Dustin Poirier Contemplates Whether He’d Box ‘Bigger’ Jake Paul After UFC Retirement

UFC 318 main event in New Orleans is his swan song, and Dustin Poirier shuts the door on lucrative future boxing payaday against Jake Paul.

Dustin Poirier Contemplates Whether He’d Box ‘Bigger’ Jake Paul After UFC Retirement

Dustin Poirier shuts out prospect of future exhibition match with ‘bigger’ Jake Paul (Source: X)

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Not fighting with the premier combat sports promotions anymore can lead to boxing ventures. That has been the way for many UFC staples and veterans in the current economy. Now, after the inaugural UFC BMF title fighters Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal, a question has posed itself to Dustin Poirier. After this weekend’s UFC 318 PPV event, will Poirier ever face Jake Paul in boxing?

Like many others, ‘The Diamond’ often clashed with brass and execs in the past. Nevertheless, it didn’t stop Dustin Poirier from becoming a bona fide legend who has been ranked in the UFC Athletes’ Listings for the past decade! The UFC CEO even claimed this Saturday’s PPV offering was a niche setting for New Orleans native Poirier.

Poirier has had a foot out the door for many days; he was posing up for retirement even after his failed title bid at UFC 302 PPV last year. Yet, it does not hinder the former interim champ from giving a crackling standup statement when needed. With an excellent résumé and warrior mentality, talks have emerged that he might yet keep the fighting spirit alive and crossover into boxing. Poirier has his own thoughts:

I don’t know, …I don’t know [on fighting Paul] You know, respect to everything he’s built. He is really out there training hard, fighting hard, going against the grain, and doing it his way. I respect the business part of what he’s doing, and the fighting part…But I’ve been around Jake a couple times, he’s a lot bigger than me, [and much] by a good bit…

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

After some 19 years in pro MMA, the emotive surrounding this retirement fight at UFC 318 are a big one. However, given the circumstances and that he is expecting a baby boy, Poirier wants to hang it up. He has had the thought different times.

This really is his last ‘last dance’ overall against “BMF” Champion Max Holloway. So, he won’t be following Tyron Woodley, Ben Askren, and Nate Diaz to face boxing’s ‘Problem Child’ Jake Paul. While the Ohio man sets off quite a few many alarms for boxing purists, Paul often makes big bucks possible and promotes the sport in full force. But Poirier isn’t interested in anymore “sideshow payday-type” bouts.

To his point, Poirier himself has not fought beyond 155-pounds and Paul has been a lifelong cruiserweight. Jake Paul hydrated even at heavyweight to go up against the immobile Mike Tyson and headlined MVP’s Netflix-theme fight. Therefore, the chances of Poirier vs. Paul will likely not materialize.

Dustin Poirier mocked by Nate Diaz, who resparks feud days before UFC 318 retirement bout

In 2018, Dustin Poirier was slated to face Nate Diaz for the UFC 230 PPV. It was to be the highlight from inside fighting’s Mecca, i.e., Madison Square Garden. The lead-up to the clash was dramatic, with potential discussions of it even being a headliner or serving as introduction for a new weight class.

Ahead of retirement, old rival has Dustin Poirier in sights
Ahead of retirement, old rival has Dustin Poirier in sights (Source: X)

The BMF belt wasn’t a thing yet; in retrospect, though, it’d be befitting for both warriors. The Stockton native did fight for it just the following year. Both men pushed for a 165-pound title belt. However, the constant conversation about this died down fast when Diaz pulled a ‘Diaz’ and walked out of the kickoff media presser.

The Lafayette lightweight was unwilling to engage on and pulled before their November 3rd booking after a hip injury. The Diamond later stated that he would have continued fighting despite his injury if he had been matched with Diaz on that particular date. However, he was informed that this was not the case.

Diaz has often been neglectful of the narrative and poked on with social media banters. In his social media posts, the former UFC title challenger billed Poirier as a “fake a** gangster” when Poirier called him the same from the hospital; now, he doubled down some more.

How about when DP pulled out of fight with me to get p*ssy surgery — ?

Nate Diaz wrote on Dustin Poirier, tagging the promotion (@ufc) on socials

After a 10-round UD loss to Jake Paul in August of 2023, the California native returned to boxing, yet again. He then edged out ‘Gamebred’ via a majority decision (95-95, 97-93, 98-92) in their Fanmio-sponsored boxing bout.

While he has completed his UFC contract, the younger Diaz brother often stirs up conversation about an Octagon return, and Dustin Poirier’s retirement would have been one great fight. With Diaz, it’s ‘never say never‘, and some years from now, he and Poirier might just find themselves squaring off again in some template and rule set.

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