Dustin Poirier has a listing of names.
At UFC 302, Poirier fell brief in his bid to turn out to be light-weight champion, shedding by fifth-round submission to Islam Makhachev. Following the bout, Poirier advised it could have been his last battle in MMA, however up to now few weeks, “The Diamond” has walked that again, saying he nonetheless feels the urge to compete. And now it appears all however a forgone conclusion that Poirier will step again into the octagon at the very least as soon as extra.
“The shift must be internally for what the motivation for preventing is,” Poirier instructed Jon Anik and Kenny Florian on the Anik & Florian podcast. “As a result of if it’s not in regards to the world title, why am I preventing? And after the Islam battle, after I received again residence I assumed, ‘Possibly that is it?’ A number of weeks glided by, accidents began hurting much less and fewer post-fight, and I used to be like, ‘I’ve received to do that once more.’ I’ve by no means misplaced two in a row. I can’t depart this sport on a loss.
“However on the similar time, I need to be 100% in it if I’m going to do it once more, as a result of I don’t need to disrespect the game. I honor these items. I do. I simply need to do it proper and get my hand raised and depart on my phrases with a win. However that’s no assure. I may return on the market and any individual may whip my ass. That’s the factor.”
The largest identify tied to a doable Poirier return is Nate Diaz. Poirier and Diaz have a protracted historical past collectively, and with Diaz just lately suggesting he may return to UFC, the matchup would make sense for the promotion. Nonetheless, Poirier is skeptical that can occur.
“The factor with Diaz is — I’m involved with the UFC behind the scenes about my subsequent strikes on a regular basis,” Poirier stated. “We discuss after I need to battle once more, how dangerous are my accidents, issues like that. And the final time I introduced his identify up, they didn’t need to discuss him, they didn’t need to do enterprise. A whole lot of followers don’t know, behind the scenes he’s such a battle to cope with that I believe they only don’t need to do it anymore.
“But when it got here round, if that was one thing that was a actuality, I 100% would take the battle proper now, signal a contract right now. And Nate is aware of that as a result of I’ve finished it a number of occasions.”
So if Diaz isn’t possible, who may function Poirier’s doable retirement opponent?
It seems, there are a number of choices.
Anik listed a lot of doable matchups for the previous interim light-weight champion, and Poirier confirmed his subsequent (and certain last) battle will likely be somebody from the that checklist.
“Do you consider that your subsequent opponent will come out of this batch of names?” Anik requested. “Nate Diaz, Conor McGregor, Alexander Volkanovski, Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, and Colby Covington.”
“100%,” Poirier responded. “… For certain. If I do battle once more and after I do battle once more, will probably be positively a type of guys you simply stated.”
