Nov 12, 2022; New York, NY, USA; Dustin Poirier before his bout against Michael Chandler during UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports

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Dustin Poirier Goes Back And Forth With Nate Diaz And Paddy Pimblett For His Last Dance

Dustin Poirier teases a showdown with a legend for his epic final fight, leaving Nate Diaz and Paddy Pimblett angry!

Nov 12, 2022; New York, NY, USA; Dustin Poirier before his bout against Michael Chandler during UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports

The UFC lightweight division has always been loaded with talent of epic proportions. And a staple of this talent has been none other than Dustin Poirier. The Lafayette native is coming off his UFC 302 loss to Islam Makhachev. He recently hinted at retirement but wants one final fight to cap off his illustrious career.

‘The Diamond’ has been a fixture in the UFC since 2011, building a reputation as one of the most exciting fighters in the promotion’s history. His wars with Max Holloway, his victories over Conor McGregor, and even his championship battles have made him a fan favorite. Now, as he contemplates hanging up his gloves, Poirier finds himself in an interesting position. He is looking for a “legend” for his final fight, but that statement has ruffled some feathers, particularly those of rising star Paddy Pimblett.

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Dustin Poirier’s Last Fight

Dustin Poirier has made his position crystal clear regarding his retirement fight, and it won’t involve Liverpool’s rising star Paddy Pimblett. After a career filled with wars against the likes of Justin Gaethje, Conor McGregor, and Max Holloway, Poirier wants his final walk to the octagon to be against someone with a similar legacy-defining resume.

“It’s 100% not Paddy Pimblett. Legends only. I’m not gonna retire fighting Paddy Pimblett,” said Poirier via Front Office Sports.

The Louisiana native’s stance makes sense when fans look at his career trajectory. He has faced nothing but top-tier competition for the better part of a decade, including three championship fights and numerous main events. Despite his recent setback against Islam Makhachev at UFC 302, Poirier’s reputation as one of the lightweight division’s most accomplished veterans remains intact, and he’s earned the right to be picky about his final opponent.

Nate Diaz Showers Support For Paddy Pimblett

Just when things seemed straightforward, Nate Diaz threw his signature Stockton attitude into the mix. He called out Poirier for avoiding a fight with Pimblett. It’s worth noting that Diaz and Poirier have their own unfinished business, dating back to their canceled UFC 230 bout in 2018.

“Fight Paddy P***y. He better than you,” said Diaz via Instagram.

Nate Diaz and Paddy Pimblett responded to Dustin Poirier following his comments about who he'd fight for his potential retirement fight. pic.twitter.com/2ow4AQuMER
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) February 12, 2025

The plot thickened when Pimblett, currently riding high with a perfect 6-0 UFC record, jumped into the conversation with his trademark Liverpool swagger. Pimblett’s claim that Poirier “fought BSD when he was rank 12 but not me” touched a nerve, highlighting the generational clash between an established veteran and a rising star.

As for Dustin Poirier, the UFC would be more than willing to give him his pick of the opponents for his last fight. And if rumors are to be believed, it would be a high ranked opponent!

(Image Credit: Jessica Alcheh – Imagn Images)

Dustin Poirier

Nate Diaz

Paddy Pimblett

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!