Dustin Poirier Top 10 UFC Fights Before 'The Diamond' Retires at UFC 318

A majority of the performances listed can be found on UFC’s official Dustin Poirier full fight marathon here:

10. Dustin Poirier vs. Jim Miller: UFC 208 (Feb. 11, 2017) 

Result: Won via Majority Decision

Poirier scored a crucial bounce-back win against Jim Miller after a brutal KO loss to Michael Johnson the fight before. He outworked the durable veteran Jim Miller in a high-paced battle while showcasing his own resilience.

9. Dustin Poirier vs. Eddie Alvarez 2: UFC on FOX 30 (July 28, 2018) 

Result: Won via TKO in Round 2

After their first fight ended in controversy due to Alvarez throwing an illegal grounded knee, Poirier settled the score by dismantling Alvarez with brutal yet refined boxing combinations, proving he was a true lightweight elite.

8. Dustin Poirier vs. Anthony Pettis: UFC Fight Night 120 (Nov. 11, 2017) 

Result: Won via Technical Submission in Round 3

A bloody, back-and-forth war where Poirier’s relentless pressure and grappling overwhelmed former champ Pettis in one of his most dominant performances. The fight ended in a surprise technical submission victory, with Pettis tapping out due to pressure to the ribs from a body triangle.

7. Dustin Poirier vs. Benoit Saint-Denis: UFC 299 (March 9, 2024) 

Result: Won via KO in Round 2

At 35 years of age, Poirier silenced doubters by knocking out the then-surging French prospect in a Fight of the Night thriller, proving he still belonged among the division’s best.

6. Dustin Poirier vs. Islam Makhachev: UFC 302 (Jun. 1, 2024) 

Result: Lost via Submission in Round 5

Despite the submission loss to a nearly invincible Islam Makhachev, Porier displayed his signature grit throughout the fight by defending multiple takedowns and engaging in multiple striking exchanges. His gutsy performance against the pound-for-pound best fighter at the time was evidence that, win or lose, “The Diamond” always leaves it all in the cage. 

5. Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler: UFC 281 (Nov. 12, 2022)

Result: Won via Submission in Round 3

This fight was brewed with bad blood and resulted in a wild, back-and-forth brawl. Poirier survived Chandler’s early onslaught and dirty tactics before choking him out in a Fight of the Year contender. 

4. Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje 1: UFC on FOX 29 (April 14, 2018)

Result: Won via TKO in Round 4

Poirier and Gaethje engaged in a legendary slugfest, trading bombs throughout the entire fight. "The Diamond" broke through with a vicious fourth-round avalanche of punches that left Gaethje on skates and eventually to his knees, forcing the referee to intervene.

3. Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor 2: UFC 257 (Jan. 23, 2021)

Result: Won via TKO in Round 2

Poirier avenged his 2014 loss to McGregor when they competed in the featherweight division. Their fight at lightweight was vastly different, as Poirier showcased his evolution by dismantling the Irish superstar with calf kicks and finishing him with his patented right hook. This victory marked one of the biggest wins of his career and put Poirier’s name on the map for the more casual UFC fans.

Watch the knockout here:

2. Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway 2: UFC 236 (April 13, 2019)

Result: Won via Unanimous Decision for the UFC lightweight interim title

In his first fight with Max Holloway in the featherweight division, Poirier submitted him via armbar. With the lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov injured, Poirier and Holloway would vie for the interim lightweight title.

Though it was a competitive back-and-forth fight, Poirier ultimately won a unanimous decision by displaying superior boxing, putting on a clinic to defeat Holloway and claim the interim belt.

Watch the full fight here:

1. Dustin Poirier vs. Dan Hooker: UFC Vegas 4 (June 27, 2020)

Result: Won via Unanimous Decision 

When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit, the UFC APEX venue was the site of many UFC events for most of 2020. It was here that Dan Hooker faced Dustin Poirier in a five-round war that deserved a full crowd. 

Poirier overcame early adversity to outlast Hooker in one of the most brutal fights in UFC lightweight history. The brutality, surprisingly, was only magnified by the lack of a crowd, as almost every strike landed was audible. 

Watch the full fight here:

From his early days as a scrappy featherweight to his legendary lightweight wars, Dustin Poirier has cemented his legacy as one of the UFC’s greatest action fighters. "The Diamond" always delivers unforgettable performances.

On July 19, in front of his home crowd in New Orleans, he delivers his final performance in the UFC. It will be a bittersweet goodbye to one of the greatest fighters to grace the Octagon.