Dustin Poirier fought just about everybody in his 40-fight career—almost everybody.
The former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion will lay down the gloves this weekend as he enters his retirement fight against BMF Champion Max Holloway at UFC 318. It’s a home game for Poirier in New Orleans, Louisiana.
From featherweight to lightweight, Poirier has shared the Octagon with many killers, some more than once, like Holloway, who he fights for a third time on Saturday.
Poirier had two fights with Justin Gaethje as well as Eddie Alvarez and three fights with Conor McGregor. Poirier notably challenged then champions Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, and Charles Oliveira, going 0-3 in undisputed title fights.
In almost two decades of fighting, there aren’t many marquee names ‘The Diamond’ didn’t come across. But, if you look closer at Poirier’s resume, you’ll see that a fight or two slipped through the cracks.
Bloody Elbow ranks the top 3 Dustin Poirier fights that never happened in the UFC.
3. Prime Tony Ferguson
Dustin Poirier vs. Tony Ferguson was a dream fight for many.
At his prime, Ferguson was on a 12-fight win streak in 2019. Neither Ferguson nor Poirier lost in 2017 or 2018, with the interim champions at the top of their games.
In 2020, Poirier and Ferguson were finally offered a fight against each other at UFC 254, on the same card as Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje. However, Poirier declined as he and the UFC failed to come to terms during negotiations.
When I asked Ferguson about a potential fight with Poirier in 2022, Ferguson said Poirier was ‘full of s—‘ for turning him down previously.
2. Ilia Topuria
Poirier is a fan-favorite Ilia Topuria won’t get his hands on.
Poirier and the new UFC Lightweight Champion Topuria are two of the division’s best boxers. Topuria has slayed the likes of Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira, all by brutal knockout.
Stylistically, they have the potential to deliver an absolutely electric fight on the feet.
But, Poirier has said time and time again, his MMA retirement decision is final after Holloway this Saturday.
1. Nate Diaz
Poirier vs. Nate Diaz is a fight that’s long been talked about, but never came to be.
Diaz and Poirier signed to fight each other at UFC 230 in what was one of the most anticipated fights of 2018.
Diaz had an iconic faceoff with Poirier, but wasn’t all that interested in fighting him after Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor was announced for UFC 229.
While there were some questions on whether Diaz would make it to the fight, it was Poirier who withdrew from the bout due to a hip injury.
Diaz continues to troll Poirier for pulling out of their fight to this day.
Poirier has campaigned to fight Diaz on a few different occasions, though, to no avail as Diaz is currently a free agent.