5 things Dustin Poirier did before anybody else in the UFC

Dustin Poirier vs Michael Chandler | UFC Free Fight

Dustin Poirier vs Michael Chandler | UFC Free Fight Catch Poirier's last fight this Saturday as he takes on Max Holloway! #UFC318 | LIVE on PPV | Main 10pmET

Posted by UFC on Tuesday, July 15, 2025

4. Dustin Poirier was the first to win the Forest Griffin Community Award

While he will no doubt be remembered by the MMA masses for his performances inside the Octagon and always-game approach to his career in the sport, Poirier’s legacy extends well beyond the cage.

In 2020, Poirier was the very first Forest Griffin Community Award winner. UFC fighters receive the award for the positive impact they have had on communities through volunteer and charity work.

‘The Diamond’ was the inaugural recipient owing to his efforts with the Good Fight Foundation, which was created to raise money and resources for charitable causes, especially in Poirier’s hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana. The UFC star began by auctioning his fight kit from UFC 211, which provided 3,000 meals for the local Second Harvest Food Bank.

Since Poirier’s award, it has been won by Holloway, Giga Chikadze, the Nogueira brothers, Beneil Dariush, and Charles Oliveira.

Dustin Poirier named inaugural recipient of Forrest Griffin Community Award

OFFICIAL: Dustin Poirier named inaugural recipient of Forrest Griffin Community Award #UFCHonors

Posted by UFC on Friday, June 26, 2020

3. Dustin Poirier was the first to win an interim UFC title by beating a reigning undisputed champion

Poirier’s first win over Holloway (more on that soon) came in the Hawaiian’s UFC debut with both men far from the title picture on MMA’s biggest stage. But the same certainly cannot be said for their 2019 rematch.

The pair collided in the main event of UFC 236, where Poirier defeated Holloway via unanimous decision after an enthralling five rounds of action. That result won ‘The Diamond’ interim lightweight gold, a fact that also saw him make history.

At the time, Holloway was shooting for two-division glory, as he held the featherweight title. That meant Poirier became the first and only fighter to win an interim UFC title by beating a reigning undisputed champion.

2. Dustin Poirier was the first to knock out Conor McGregor

When it comes to the ‘firsts’ of Poirier’s career, not many can hold a candle to what happened when Poirier had his rematch against Conor McGregor.

After the Irishman’s trash talk and mental game set up a first-round loss for ‘The Diamond’ in their 2014 bout, Poirier vowed to get revenge on McGregor. The Louisianan succeeded in that goal at UFC 257 — and it was emphatic.

After moments of success for McGregor in round one, Poirier suddenly shut the lights out on the polarizing Dublin native at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena with an onslaught of punches in round two.

The bonus-winning finish did more than just set Poirier up for another money fight with the Irishman and eventually a second title shot. It also etched his name in the history books as the very first man to knock out McGregor.

Free Fight: Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor 2

Huge Upset When Dustin Poirier KNOCKED OUT Conor McGregor! #UFC318

Posted by UFC on Wednesday, July 16, 2025

1. Dustin Poirier was the first to beat and finish Max Holloway

This is the most relevant of Poirier’s first-time achievements, given who he is set to share the cage with for his retirement fight Saturday night in New Orleans.

Poirier and Holloway’s third fight will come 13 years after their showdown at UFC 178, meaning their trilogy will have spanned a longer timeframe than any other in UFC history. The rematch already fit into this list, but Poirier also achieved many firsts when he welcomed ‘Blessed’ to the UFC in 2012.

Holloway was undefeated at the time, meaning the Louisianan’s triangle-armbar finish in round one forever cemented Poirier as the first man to defeat and finish the Hawaiian in professional MMA.

Dustin Poirier submits Max Holloway

Dustin Poirier submits Max Holloway We take you back to 2012 when The Diamond and Blessed collided for the very first time!Watch every Poirier moment on @UFCFightPass

Posted by UFC on Sunday, February 4, 2024

Poirier would have had the chance to become the first to knock Holloway out in their trilogy at UFC 318, but Ilia Topuria got there first by achieving the feat nine months ago in Abu Dhabi.

Nevertheless, having submitted and outpointed ‘Blessed’ thus far, ‘The Diamond’ has the incentive to knock Holloway out to complete a perfect trio of victories.