Dustin Poirier closed the chapter on his remarkable 15-year UFC journey with a heavy heart and the grit of a warrior. He came in chasing a fairytale ending, and delivered a performance that could’ve sealed it. Instead, Max Holloway came in like the perfect anti-hero, ready to pounce and take it all. And if that wasn’t heartbreaking enough, Poirier’s rival team took it up a notch with some harsh words of their own. But before we get to that…

The UFC 318 main card has all the makings of a blockbuster with a 48-47, 49-46, 49-46 unanimous victory. While Poirier seemed almost drained by the fourth round after a first-round knockdown from the Hawaiian saw Poirier nearly defeated, the final 15 seconds of the clash saw the duo trading blows in what was an electrifying moment. Safe to say that the bout was nothing short of a classic. From Poirier’s trademark guillotine attempts to Holloway’s savage spinning back kick, the five-round battle had everything. But what took the cake was a powerful moment of respect and emotion between Poirier and Holloway.

Poirier stated, “You got the belt, you’re the champ…Hey, it was an honor, bro. It was really an honor,” to which Holloway responded, “The baddest man alive, bro. Give it up for Dustin Poirier.” ‘Blessed’ also appreciated the rivalry the pair had between the two and said, “You are up 2-0 up my a– man. You best my a– two times, bro.” The whole crowd gave a much-deserved send-off to the 36-year-old as he walked off the Octagon for the final time in his career. However, not everyone was happy with his performance.

One of his biggest critics was Conor McGregor‘s training partner and close friend Dillon Danis. The 31-year-old mocked the former lightweight interim champion for his performance in the final seconds of the fight. Holloway, just like his trademark style, decided to trade shots in the center of the Octagon. However, Poirier failed to keep up with the speed of the combinations of his opponent, which caught the attention of Danis. He took to his X account and tweeted, “Dustin not even throwing a punch and diving for a desperate body lock in the final 10 seconds of a war? That swing-off moment was everything, and he fumbled it. He’s in aura debt now. Nothing BMF about that.” 

He further tweeted, “Dustin Poirier’s last moment in the Octagon was him clinching on for dear life 💙”. Mystic Mac, on the other hand, also had some choice words of his own. In a now-deleted X post, the Irishman wrote, “We love a good scrapper in the company and them two boys are just that! Scrappers! Awesome stuff! Great fight lads, bravo! R.I.Pea head!”, using the recurring insult “Pea Head” referring to The Diamond‘s seemingly small head size. But, one thing’s for sure:

Despite the criticism and the insults, Poirier is definitely one of the legends of the sport. His epic battle with Max Holloway for the interim title will forever be etched in the chronicles of combat sports. And let’s not forget: Poirier also holds the distinction of being the only man to ever knock out Conor McGregor in any form of combat.

Now, with his gloves laid to rest and his UFC chapter closed, the question looms—what lies ahead for the former interim lightweight champion?

What’s next for Dustin Poirier after announcing his retirement?

Dustin Poirier, boasting a solid record of 30 wins and 10 losses, steps away from the fight game as one of the most revered lightweights to ever step into the Octagon. Throughout his legendary career, he squared off against some of the most intimidating fighters in the toughest division in the UFC. After years of grit, grind, and relentless effort, Poirier has finally found his peace. And that’s precisely the direction he’s taking, but with a subtle twist of intention. In a casual sit-down with ESPN, the ex-interim lightweight champ opened up about his plans after hanging up the gloves.

With a grin, Poirier said he’d love to get as jacked as possible now that the pressures of competition are behind him. He even joked about dabbling in performance-enhancing drugs—strictly for aesthetic purposes. He said, “This will be the last time I’m ever 155 pounds in my life,” Poirier said with a smile. “[When I retire], I’m getting on ster-ids. Once USADA stops knocking on my door and I lay the gloves down, I’m getting jacked.” If there’s one thing we know about Dustin Poirier, it’s that he won’t be straying far from the gym anytime soon. But beyond staying fit, Poirier has his sights set on a new role in the fight game—behind the microphone.

With his sights set on the big leagues, “The Diamond” is looking to secure a permanent role on the UFC broadcast team. He’s already stepped into the ring with appearances at UFC 287, UFC 303, UFC 308, and UFC 314. With those aspirations in the rearview and a storied career to his name, Poirier has officially called it a day in the ring

It’ll be intriguing to see what path he chooses to take following his exit from the ring. What do you think would be the best fit for Dustin Poirier? Drop your thoughts in the comments section below and let’s hear what you’ve got!