Dustin Poirier’s legendary run and breathtaking wars at 155lbs has turned him into a fan-favorite. After years of fighting top contenders, Poirier remains close to retirement than ever before. The potential ‘Last Dance’ in the UFC looks set to happen in 2025 after the latest round of updates.
The former title challenger has fought in the promotion since 2011, amassing 30+ appearances. With the undisputed title no longer in sight, retirement remains more likely than ever. Speaking with Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen, the former interim champion offered an update about his next outing.
I do. Me and UFC are close in making that happen. Hopefully, I’ll have some news for you soon.
Dustin Poirier via Exclusive Interview for ESPN MMA
Dustin Poirier has faced the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor and even Islam Makhachev in his storied career. Hitting the 35 mark in age has often seen fighters fall out of prime. The ‘Diamond’ proved the curse associated with age 35 is merely internet chatter by beating a younger Benoit Saint-Denis in 2024.
However, failing to grab an undisputed world title has hindered his motivation to continue in the sport. Now, gazing at the twilight years of his career, ‘Diamond’ has showcased interest in one final mega-fight. It looks like Lafayette’s own has found his potential match in featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.
Ilia Topuria’s team open to fighting Dustin Poirier at lightweight next
Spanish star Ilia Topuria had a fantastic year as a fighter. The mixed martial artist cemented his place among the elites in the UFC with back-to-back KO wins over legends. Topuria has long shared his aspiration to chase more than one world title in the UFC. Stepping into 2025, Topuria’s camp has made it clear about his inclination to move up a weight class.
Ilia Topuria’s team calls last dance clash with Dustin Poirier in UFC (Image via Open Source)In a conversation with Submission Radio, Topuria’s head coach Jorge Climent shed light on the future of his star pupil. Climent believes the weight cut down to 145lbs is proving to be a tough hurdle for the champion and a move to lightweight as a necessity. He even dropped hints for a possible clash with Poirier in 2025 if number 1 ranked Charles Oliveira isn’t available.
It’s another big match for Ilia. I don’t know the best opportunity is to fight with number 1 top ranked, but if there is no this option, then why not Dustin? I think Ilia is prepared to fight with everybody who want to fight. If destiny say we accept it, because we can go with everybody.
Jorge Climent via Exclusive interview for Submission Radio
Following his coach’s comments, Topuria cleared the air on his end, announcing his move to 155lbs. However, the featherweight champion ensured he isn’t keen on vacating the title to make the move. This leaves the door open for Topuria to recreate Conor McGregor’s historic double champion status in featherweight and lightweight division.
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