UFC lightweight legend Dustin Poirier is preparing to retire after one final fight. There’s been much talk about who his opponent should be — Justin Gaethje, Michael Chandler, Max Holloway and even a tournament featuring all of the above are just some of the ideas floating around in the MMA world.
However, none of those names make sense for The Diamond’s last hurrah. Poirier should fight either lightweight champion Islam Makhachev or soon-to-be-lightweight Ilia Topuria.
Many will scoff at the idea of Poirier fighting Makhachev. After all, Poirier lost to the champ in his last fight at UFC 302.
But consider the fact that Poirier gave Makhachev one of his most challenging fights, taking him into the fifth round for only the second time in Makhachev’s UFC career (the other was Alexander Volkanovski, who’s currently preoccupied with reclaiming the featherweight belt).
Makhachev has made quick work of just about everyone at 155. When Renato Moicano stepped up to replace Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311, Makhachev took him out in just over four minutes. Volkanovski’s second run at Makhachev lasted only 3:06, and Charles Olivera only made it into the second round.
Poirier getting another shot at Makhachev makes sense. If he could pull off the upset and retire with the belt, the UFC would have a storybook ending to sell for the rest of his career.
But if that rematch doesn’t work out, the next best option is Poirer vs. Topuria. The former featherweight champion is leaving his title for Volkanovski and Diego Lopes to fight over and heading straight for the lightweight belt. Maybe he should have to prove himself at 155 before he gets a title shot, though.
Topuria has one UFC fight at lightweight, knocking out Jai Herbert in March 2022. That was a long time ago, and Herbert wasn’t in the top 15 then, nor is he now.
Requiring Topuria to get through Poirier (currently ranked 4th in the lightweight division) to get to Makhachev makes sense. Plus, the fight is an easy sell to fans. Who wouldn’t want to see the two elite strikers duke it out?
If UFC boss Dana White wants to script a massively profitable ending to Poirier’s career, only Makhachev or Topuria make sense as final opponents. All other fights would be mid at best.
