Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier, is one of the household names in the UFC. With a record of 29-8-0 1NC, he has been at the top for many years. Being 35 years old, many wonder how many rounds the Louisiana native has left in him.
The “35 and over” curse is alive and well after seeing Alex Volkanovski knocked out in the second round by Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 this past weekend. Poirier himself is coming off a head-kick KO loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 291. That fight was looking like Fight of the Year until it ended early in the second round. He’s looking to prove he’s still at the top of the lightweight division, and his dream of becoming an undisputed UFC Champion is still very much alive
Dustin has had some major success, both inside and outside of the octagon. In 2020, he partnered with Heatonist to create “Poirier’s Louisiana-style Hot Sauce”. Fast forward to 2024, it is now sold by multiple outlets and he has three flavors with varying heat levels. He has also partnered with Celsius Fitness Drinks and Rare Stash Whisky. His Kentucky bourbon, made from high-quality ingredients is a top contender, as is the #3 Lightweight.
He is 3-2 in his last 5 bouts, with his other recent loss coming by way of submission at the hands of Charles Oliveira at UFC 269. Poirier wobbled Oliveira early on and was looking for the finish in the first round. After a back-and-forth second round, “Do Bronx” took Poirier’s back early in the third round. It wasn’t long before Oliveira locked in the standing Rear-Naked-Choke. “And Still!” were words that Dustin did not want to hear, as it brought back memories of his title fight loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242.
Dustin boasts two TKO victories over Conor Mcgregor. Conor won the first bout with a first-round TKO at UFC 178, and Dustin got his revenge in a much-anticipated rematch in Abu Dhabi at UFC 257. Both Fighters came out strong, but it was Poirier’s vicious leg kicks that ultimately won him the fight. McGregor’s leg buckled in the second round and a couple of follow-up shots had the ref waving it off. Conor was all respectful and professional in the build-up and post-fight, and many fans wondered what happened to the old Conor.
UFC 264 was a completely different fight, as Conor returned to his trash talk and head games. A great build-up and it was going to be the fight of the century. In an explosive first round, both men were swinging for the fences. A leg kick Conor threw, checked by Poirier, was the Irishman’s fate. He stepped back and buckled, breaking his shin bones. Dustin did what he was employed to do, and a few follow-up shots had the ref signaling it was over. Some say the fight should’ve been called a doctor stoppage, but it is on Poirier’s record as a TKO victory at the end of the first round.
Dustin was contracted to fight a superstar who recently came over from another promotion at UFC 281. Former Bellator Lightweight Champion Micheal Chandler. In one of the bloodiest fights in 2022, Chandler was captured blowing blood clots from his nose on Poirier’s face. Dustin choked out Chandler in the third round, and in his post-fight interview he says to Joe Rogan “Who ain’t got jiu-jitsu!?”
His next fight is no tune-up, as he looks to de-rail the hype train of a French mixed martial artist by the name of Benoit Saint-Denis. The 28-year-old southpaw with a record of 13-1-0 1NC with 4 knockouts and 9 submissions, proves to be no easy task. Benoit is currently on a five-fight win streak, including a 2 TKO/KO streak, and has his sights set on a title fight after defeating The Diamond on Saturday, March 9th at UFC 299. His last fight ended with a brutal first-round head kick KO of #14-ranked Matt Frevola. A follow-up shot sealed the victory for BSD.
On paper, this fight has “Fight of the Year” potential. Both men are explosive, have great boxing, and are well-versed on the ground. Dustin is a legend of the sport, with years of experience, and has a very high fight IQ. Benoit is a young, hungry fighter who sees Dustin as just an obstacle on his way to the belt. Will it go the full five rounds, or does it end spectacularly? Can “El Diamante” break the pressure of the “God of War” and secure a fourth title shot? I for one, am thrilled about this fight. Thanks for reading and supporting Against The Fence!
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