Approaching His Retirement Fight – Praises His Former Opponent

Dustin Poirier believes that Islam Makhachev has the potential to become the welterweight champion. Poirier last competed in the octagon on June 2, 2024, at UFC 302, where he faced the reigning lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev. The fight ended in the fifth round when Makhachev secured a submission victory via d’arce choke.

Poirier, one of the most popular fighters in UFC history, has had an illustrious career. Despite his impressive achievements, he has never been an undisputed UFC champion. He won the interim lightweight title in 2019 but fell short in his attempts to capture the undisputed belt. His next fight is expected to be his last, as Poirier has announced his retirement plans. The UFC is currently working on setting up a farewell fight for him, with New Orleans as a possible location.

Excited for Gaethje vs. Hooker

Last week, Poirier participated in a celebrity flag football game in his home state of Louisiana, where he was interviewed by Helen Yee. During the interview, Poirier shared his thoughts on various topics, including Makhachev and the upcoming UFC 313 clash between two of his former opponents, Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker.

Having defeated Hooker and split wins with Gaethje, Poirier is eager to watch their fight.

“As a fan of the sport and both guys, I love it. It’s a dream fight that guarantees blood. I hope it’s five rounds—it should be. I just hope both guys come out healthy. It’s going to be a brutal collision,” Poirier said.

Poirier on Makhachev’s Future

Poirier also spoke about his most recent opponent, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev from Dagestan, Russia. Makhachev’s future has been a hot topic lately, with discussions about whether he will move up in weight. Poirier believes that welterweight (170 lbs) is a realistic option for Makhachev but sees middleweight (185 lbs) as too challenging due to the size of the competition.

“I think he [Makhachev] would do really good at 170 [welterweight]. But at 185 [middleweight], the guys are just too big. Islam’s a big guy [too]. He can fight at 170 for sure. He can become the champion at 170, I believe. But, [moving to] 185 is pushing it [a bit too much], I think,” Poirier said.

As Poirier nears the end of his career, he remains engaged in the sport, sharing insights on his past opponents and potential future champions.

Source: MMAnytt.se

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