Dustin Poirier laughs off speculation that he could face Paddy Pimblett in retirement fight as UFC veteran says it’s ‘legends only’ for final bout
Dustin Poirier has dismissed suggestions that he could face Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett in the final fight of his legendary career.
Poirier wants one last fight before hanging up his gloves, having come up short in his quest to capture the UFC lightweight title.
The former interim champion was submitted by Islam Makhachev in his last fight in June, the third time he has lost when challenging for the undisputed belt.
The Diamond hinted at retirement at the time but is now adamant that he will make the walk once more.
Fans have speculated that Pimblett could be the man on the other side of the cage bu Poirier is not looking to face someone at that stage of their career.
‘That’s an interesting fight, but not for my retirement fight,’ Poirier told Front Office Sports when asked about Pimblett. ‘It’s legends only, man.
Dustin Poirier has dismissed suggestions that he could face Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett
Fans have speculated that British star Pimblett could be the final fight of his career
‘I’m done,’ Poirier said. ‘I have 50-something cage fights. Like I said, I still have more to give. There’s a lot of opportunities and big fights that can be made, but I’ve just been doing it so long, and I’m in a place with my other ventures and my family.
‘I want to be home in a regular routine. I’ve given this sport a lot, and I think I’ve given it enough.’
Porier, perhaps best known for twice defeating Conor McGregor, told Jim Rome that no decision has been made yet.
‘I’m m still thinking about it, and me and the UFC, for the past couple of months, have been working on it.
I came up to them with the idea that I would love to lay the gloves down where I picked them up, in Louisiana.
‘The UFC hasn’t been here in 10 or 11 years, so to bring the organization, bring the UFC back to the state of Louisiana and retire here it means a lot to me, and I do think it could happen. I think we’re getting close. Nothing is for sure yet, but this summer is likely, I would say.
‘I’ve been in the UFC so long and done so much with them, I personally thought when I brought this idea to them, since they haven’t been here in so long, that they would kind of brush it aside. But they entertained it, and I was so excited when they called me back and said, ‘Hey, we’re going to get in touch with Louisiana, get in touch with New Orleans, and make something happen.’
