​Dustin Poirier isn’t ruling out a return to the UFC. After a career that included a storied run in the lightweight division and an interim title, Poirier (30-10) publicly announced retirement last year following a loss to Max Holloway. Although he never won undisputed UFC gold, he remains a fan favorite and a constant threat in the division. Recently, Poirier admitted he’s still open to coming back for a lucrative fight in the Octagon.
His potential return could hinge on clashes with familiar names. Conor McGregor, who meets Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11 after a five-year layoff, has not fought since his leg injury in the trilogy loss to Poirier in 2021. Poirier is open to unretiring for a fourth showdown with McGregor and would also consider stepping back in for a bout against Nate Diaz. A Poirier-Diaz matchup never materialized despite close attempts in the past.
On the current lightweight scene, Poirier is 1-1 with champion Justin Gaethje. He believes both he and Gaethje remain too dangerous for one another, underscoring why a rematch would be a high-stakes affair. “I’m still under contract with the UFC. There’s definitely a chance; if it’s the right fight, I’ll come back for sure,” Poirier told One on One MMA. “I’d probably fight Conor if that came about. Nate Diaz, I want to whoop his ass for years and years; we never got to fight… Me and Gaethje are one and one. We both know it’s going to be a head-on collision. We kind of shook hands like, ‘Let’s not do that to our families again.’”
Poirier has repeatedly expressed that he misses competing and finds retirement to be challenging. Outside the cage, he has faced legal trouble, recently arresting at an airport after threatening to fight a police officer while intoxicated and using an offensive racial slur.