Dustin Poirier is on the hunt for one final war before he lays down his gloves in front of a roaring crowd—ideally in his hometown of New Orleans. But don’t expect him to fight a rising prospect. He’s already shut down Paddy Pimblett’s hopes of being his farewell opponent. So, who gets the nod? Justin Gaethje? Max Holloway? Or someone else entirely? As new developments unfold, an official announcement could be right around the corner. 155lbs veteran Beneil Dariush recently revealed in a Submission Radio interview that the UFC is working on a fight between Poirier and BMF champion Max Holloway.
The two have crossed paths twice before, with Poirier emerging victorious both times at UFC 143 and UFC 236 respectively. If they meet again, it won’t just be a rubber match—it’ll be a blockbuster trilogy with high stakes and legacy implications. On the other hand, Justin Gaethje, another familiar foe, has also shared the Octagon with Poirier twice. At the UFC 313 post-fight press conference, the former interim champ acknowledged that while their trilogy would be a fan-favorite spectacle, the outcome wouldn’t do much to propel either fighter forward in their careers.
Meanwhile, Chael Sonnen praised Gaethje for not trying to hijack Poirier’s retirement fight, calling it an honorable decision and avoiding what he bluntly described as a “s–t bag move.” Sonnen, on an Instagram video, said, “Dustin Poirier plans to fight one more time. So Justin Gaethje coming out now and saying, ‘Dustin and I are 1 and 1. I can live with that, and I hope he can.’ It’s an honorable move now. Justin could have pulled a s–t bag move and started to put his finger in Dustin’s chest, knowing behind the scenes Dustin’s already got business going with Max.”
Although Gaethje is not totally out of the equation to face Poirier in a trilogy fight, he’s likely thinking of a resounding win over a contender like Arman Tsaruykan before he could challenge the lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. He is already boasting a win over Poirier, so securing another would seal the third encounter, yet it will not contribute to his title aspirations.
Max Holloway is also coming off a loss against the soon-to-be featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, so his fighting Poirier next can be a move and a very good fight to be hones. However, we promise to present an alternative bout that would not only make perfect sense but also significantly elevate Dustin Poirier’s fight.
Ilia Topuria vs. Dustin Poirier: A scrap for the ages
It’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? Sharing the Octagon with one of the best to ever do it is no small honor. While the UFC has yet to announce an opponent for Dustin Poirier’s potential retirement fight, could Ilia Topuria be the perfect choice? The ideal matchup for Poirier’s farewell fight should check all the boxes he’s looking for—and Topuria does just that. Fresh off victories over both Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in championship fights, he has already cemented himself as a modern great.
His star power is undeniable, with fans either rallying behind him or eagerly hoping to see him fall. More importantly, this would be an entirely new challenge for both fighters, especially for Poirier. If ‘The Diamond’ faces Holloway or Gaethje, it’s still an exciting matchup, but it doesn’t carry the same weight as a fight against Topuria. Just imagine it—if Ilia Topuria beats Dustin Poirier, he immediately establishes himself as a legitimate threat in the lightweight division.
And you know he won’t hesitate to call out Islam Makhachev, the man who dismissed him as “just another short guy.” On the flip side, if Poirier wins, he gets a massive boost—either breathing new life into his career or walking away on a high note with a statement victory over one of the UFC’s brightest rising stars. Either way, it’s a win-win for both the fighters and the fans.
What do you think of Chael Sonnen’s take on this? And do you like Poirier vs. Topuria as a potential matchup? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
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