Islam Makhachev’s key career decision this year may have paved the way for Dustin Poirier to fight again following UFC 318, according to one former champion.
After Poirier was submitted by Makhachev at UFC 302, marking the Louisianan’s third failed attempt to capture the undisputed lightweight title, he openly contemplated retirement.
Soon after, ‘The Diamond’ committed to one final Octagon outing, and that will come this weekend when Poirier retires at UFC 318 by challenging for Max Holloway’s symbolic BMF belt.
Retirements have never been a sure thing in mixed martial arts, and one ex-champion can envision Poirier fighting on beyond the July 19 event in New Orleans, given how things have shifted since he announced his decision to hang up the gloves.
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Aljamain Sterling says Islam Makhachev vacating the title could extend Dustin Poirier’s career
During a recent episode of his podcast, The Weekly Scraps, former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling looked ahead to an event billed as Poirier’s very last.
On the topic of whether ‘The Diamond’ will be truly retired after UFC 318, Sterling suggested that Makhachev’s decision to vacate the crown has potentially put a fourth undisputed title shot back on the table for Poirier if he can “dominate” Holloway in New Orleans.
“With Islam vacating, it kind of opens the door wide open depending on how this performance goes,” Sterling said.
“Let’s say he dominates (Holloway), I feel like it’s going to be hard to settle that itch and be like, ‘I’m just done.’ … If he dominates, maybe there’s that lightbulb in the back of his head like, ‘You know what? I think we’ve got one more dance.’
“I do think if he can go out there and dominate, look great in this performance, maybe even get a finish over a tough dude like Max…I think he sticks around for one more,” Sterling added. “That’s what I really think he’s gonna do, if it’s a title shot.”
Dustin Poirier has insisted UFC 318 is the end
When it comes to Sterling’s comments, though, Poirier would likely beg to differ.
In a video recently posted by Full Violence on social media, Poirier reiterated his plan to retire at UFC 318, saying he simply has too many important things to focus on away from fighting at this stage in his life.
“This is the last one. 19 years in, man. Had my first cage fight in 2007… my wife’s pregnant right now… my wife’s pregnant with a boy. So there’s a lot going on, man.”
In a sport renowned for veterans returning from the sidelines for controversial and concerning bouts, many fans will no doubt be waiting for the aftermath of Saturday’s event before fully believing Poirier’s retirement proclamation.