Dustin Poirier enjoyed one of the biggest wins of his career at UFC 299. Taking on Benoit Saint Denis in the co-main event, a lot of eyes were on the Louisiana native. As such, the lightweight mainstay, unfazed by the occasion went out and put on one of his best performances ever.
For those unaware, ‘The Diamond’ marked his return to the Octagon with a triumphant outing at UFC 299. Having suffered a brutal head-kick KO against Justin Gaethje the last time around, there was a growing belief surrounding the impending retirement of Poirier. Ahead of the fight, some of the 35-year-old’s statements did not fill the fans with much confidence either.
THE DIAMOND GETS THE KO IN ROUND 2 😤#UFC299 | @DustinPoirier pic.twitter.com/DouV3eQeKD
— UFC (@ufc) March 10, 2024
With that said, Dustin was seemingly back to his best with a 2nd Round KO over Benoit Saint Denis. A certified stone-cold killer with five finishes in his last five, the fans felt that the young contender could spell doom for Poirier. However, on the night, the former interim champ made light work of the hyped-up French prospect.
Dustin Poirier talks about Benoit Saint Denis’ knockout power
For the most part, Dustin Poirier is possibly one of the most tenured fighters on the roster right now. Being one of the last few standing from the older generation of fighters, it is something hard to fathom how long he has been in the game. However, after his latest performance, it is safe to say that he is starting to age like fine wine.
Notably, Dustin also had a lot to say about his opponent and his power in the post-fight presser:
“I was surprised at his punching power. I didn’t, in the moment, didn’t feel like he was a big puncher. He looked like a big guy and he’s finished guys on the feet, finished all of his wins, but I though he was going to be a bigger puncher. When he was landing those shots, there wasn’t that much knockdown power behind them”.
Other than Dustin, even the fans pointed to the fact that Benoit seemed much more sluggish than usual. As he later revealed that he was on antibiotics for a staph infection, the Frenchman revealed the reason behind his flat performance. Thus, his punching power likely took a toll due to the same as well.
Who will Dustin Poirier’s next opponent be?
Naturally, after a performance as impressive as his, there was a lot of praise heaped on Dustin Poirier. Not only did his age-old rival Conor McGregor praise him but he seemingly got the attention of the lightweight champ as well. Whilst it was expected that Poirier would only pursue ‘big money fights’ to see out his days, the new development has gotten the fans talking.
Following Dustin’s win, renowned manager and Dominance MMA founder Ali Abdelaziz stated how Poirier vs Islam in the summer would not be a bad idea. A surprising claim to begin with, Poirier also chimed in by saying, “Islam in June”. Thereafter, the lightweight champ seemingly agreed as well. Considering how the rest of the division is booked, a fight between the two does make sense.
Dustin Poirier took a huge risk tonight and came out on top and looked amazing. Dustin vs @MAKHACHEVMMA in June especially since everyone else has fights. If the UFC is good with this then Islam would be game.
— Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) March 10, 2024
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) March 11, 2024
Previously, Daniel Cormier forgot the fact that Dustin Poirier was coming off a loss, before suggesting he should fight Islam. However, with his latest win, many more people will be vying for the matchup. Most importantly, seeing that both fighters are on board with the idea, it is a possibility that the UFC should explore.