Dustin Poirier heard from UFC GOAT Jon Jones following his final fight at UFC 318.
UFC legend Dustin Poirier treated fans to one last five-round war against Max Holloway in the UFC 318 headliner. In a wild slugfest from start-to-finish, Poirier had Holloway badly hurt at several points during the fight, but Holloway outpointed Poirier en route to a unanimous decision victory.
Holloway retained the BMF title and moves one step closer to a lightweight title shot. Despite the loss at UFC 318, Poirier added another chapter to his legendary career, which will likely end up honored in the UFC Hall of Fame now that he’s hung up the gloves.
Many big names took to social media to congratulate Poirier on his UFC retirement, including one of the greatest fighters in the sport’s history.
Jon Jones congratulates Dustin Poirier on retirement just days after announcing his comeback
Former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones shocked the MMA world when he abruptly announced his retirement last month. But just weeks after hanging up the gloves, Jones announced his intentions to return to the Octagon in 2026 for an unprecedented UFC event.
After watching Poirier’s retirement fight, and reversing his own retirement, Jones took to social media to applaud Poirier on his last hurrah at UFC 318.
In a mid-fight post on X, Jones was in awe of Poirier and Holloway’s trilogy at UFC 318.
“Now that’s what you call a rivalry,” Jones said.
As Poirier spoke with his two-time rival, Daniel Cormier, after UFC 318, Jones took to X to pay his respect to the future UFC Hall of Famer.
“Congratulations on an amazing career Dustin, thank you for the years of entertainment. Now go enjoy your retirement!” Jones tweeted.
Poirier retires as one of the greatest fighters to never win a lineal UFC title in the sport’s history. Poirier won the interim UFC lightweight title over Holloway at UFC 236 to move to 2-0 over his rival.
Meanwhile, Holloway avoids dropping two trilogies in his UFC career with the victory over Poirier. He’s lost three times to Alexander Volkanovski in their UFC tenures.
- READ MORE: “Off the rails!”…Fans go berserk as UFC 318 main card slugfest makes strong ‘Round of the Year’ case
Jon Jones reversed course on UFC retirement after U.S. President’s stunning announcement
As Poirier says goodbye to MMA, Jones will look to remind fight fans of his greatness in his intended return to the cage next summer. U.S. President Donald Trump rocked the sports world when he announced that the UFC will host an event on The White House lawn next July.
Jones hasn’t fought since defeating Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November in his lone UFC heavyweight title defense. He secured the then-vacant heavyweight belt by submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285.
After Jones’s retirement, Tom Aspinall was promoted to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion from his interim title role. Aspinall broke an unwanted record as the longest-tenured UFC interim titleholder in the promotion’s history.
Jones and Poirier will likely enter the UFC Hall of Fame’s ‘Fighter Wing’ in the near future.