UFC star Dustin Poirier has had many memorable fights and two title shots since thoughts of retirement first crept into his head.
Over 14 years after his debut in the UFC and 16 removed from his first professional fight, Poirier will enter the Octagon for the final time on July 19.
After Poirier’s submission loss to Islam Makhachev saw him fall short of the undisputed lightweight throne for the third time last summer, ‘The Diamond’ announced his plans for one last farewell in 2025.
And the Louisianan has gotten his wish to have that granted close to home, as Poirier is set to headline UFC 318 against Max Holloway at New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center.
While some believe the former interim champion still has plenty to offer as a fighter, it seems the upcoming retirement is far from a sudden decision for Poirier.
Fellow Louisianan Alan Jouban reveals how long Dustin Poirier has pondered retirement for
During a recent appearance on The Bohnfire podcast with Mike Bohn, former fighter Alan Jouban looked ahead to Poirier’s final outing as a fighter at UFC 318.
Having trained with and been around Poirier in their home city of Lafayette for years, ‘Brahma’ has had a close view of the latter part of the fan favorite’s Octagon career.
Perhaps surprisingly, Jouban revealed that ‘The Diamond’ first hinted at retirement in the aftermath of his Conor McGregor trilogy fight in 2021, before his second and third undisputed title shots.
“I moved back to Lafayette four years ago and I immediately went to the gym and linked up with Dustin,” Jouban said. “I knew I wanted to train with him, hang out, talk fighting; just two guys from the same city who live a similar lifestyle.
“Since I moved back home, since after the Conor McGregor fight, he’s been hinting at retirement. He’s been hinting at it the entire time.
“Every single fight that he would win or lose, he’s like, ‘I might have one more,'” Jouban added. “I really think Dustin would have retired a long time ago if these opportunities would have not kept coming.
“He gets to fight Conor twice in a row, the biggest paydays of his career. He fights for the belt against Charles Oliveira. … Another title fight comes his way against Islam.
“It felt to me he was trying to retire these last five years, he just couldn’t! The fights kept getting bigger, better, and more profitable.”
Islam Makhachev backs Dustin Poirier for a winning farewell at UFC 318
The man who will go down as Poirier’s penultimate opponent in the UFC is confident that the 36-year-old won’t end his career on a losing skid.
Makhachev recently predicted a victorious conclusion to Poirier’s stint as an active fighter come fight night at UFC 318.
The Dagestani also showed his respect for the man he submitted in June 2024, naming him alongside Alexander Volkanovski as the two former opponents he interacts with.
“I think Dustin will win,” Makhachev told MMA Junkie. “He told me this is his last fight, and I think he’s going to be ready. … He’s going to win, I think.
“Dustin is a very good guy. From my opponents, I respect two guys: Volkanovski and Dustin. They’re really nice guys. I send them messages.”