Dustin Poirier had Justin Gaethje, other UFC star on wish list for final UFC 318 fight

Dustin Poirier is comfortable to see Max Holloway within the cage once more, however “Blessed” wasn’t his first selection.

The longer term UFC Corridor of Famer introduced Friday that he’s set to headline UFC 318 on July 19 in a trilogy bout with Holloway, with Holloway’s “BMF” belt on the road. Poirier has twice fought Holloway, defeating him at UFC 143 in Holloway’s octagon debut after which once more at UFC 236 to win an interim light-weight title.

As a lot as Poirier respects Holloway, there was one other trilogy bout he had in thoughts.

“I used to be asking for [Justin] Gaethje,” Poirier instructed MMA Junkie. “I used to be asking [UFC CBO Hunter Campbell] and the UFC for Gaethje as a result of we’re 1-1, I needed to shut out that trilogy. For some motive, they actually needed this struggle, so I mentioned, ‘OK, that’s cool’ as a result of I respect the man from my final struggle. I don’t know what their thought course of was placing this collectively for me and Max, however I’ve numerous respect for him, so it made sense to me.

“I mentioned, ‘Legends solely.’ He undoubtedly matches that.”

Poirier and Justin Gaethje are even of their sequence, with Poirier profitable their first assembly in April 2018 and Gaethje later avenging that loss with a strong head kick knockout at UFC 291. Their rematch was for a vacant “BMF” belt, which Holloway later received from Gaethje.

The veteran’s request to solely struggle legends appeared to line up completely with former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria altering his identify to “La Leyenda” (“The Legend” in English), however Poirier says it was by no means an choice for him to welcome Topuria to the light-weight division regardless of his curiosity.

“Really, when he mentioned he was going to ‘55, I texted Hunter, I texted UFC, I mentioned, ‘Hey, what’s up? Let me know what’s occurring with this man now he’s at ‘55,” Poirier mentioned. “However they by no means entertained it, they instructed me it’s not taking place, they usually needed Max.”

Along with his second crack on the BMF belt, Poirier is happy so as to add one other piece of {hardware} to his assortment. In actual fact, he’s not solely hoping to seize that title for the primary time, he’s hoping he’s the final fighter to ever lay declare to it.

“If I can get my hand, be the final BMF champion and trip off into the sundown with the belt and retire, hey, that’s eternally,” Poirier mentioned. “As a result of I don’t suppose they might ever do it once more until one thing loopy occurred. That may be dope.”

Even when Holloway wasn’t the perfect opponent, Poirier can’t argue with the situation for his remaining struggle: New Orleans in his dwelling state of Louisiana.

It’s been 10 years since Poirier most not too long ago fought close to his native Lafayette and he’s grateful for the UFC accommodating his want to have his remaining struggle happen the place his profession started.

“That is the dream,” Poirier mentioned. “That is the plan. I’m the one who reached out to the UFC and mentioned, ‘Hey, I might like to retire at dwelling. To my shock, they obliged and mentioned, ‘OK, we’ll do every little thing we will to make it occur.’ It’s wonderful when an organization works with you want that and has respect for you sufficient to attempt to put issues in movement as a result of so many issues of their schedule is booked up for the entire 12 months beforehand. Individuals don’t perceive how a lot goes on behind the scenes. These dates and areas are pre-planned for a very long time. For them to scrap one thing and convey the cage to Louisiana and set it up for me to retire at dwelling, it’s a dream come true.”