Main: Dustin Poirier during his title fight against Charles Oliveira at UFC 269. Inset: Pedro Pascal is interviewed to promote Fantastic Four. Credit: Carmen Mandato/Jeff Neira/American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. via Getty Images

‘You get Pedro Pascal’… Fans pitch actors to play Dustin Poirier in a biopic after his hilarious 70-year-old selection

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Harvey Leonard | Last updated Aug 5, 2025 8:45 PM ET

Could Dustin Poirier’s inspirational journey in MMA make it to the big screen?

Poirier hung up his gloves in July, bringing an end to his 18-year tenure in mixed martial arts. ‘The Diamond’ made his final foray into the cage in front of his home fans in Louisiana, headlining UFC 318 at New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center.

Though his career concluded without an undisputed title crowning, ‘The Diamond’ is widely considered one of the greatest to have never sat on a UFC throne, having achieved just about everything else possible in the sport.

And with a couple of noteworthy biopics set to be released in the coming months, talk has turned to the possibility of Poirier’s career now being dramatized.

Dustin Poirier seemingly makes Ozzy Osbourne reference after being asked which actor would play him

The combat sports world has some relevant movies to look forward to later this year, with Sydney Sweeney starring in a Christy Martin biopic that premieres in September and ‘The Rock’ playing MMA legend Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine the following month.

Given the adversity he overcame to forge a successful career in MMA and the way in which he gives back to his community, some have started to point to Poirier as the ideal focus of a similar biopic down the line.

And one fan recently queried whether the ex-interim UFC lightweight champion has an actor in mind to play him should such a film come to fruition.

Poirier did not make a serious pick and instead referenced the late Ozzy Osbourne.

“Denzel Washington,” he wrote on X.

Fans of the rock legend have been reminiscing on some of his best moments following his passing on July 22, including when the Black Sabbath frontman hilariously selected Washington as the ideal actor for his biopic during an interview.

Next year and Denzel Washington https://t.co/RwPvRqiSOf
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) August 4, 2025

Pedro Pascal, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Jake Gyllenhaal come up as fans choose who could play Dustin Poirier

It did not take long for fans to pipe up with their legitimate picks for who could play Poirier in a biopic on his life and career in mixed martial arts.

From Pedro Pascal and Leonardo DiCaprio to the man who starred alongside Conor McGregor in the Road House remake last year, plenty of A-listers were pitched.

“I think Jake Gyllenhaal would be perfect.”

“Jokes aside, Channing Tatum.”

“Dustin, try to get DiCaprio. That would be sweet.”

“Low key Channing Tatum could play you in a movie.”

“Sorry Mr Poirier, you get Pedro Pascal.”