Dustin Poirier | Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

Israel Adesanya has a special bond with Dustin Poirier.

Ahead of Poirier’s final fight this Saturday at UFC 318, the tributes have been pouring in for “The Diamond,” one of the most beloved figures in all of MMA. In the main event, Poirier faces fellow legend Max Holloway, who Poirier has twice beaten, most recently at UFC 236 back in 2019 to become interim lightweight champion.

Adesanya also became interim that champion that night, defeating Kelvin Gastelum in a Hall of Fame fight for a middleweight belt. He went on to unify the titles by knocking out Robert Whittaker and successfully defended his undisputed status five consecutive times, while Poirier fell short against champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in his unification attempt.

Regardless, Adesanya doesn’t think Poirier’s interim title win should ever be overlooked.

“Dustin’s been the guy in the UFC that’s always a company man,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “Whenever it’s time to toe the line in battle, he’s a guy that’s always ready to go. Hard worker, represents his people of Lafayette, Louisiana, he’s always represented his people, he’s always represented himself well. Carries himself as a champion.

“And I’ve always said this as well because people try and try to discredit his win as a champion. He is a champion no matter what. He’s got a belt at his house, at his gym, sitting there to represent him as a champion at one point. So people who are trying to say, ‘Oh, you never really became the undisputed.’ No, when you’re the interim champion you’re the [expletive] champion. He’s had a career in the UFC that’s second to none. You’d be blessed to have the career, even half the career that Dustin’s had in the UFC.”

Poirier might never have won an undisputed championship, but his list of victories is eye-opening. Since making his UFC debut in 2011, Poirier has scored wins over Conor McGregor (twice), Holloway (twice), Eddie Alvarez, Justin Gaethje, Anthony Pettis, Jim Miller, Michael Chandler, Dan Hooker, and numerous other notable names. Along the way he has won 15 UFC bonuses, including 10 Fight of the Night awards. He won MMA Fighting’s 2018 Fight of the Year award for his hellacious first meeting with Gaethje, and might have won again in 2019, had his rematch with Holloway not been on the same card as Adesanya vs. Gastelum.

Adesanya provided a thorough breakdown of Saturday’s main event, concluding that Holloway has a chance to not only beat Poirier, but put him away with strikes, while Poirier might consider mixing the martial arts to go up 3-0 on his rival.

“Lightweight Max I still think can knock out Dustin Poirier, and Dustin has taken Max’s best shots in the past and keep going forward,” Adesanya said. “This time could be different. I would advise that for Dustin. Max, however, fight smart. Fight at range, fight on the edge of Dustin’s range. Be in his face, but don’t let him just walk forward without paying. Don’t let him just walk forward without eating something. Dustin just has to mix up the takedowns or even threaten the takedowns to keep Max guessing.”

However, Adesanya stopped short of making an official pick, stating he simply wants to enjoy the moment like any other fan.

“This is Dustin’s last fight,” Adesanya said. “I’m not going to pick anyone in this fight because it’s not about that. I just feel like a guy like Dustin, he’s done so much for the game, so much for his people. … In Louisiana, finishing his career in the town he started in, what a storybook ending to a career. Whether he wins or loses, this is going to be one for the books, and I’m going to feel something when he puts those gloves down, regardless of the results.

“I’m also honored to be able to say we won our belts on the same night. I even cut weight with him and that was when I kind of realized Dustin’s a foul-mouthed dude. He’s a lad. On TV, he’s very respectful and whatnot, but he’s just a lad. One of the boys. We were talking about some shit in the weight cuts. You know, when you start cutting weight, you start getting delirious and just talking shit. This is feel-good for me because Max is my boy, Dustin’s that guy, and it’s going to be a great fight.”

TOP STORIES

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Scary. PFL champion Timur Khizriev was shot up by rubber bullets in Russia.

Recovery. Randy Couture is back home after a serious car accident suffered while preparing for an upcoming race.

VIDEO STEW

MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck catches up with Dakota Ditcheva ahead of her co-main event scrap at PFL Africa.

Game respecting game.

UFC 318 media day.

One half of the sleeper fight of the weekend.

UFC 318 Embedded.

Usyk vs. Dubois 2 open workout.

FLAVOR IN YOUR EAR

No Bets Barred. MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew makes his bets for Dustin Poirier’s final fight and a main card filled with potential bangers.

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Powerful reference.

Writer/director Keith Jardine!

Maybe it will turn out OK.

Saint-hood.

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Darren Till vs. Luke Rockhold (boxing); Misfits Boxing 22, Aug. 30

Tony Ferguson vs. Salt Papi (boxing); Misfits Boxing 22, Aug. 30

Jhonata Diniz (9-1) vs. Mario Pinto (10-0); UFC Rio, Oct. 11

Alexander Volkov (38-11) vs. Jailton Almeida (22-3); UFC 321, Oct. 25

FINAL THOUGHTS

I wish I could screenshot that El Cucuy vs. Salt Papi fight announcement travel back in time to 2019 to right after Ferguson beat Donald Cerrone and show that image to everyone.

Chaos and confusion.

EXIT POLL

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