Not Max Holloway For BMF? Dustin Poirier Original Retirement Fight Choice Was Sure To Leave Someone ‘Hurt’

Might have been for the best UFC Execs didn't arange Dustin Poirier's wishes for his upcoming farewell. He now faces Max Holloway at UFC 318.

Not Max Holloway For BMF? Dustin Poirier Original Retirement Fight Choice Was Sure To Leave Someone ‘Hurt’

Dustin Poirier avoided inevitable damage from violent trilogy in favor of Max Holloway (Source: X)

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Dustin Poirier will end his run as an active fighter in contention this Saturday at UFC 318. Poirier’s final fight is against reigning BMF Champ Max Holloway, in his homestate of Louisiana. ‘The Diamond’ won the first fight against the Hawaiian superstar in 2012 and the second fight in 2019.

While it is for the symbolic BMF status and belt, Poirier is ready to bleed for it in his last dance. But it is not the trilogy bout he had originally asked for. Poirier previously divulged that he had requested to conclude his series with Justin Gaethje.

Following the Louisiana native’s triumphant first fight against human “Highlight” reel in 2018, the rematch ended quickly in devastating fashion. This time around, Gaethje defeated Poirier at UFC 291 PPV, exacting retribution and claiming the coveted BMF title. As such, Poirier wanted to complete that trilogy instead of the Holloway one.

When I told them I wanted to retire…I wanted to fight Justin; We’re 1-1. I didn’t wanna end my career being 1-1, leaving that kind of open…[I had] wanted a rubber match. I wanted somebody to be up on somebody. I wanted to get my get-back on him. I knocked him out, he knocked me out…we’ve gotta do it again. [But, back then] When this fight started coming together, my retirement plans, he was booked to fight Dan Hooker…

Dustin Poirier in an exclusive with * The Danza Project * w/@indanzawetrust on YouTube Weekly

No fighter wants to split even without knowing who is better. Ask Alexander Volkanovski, who faced opponent Max Holloway in a string. Ask Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier. Ask Poirier himself who, despite his long friction with one Conor McGregor, told the rival verbally they “have to” run it again a third time before UFC 264.

Though a 1-1 score usually punctuates a rubber match, Dustin Poirier is now content to leave things as it is. The Team ATT fighter stalled on the scoreline after hearing Gaethje’s thoughts on the matter.

I wanted to fight Justin…then I saw him do an interview and he said, ‘You know what, if Dustin’s okay with it being 1-1, I’m okay with it…[So] Let’s shake hands. Our families don’t deserve ([or] us to get in another head-on collision.’ — you know, I never thought about it that way. I was like, ‘You know what? If he’s okay with it, I’m okay with it.’

Dustin Poirier further said on * The Danza Project * w/@indanzawetrust

Gathje already said a second time that he wanted no part of another Poirier scrapper when the question posed itself during UFC 313. For his part, Gaethe was live at the Smoothie King Center, addressing the scrum for UFC on TNT Sports in UFC 318 guest Q&A sessions. The Elevation Fight Team fighter doubled down on wanting his 155-pound title shot.

Gaethje even billed either him or No.2-ranked Arman Tsarukyan were deserving of the title shot and not some other fighter. The American lightweight is strong in his resolve; a bit too much, perhaps, since he even claimed retirement if not fighting for gold. It might be a good thing for Poirier that the trilogy is with Holloway this time, who has his own challenges.

UFC 318 commentator bills Max Holloway has more ‘pressure test’ than the retiring Dustin Poirier

Retired 155-pounder and UFC 318 PPV commentator Paul Felder expects Poirier and Holloway to go the full length in the New Orleans barnburner PPV event. Felder expects the best out of Dustin Poirier, who plans to make this his best fight yet.

UFC 318's Max Holloway on hard pedal to win in scrap against Dustin Poirier
UFC 318’s Max Holloway on hard pedal to win in scrap against Dustin Poirier (Source: X)

With a strong 3-0 peat against a brand name like ‘Blessed,’ Poirier doesn’t see UFC execs and media crew bringing back the BMF belt if he retires with it. Sure, it’s quite a stress test. But there’s the notion that he might enjoy his last stride. During his “Fight Lab” Series (on TNT Sports & discovery+), Tom Aspinall downplayed the import of gimmicky BMF title.

Poirier already has zeros in his stats, and this fight isn’t about the digits anymore but a last ride. Max Holloway, though, already 0-2 in the equation, and a defending champ, has another thing coming, per Felder.

I do…I do think it is gonna be a bloodbath, …I think both guys have made it clear that they plan on standing in the center of that Octagon and seeing who’s the best man. And to me, it’s actually more pressure on Max in particular for this one. [That’s] Because…Max plans on continuing his MMA journey and wants to be a champion again, whereas Dustin, I think for him, what’s most important is just laying it on the line and going for it.

Paul Felder told ‘The Preston & Steve Show on 93.3 WMMR’ (@PrestonSteveWMMR)

Eddie Alvarez, who went up against Poirier during his tenure, recently iterated that ‘retirement’ fights are called so for a reason, and they hardly go the correct way. However, sympathies about it are helplessly floundering towards the aspect of Poirier retiring. So, he might get his flowers and dues even if he loses.

Holloway isn’t so “Blessed” in that situation as he has to yet carry on. Per BetOnline.Ag, oddsmakers and pundits have him pegged as an underdog to get the win this weekend. Only time will tell what follows from here on out.

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