Former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier has committed to one final night in the cage before hanging up his gloves, and he’s got a unique idea in mind for his farewell.
Poirier initially appeared set to call time on is career following a failed title bid opposite Islam Makhachev this past June. But while his immediate comments post-submission loss at UFC 302 leaned that way, he was quick to tease a return.
And in recent weeks, “The Diamond” has confirmed that he’s not yet done and has been in search of his final matchup — or potentially two, should his recent pitch come to fruition.
During a recent interview on SiriusXM’s MMA Today show with Din Thomas and Alan Jouban, Poirier suggested a four-man tournament comprised of three former opponents of his, Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, and Dan Hooker.
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The Grand Prix-style bracket would involve BMF stakes, with Hooker being the only one of the four yet to compete with the symbolic title on the line in the UFC.
That excites me,” Poirier said. “Because that kind of stuff is for the dogs. That’s like old Pride days or Grand Prix. That’s a real ‘BMF.’ If you can fight a tournament in one night, multiple opponents, that’s the definition of ‘BMF.’
That would be it,” Poirier continued. “If they put that together and it was a one-night tournament, that would be it (retirement).
And “The Hangman,” for one, seems to be in…
Hooker Co-Signs Poirier’s BMF Tournament
Following Poirier’s remarks, which also got somewhat of a green light from UFC CEO Dana White following his latest post-Contender Series press conference, Hooker was quick to give his take on the idea.
Never one to shy away from the possibility of violence inside the Octagon, Hooker is unsurprisingly up for the same-night format.
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“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” Hooker wrote on X.
The New Zealander joined Poirier and Gaethje inside the lightweight top five following an upset decision win over the highly regarded Mateusz Gamrot in Perth, Australia this past August.
