Dana White has noted that the entire UFC 318 pay-per-view event was put together as a tribute to Dustin Poirier’s legendary career.
Former interim champion Poirier will hang up the gloves next Saturday in a rare homecoming in Louisiana. He has long represented the state in his fights, and gets the chance to put his career to rest in one last BMF title fight with Max Holloway.
In the modern age of the UFC, pay-per-view events outside of Las Vegas and Madison Square Garden are almost always the result of a tourism board paying the promotion a site fee to host a show. But New Orleans appears to have been booked in order to give Poirier a proper send-off near enough to his home.
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Dana White pays tribute to Dustin Poirier as he confirms UFC 318 was made for him
After UFC Nashville on Saturday night, Dana White spoke to the press about a number of topics from the promotion’s show that had just finished. He even got into next week’s big event, and heaped praise on Dustin Poirier and his career, especially at the later stage.
“I think ESPN posted a list of the last like 11 people that he’s fought,” White told the media when asked about the occasion next week. “Seven of them were former world champions, he’s had an incredible career here. We love him, and I mean we literally did this show for him, this card was built for him.”
In another interview with WDSU in Louisiana White added: “Throughout the world, Dustin Poirier is a big star for us. He’s accomplished a lot in the sport. This is for him, to be honest with you. This is for him. He wanted to have his last fight and end his career in New Orleans so here we are.”
Dustin Poirier pushed for a Louisiana retirement fight
Indeed, it has always been Poirier’s ambition to bring the UFC back to Louisiana and perhaps retire in the State. He is from Lafayette, Louisiana which is on the other side of the state, but he will still have major hometown support when he faces Holloway for the BMF belt next weekend.
Months before the show was ever confirmed, he explained that calls had been underway for such an event. And he noted how much of an honor it would be to hang up his gloves where it all began for him almost two decades ago.
“A pay-per-view in New Orleans this summer would be incredible,” he told The Schmo. “That’s what I’m pushing forward. That’s what the UFC’s working towards, and things are getting pretty close. Lay down the gloves where it all started in Louisiana, it would be an honor for me.”