Dustin Poirier is about to name it a profession on Saturday evening at UFC 318 together with his ultimate battle booked in opposition to Max Holloway in the principle occasion.
When he formally retires, Poirier leaves the game with a outstanding quantity of accolades, together with 10 Battle of the Evening bonuses, with wins over 4 former UFC champions and he’s tied with Drew Dober for essentially 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 in opposition to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.
Whereas dropping 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 among the finest ever.
“Sadly he didn’t win an [undisputed] title,” Brown mentioned on the newest 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 high 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 aspect, 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 finally discover himself receiving an invite to affix the UFC Corridor of Fame, which is simply one other field he’ll examine with regards to 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 normal.
Brown understands that degree of frustration as a result of he lived it himself the place he set some data together with essentially the most knockouts in UFC welterweight historical past however he by no means received the possibility to the touch UFC gold.
“I’d like to see him up there however all of us have our journeys,” Brown mentioned. “There’s hundreds and hundreds of fighters on the market — they’ll’t all be No. 1. Lots of them are actually good individuals however they’ll’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 reality. I imply I know how I’m going to recollect him is just not essentially as one of many best, positively nice. Not one of many best. When it comes to warriors and warrior mentality, I feel he’s completely one of many best of all-time in that. He’s most likely received to be within the high 5 once you discuss guys prepared to battle by way of something and hold coming again. I feel that’s a variety of what I’m recognized for, and I put him above me in that regard. I feel he’s one of many high 5 perhaps in historical past of simply warriors.”
The place Poirier actually excelled was together with his coronary heart, willpower and toughness that stored him ranked as among the finest 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 identical period.
“He’s a warrior,” Brown mentioned. “I don’t bear in mind him actually having many fights he simply dominated. It was at all times a knockdown, drag out conflict and he simply fought by way of it higher than the opposite man. I don’t put him up as a high 5 expert man or athleticism, we’re all born with what we’re born with sadly, however by way of laborious working, hard-nosed, gritty, chew down in your mouthpiece, stroll ahead, battle to the dying guys, I imply Dustin Poirier is high 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 a variety of legends on that record.
“I feel he’s positively on the highest of that record for certain,” Brown mentioned. “I put myself on that record 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 evaluate resumes however he completely must be on the high of the record.
“I’d additionally put him on the high of the record 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 high three of a variety of these conversations.”
Greater than something, Brown hopes that Poirier strikes onto the subsequent part of his life figuring out he gave every little thing he needed to the game and he’ll at all times be remembered as one of many largest fan favorites in historical past.
“I feel Dustin actually maximized every little thing he has, that he was born with,” Brown mentioned. “I feel he did an ideal job. When he got here into the UFC, I bear in mind after Conor [McGregor] beat him, I don’t suppose anyone thought Dustin Poirier was going to be shit. At that time, I bear in mind interviews asking me what do you concentrate on Conor McGregor? He actually hasn’t fought anyone. We didn’t know what Dustin Poirier can be at the moment, however I don’t suppose anyone checked out him like ‘wow that is the subsequent huge man.’
“He didn’t are available with insane presents or something. I like and respect that a lot. I hope he has a tremendous life after. I hope that his life treats him nicely. Perhaps 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.”
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