Dustin Poirier is about to name it a profession on Saturday night time at UFC 318 together with his last struggle booked towards Max Holloway in the principle occasion.
When he formally retires, Poirier leaves the game with a outstanding quantity of accolades, together with 10 Struggle of the Evening bonuses, with wins over 4 former UFC champions and he’s tied with Drew Dober for probably the most knockouts in UFC light-weight historical past. He was additionally an interim light-weight champion however Poirier was by no means in a position to seize the undisputed belt, developing quick in each of his makes an attempt towards Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.
Whereas shedding these title fights doesn’t negate all the opposite wonderful accomplishments on his resume, UFC veteran Matt Brown argues that’s what retains Poirier from being thought-about top-of-the-line ever.
“Sadly he didn’t win an [undisputed] title,” Brown stated on the most recent episode of The Fighter vs. The Author. “If you don’t win a title, you simply can’t be in a best of all-time dialog … he’s within the prime of these conversations. As a result of he maximized what he had. Had he had just a bit bit extra athleticism, a little bit bit extra good luck on his facet, it’s a little bit little bit of one thing, he would have been champion one hundred pc. However it simply doesn’t play out that manner for everybody. There’s too many fighters and a few guys get handed up.”
There’s little doubt that Poirier goes to ultimately discover himself receiving an invite to affix the UFC Corridor of Fame, which is simply one other field he’ll verify in the case of his legendary profession.
However not claiming an undisputed title prevents Poirier from being listed as a possible GOAT, particularly in his chosen division at light-weight the place fighters like Nurmagomedov, Makhachev and B.J. Penn are usually thought to be the gold commonplace.
Brown understands that degree of frustration as a result of he lived it himself the place he set some data together with probably the most knockouts in UFC welterweight historical past however he by no means bought the possibility to the touch UFC gold.
“I’d like to see him up there however all of us have our journeys,” Brown stated. “There’s 1000’s and 1000’s of fighters on the market — they will’t all be No. 1. Plenty of them are actually good folks however they will’t all be No., 1. That’s positively the maintain again for Dustin sadly.
“It’s not tearing him down, it’s simply the target fact. I imply I know how I’m going to recollect him shouldn’t be essentially as one of many best, positively nice. Not one of many best. By way of warriors and warrior mentality, I feel he’s completely one of many best of all-time in that. He’s most likely bought to be within the prime 5 once you speak about guys keen to struggle by way of something and preserve coming again. I feel that’s loads of what I’m identified for, and I put him above me in that regard. I feel he’s one of many prime 5 possibly in historical past of simply warriors.”
The place Poirier really excelled was together with his coronary heart, willpower and toughness that saved him ranked as top-of-the-line lightweights on this planet for the higher a part of the previous decade. He additionally had a formidable run at featherweight between the UFC and WEC, which is simply one other of his accomplishments.
Brown believes that’s what stands out most about Poirier and places him head and shoulders above most of the different athletes from his similar period.
“He’s a warrior,” Brown stated. “I don’t keep in mind him actually having many fights he simply dominated. It was at all times a knockdown, drag out warfare and he simply fought by way of it higher than the opposite man. I don’t put him up as a prime 5 expert man or athleticism, we’re all born with what we’re born with sadly, however when it comes to arduous working, hard-nosed, gritty, chew down in your mouthpiece, stroll ahead, struggle to the loss of life guys, I imply Dustin Poirier is prime three.”
The identical goes for Poirier’s place among the many finest fighters to by no means win an undisputed championship. It would appear to be a doubtful honor however Brown is aware of personally that there are loads of legends on that checklist.
“I feel he’s positively on the highest of that checklist for positive,” Brown stated. “I put myself on that checklist someplace, I wish to toot my very own horn however Dustin’s above me on that. I’d agree on that. We’d have to consider that. Write down some names and examine resumes however he completely needs to be on the prime of the checklist.
“I’d additionally put him on the prime of the checklist of simply best warriors within the UFC. The entire ‘BMF’ belt, which is the stupidest factor ever, but when there’s one deserving man of that, it’s Dustin Poirier. Simply hardest guys, grittiest, hardest-working guys — Dustin Poirier’s within the prime three of loads of these conversations.”
Greater than something, Brown hopes that Poirier strikes onto the following part of his life figuring out he gave the whole lot he needed to the game and he’ll at all times be remembered as one of many greatest fan favorites in historical past.
“I feel Dustin actually maximized the whole lot he has, that he was born with,” Brown stated. “I feel he did an ideal job. When he got here into the UFC, I keep in mind after Conor [McGregor] beat him, I don’t assume anyone thought Dustin Poirier was going to be shit. At that time, I keep in mind interviews asking me what do you consider Conor McGregor? He actually hasn’t fought anyone. We didn’t know what Dustin Poirier can be at the moment, however I don’t assume anyone checked out him like ‘wow that is the following huge man.’
“He didn’t are available in with insane presents or something. I really like and respect that a lot. I hope he has an incredible life after. I hope that his life treats him nicely. Possibly he will get some books, talking excursions, makes some huge cash and lives an ideal life, and I feel he’s earned each f*cking minute of it.”
