MMA news: Dustin Poirier talks retirement fight against Max Holloway at UFC 318

Two fan favourites are set to collide to complete their trilogy when Dustin Poirier takes on Max Holloway at UFC 318 for Holloway’s ‘BMF’ title.

The fight will be the last of Poirier’s legendary career, as ‘The Diamond’ will get the chance to retire in his home state of Louisiana.

Dustin Poirier welcomed a 19-year-old Max Holloway into the UFC for his debut fight back in 2012, writes Sports News Blitz’s MMA expert Niall Togher.

The pair then went on to have one of the best fights in UFC history in 2019 for the interim lightweight title, with Poirier beating Holloway on both occasions.

Now Holloway is the one to give Poirier the last fight of his career and attempt to gain revenge.

Poirier’s last fight was for the UFC lightweight title. He gave a good account of himself against Islam Makhachev but was ultimately submitted in the fifth round.

Poirier goes into his trilogy bout against Holloway as the #5 ranked lightweight in the world.

So many legends overstay their welcome in this sport and retire past their prime.

However, Poirier has proved that whilst he is at the back end of his career, he is still one of the best fighters in the world, and he can still compete with anyone.

Poirier recently made an appearance on ‘The Ariel Helwani Show’ and discussed his reasons for calling time on his hall-of-fame worthy career after his next fight.

“I’m never going to get another title fight. I’d have to win 10 in a row, probably, to get another one, and I don’t think I have it in me,” he said.

“I still have an envy to fight. It’s just chasing that title and climbing back up the ladder once again. I’m getting old, my body hurts. I can’t train like I used to, but I can still scrap.

“I just want to have a great fight and go out on my terms, and when I brought it to the UFC’s attention that I wanted to do it in Louisiana, if possible, and they entertained that, I was kind of blown away. I didn’t think they would entertain that idea.”

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‘I’m leaving a lot of money on the table’

The decision for a fighter to retire is never easy. Even more so when you’re one of the biggest stars in the UFC, at the height of your popularity, like Dustin Poirier.

Perhaps being afforded the luxury of having a retirement fight at home makes the decision easier, as it is not something that many fighters receive in MMA.

Despite being 36 years old and having 40 professional MMA bouts, Poirier revealed he is making the most money he has ever made at this stage of his career, but other things in life have now become his priority.

“I’m leaving a lot of money on the table. I’m making the most I’ve ever made in my career, and I’m walking away.

“It seems crazy, but I just want to be healthy, and I want to be a father and a husband and be home more. Just staying busy being the daddest man, that’s what I want to do.” Poirier said.

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