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Dustin Poirier says picking this UFC superstar for UFC 318 would have ended badly

Originally posted on MMA on SI | By Zain Bando | Last updated Jul 19, 2025 4:30 PM ET

Dustin Poirier is hours away from his final MMA fight when he finishes his trilogy with Max Holloway at lightweight, as he attempts to sweep the series.

Another opponent on Poirier's UFC resume, however, is former "BMF" champion Justin Gaethje. Unlike Holloway, both men are 1-1, with Gaethje having won the latter fight at UFC 291 with an emphatic head-kick KO in July 2023.

Poirier Nearly Sought Out A Gaethje Trilogy

Poirier initially didn't want to fight Holloway, according to a podcast interview with The Danza Project. Poirier wanted Gaethje and a chance to exact revenge, rather than beat someone again who he hadn't lost to prior.

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“Originally, when I told them I wanted to retire, I wanted to fight Justin,” Poirier said. “We’re 1-1. I didn’t wanna end my career being 1-1, leaving that kind of open.

Poirier said it's a fight he had sought out since the loss, until a change of heart came his way.

“I wanted a rubber match," Poirier said. "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."

Gaethje had other plans, which included an eventual win against late-replacement Rafael Fiziev earlier this spring. After watching an interview, Poirier realized it would be wise if he and "The Highlight" didn't lock horns once again.

"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," Poirier recalled. "Let’s shake hands. Our families don’t deserve (for) us to get in another head-on collision.’"

Poirier then thought about longevity, ultimately agreeing with his former foe.

Gaethje-Poirier Will Forever Remain 1-1

"I was like, ‘You know what? If he’s okay with it, I’m okay with it.’ When you put it like that, somebody’s gonna get hurt. We’re both not young in the game. We both have a lot of wars under our belt," Poirier said.