Dustin Poirier Confirms He Will Have One More Fight

Dustin Poirier has said he will continue fighting and shut down claims that he will retire. 

Poirier’s future was up in the air following his loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 302. He was submitted in the last round, as he missed out on winning the UFC Lightweight Title. It was the third time he had lost out on the lightweight title after defeats to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. Dustin questioned whether he should retire after the loss if he could not fight for the title. Dustin then backtracked from his comments as he suggested he could fight again. While an opponent has not been named, Poirier has said he will have one more fight. The aim is to go out with a win. 

Poirier Reacts

“I will [make that walk one more time]. Once more into the fray, into the last good fight I’ll ever know. Live and die on this day, live and die on this day,” Porier said

This begs the question. Who will Dustin face next? Charles Oliveira has been mentioned. Dustin lost to the Brazilian in 2021 for the lightweight belt. The two have lost their last bouts. Oliveira suffered a loss to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300. Arman is now expected to fight Islam in December for the title, leaving Oliveira without a big fight. 

The other option is to consider a bout with Michael Chandler. Dustin defeated Chandler at UFC 281 in 2022, and their feud has continued since then. Chandler created some controversy when he stated Poirier should retire based on his last fight. Poirier fired back at Chandler by mocking his UFC record. Chandler has two wins in just five UFC fights, showing that he is not a big name. 

Colby Covington was also linked with the fight. Colby has not been in the Octagon since his UFC 296 defeat to Leon Edwards. Before the fight, Covington talked a big game. He controversially brought up Edwards’ father, who had been murdered, stating that he was in hell. Leon responded by throwing a water bottle at him during their presser.

Poirier vs. Covington

But Covington failed to live up to his trash talk. He was beaten in a unanimous decision. Covington blamed a foot injury. He then turned his attention to Poirier as he recalled their confrontation at a restaurant. Covington recalled how he confronted Dustin, who failed to do anything in response. The Diamond denied the incident and has now ruled out fighting him. 

“You can talk big to the media, you can talk big in front of a camera, but when you’re in front of someone’s face and you feel their energy and you know what they’re capable of, that’s when it’s a different story. Now you can’t run your mouth, now you can’t do anything. If you wanted to do something, he could have done something. I stood up, I looked him right in the eyes and he walked right out of the restaurant like a good little [man]” Convington said

“I’ll never fight Colby in an Octagon where there’s finances on the line. If I fight Colby, we’re both going to jail. He’s not making money off my career and what I’ve done. You will never see me fight Colby Covington in the UFC,” Poirier said

Although the opponent has yet to be confirmed, fans have plenty to say about who Dustin should fight.