vacant title in Houston, Texas, against the dangerous Michael Chandler.

Speaking with Valuetainment, the former title challenger spoke highly about MMA and mentioned how it has led to fewer barriers in social interactions. “The Diamond” explains that the UFC is truly a melting pot with so many different arrangements of life mixing together.

“I think it’s such a diverse talent pool from fighters and athletes from all over the world that there’s no room for hate,” Poirier said. “Everybody’s coming from around the world and fighting in the UFC. It’s not like a one-country sport. So many walks of life, so many religions, how could they have barriers? You can’t. When everybody’s so different and fighting, they couldn’t put up barriers. I think that’s why. Everybody just accepts each other.”

Ahead of his massive pay-per-view fight, it appears Dustin Poirier is at peace. Since all walks of life participate in MMA, Poirier suggests that the type of diversity you see in the UFC might be hard to find in some other sports. While at times there are obvious differences in MMA as well, it seems the 32-year-old is relishing the diversity his sport offers.

Do you agree that the UFC stays out of politics?

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Dustin Poirier Speaks On What His Chances Would Be In Khabib Rematch

Dustin Poirier keeps it real when discussing a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov.  Valuetainment recently uploaded an hour-long sit-down interview with future title challenger Dustin Poirier. The interview touches on a variety of topics, including a hypothetical rematch between “The Diamond” and Khabib Nurmagomedov. While confident in how he would do in a second bout, Poirier […]

Continue Reading Dustin Poirier Speaks On What His Chances Would Be In Khabib Rematch at MMA News.

Dustin Poirier keeps it real when discussing a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov. 

Valuetainment recently uploaded an hour-long sit-down interview with future title challenger Dustin Poirier. The interview touches on a variety of topics, including a hypothetical rematch between “The Diamond” and Khabib Nurmagomedov. While confident in how he would do in a second bout, Poirier was still his usual humble self. 

“I’m very confident. I can beat anybody in the world. Anybody in the world. But at the same time, I’m honest with myself and I understand this is combat sports and I could lose to anyone as well. But I believe 100% in my skill set and work ethic. I could beat anyone.”

Dustin Poirier, Conor McGregor
Dustin Poirier unloads on Conor McGregor Zuffa Llc, via Getty Images

Dustin Poirier won the interim gold when he beat Max Holloway in 2019. Nurmagomedov was the defending champion but suspended from the sport because of his post-fight melee with Conor McGregor’s team at UFC 229. Poirier and Nurmagomedov met to unify the titles at UFC 242. 

The interim champion seemed to have Nurmagomedov in a tight choke at one point, but Nurmagomedov persevered and submitted Poirier in the third round. 

Poirier’s next fight will once again be for the UFC lightweight title. He will go into this bout with no gold of his own on his waist when he tries to dethrone Charles Oliveira in December. 

Since his loss to Nurmagomedov, Dustin Poirier has won three straight in the UFC. The Louisiana native bounced back from the loss with a fight-of-the-year contender against Dan Hooker. Following the victory over Hooker, Poirier rematched an old nemesis in Conor McGregor. 

Seeking to avenge a loss to the Irishman, Poirier knocked out McGregor in the second round at UFC 257. The fighters met to settle the tie six months later and Poirier again won by TKO, but this time it was after a freakish ankle injury sustained by McGregor. 

How do you think a Dustin Poirier vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov 2 would go?

Continue Reading Dustin Poirier Speaks On What His Chances Would Be In Khabib Rematch at MMA News.

Dustin Poirier Admits Thoughts Of Retirement After McGregor Loss

UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier says his loss to Conor McGregor was one of the only times in his career where he had to consider his future in MMA. Poirier and McGregor first fought at UFC 178 in 2014. After some displays of the Irishman’s iconic trash talk, which “The Diamond” later admitted had affected him, […]

Continue Reading Dustin Poirier Admits Thoughts Of Retirement After McGregor Loss at MMA News.

UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier says his loss to Conor McGregor was one of the only times in his career where he had to consider his future in MMA.

Poirier and McGregor first fought at UFC 178 in 2014. After some displays of the Irishman’s iconic trash talk, which “The Diamond” later admitted had affected him, Poirier fell to a first-round TKO less than two minutes into the fight. While McGregor went on to become a two-division UFC champion, the Louisianan grinded his way back to the top, setting himself on another collision course with “The Notorious” megastar.

After achieving interim title glory with a victory over Max Holloway in 2019, Poirier fell short of the lightweight mountaintop against Khabib Nurmagomedov. A Fight of the year candidate against Dan Hooker kept him firmly in the title conversation, but it was a return to his feud with McGregor that materialized next.

Poirier has faced and beaten the Dubliner twice in 2021. In January, he evened the score by becoming the first man to knock McGregor out. At UFC 264 in July, the 32-year-old took the trilogy win in a much more heated affair. Having dominated the opening round, the fight ended after McGregor suffered a gruesome broken leg.

While he’s found great success in recent years and could find himself with gold around his waist before the year is out, Poirier’s future wasn’t always certain in MMA. In an interview with Patrick Bet-David, the former Interim UFC Lightweight Champion opened up about his loss to McGregor seven years ago. When asked if he’d ever considered leaving the sport and finding other ways to make money, Poirier revealed his setback against the Irishman made him come close.

“There’s been a few times in my career where I’ve had that moment. (My first loss) was one of them. The first time I fought Conor McGregor was another one. I was close to a title shot. I was ranked in the top two in the world. And I went out there and got beat by a guy who was running his mouth and saying all these things. And when I got back home, I was just looking in the mirror, saying, ‘What am I doing here? What’s going on?’ I put everything I had into this and I went out there and lost.”

In the end, Poirier suggested he got through that period by responding like he always did. He dusted himself off and returned to training, ready to rebound in his next appearance.

“I was on a good streak. It was me or him who was gonna fight for the belt. And I took that loss. They all hurt, but (I) just got back home and I usually, when those things happen, I drown myself in the work.  So I don’t think about it. I just get back in the gym every day: working, grinding, and it takes my mind off of those (moments).”

Having emerged successful in two money fights against McGregor this year, Dustin Poirier will now turn his attention to the title. At UFC 269 on December 11, “The Diamond” is set to challenge UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira. “Do Bronx” won the vacant belt with a second-round finish against former Bellator champ Michael Chandler at UFC 262.

Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 269, Dustin Poirier or Charles Oliveira?

Continue Reading Dustin Poirier Admits Thoughts Of Retirement After McGregor Loss at MMA News.