UFC 318 Headliner Dustin Poirier can end his career without an undisputed title, but he is not short of important achievements.
This week it was all about one man, because leading fan favorite Poirier calls time on his mixed Martial Arts official period with a final representation of violence in the UFC Octagon.
After the loss of submission of Poirier to Islam Makhakev last year, who had spelled the end of his undisputed title hopes, 'The Diamond' will want to end his career in a winning tone by adding the symbolic BMF -Riem to his CV.
When Poirier challenges Max Holloway on UFC 318, he becomes the first man to get a second chance to win that title, after he was previously not deposited against Justin Gaethje in 2023.
That will be far from the first time that Poirier has done what nobody else has in the UFC, as these five performance show.
5. Dustin Poirier was the first to submit Michael Chandler
When it comes to fighting Poirier against opponents that he just didn't seem to like, his Madison Square Garden -Showdown with Bellator -legend Michael Chandler comes to me.
'Iron' emerged as a controversial figure from their match at the end of 2022. Poirier accused Chandler of Valas on UFC 281 by fishing him to lift his chin to set up a rear naked choke. But it was 'the diamond' who had the last smile after he had sunk in his own choke to force a slap of the lightweight veteran for two minutes in the third round.
The result marked the first time that Chandler had been submitted in professional MMA and came in his 31st fight.
4. Dustin Poirier was the first to win the Forest Griffin Community Award
Although he will undoubtedly be reminded by the MMA Masses for his performances in the Achthoek and always-game approach to his career in the sport, Poirier's inheritance reaches far beyond the cage.
In 2020, Poirier was the very first Forest Griffin Community Award winner. UFC hunters receive the prize for the positive impact they have had on communities through volunteer and charity work.
'The Diamond' was the inaugural receiver because of his efforts with the Good Fight Foundation, which was founded to raise money and resources for charity causes, especially in Poirier's hometown Lafayette, Louisiana. The UFC star started auctioning his fight kit from UFC 211, which offered 3000 meals for the local Second Harvest Food Bank.
Since the prize of Poirier it has been won by Holloway, Giga Chikadze, the Gebroeders Nogueira, Beneil Dariush and Charles Oliveira.
3. Dustin Poirier was the first to won an interim -thin title by beating a ruling undisputed champion
Poirier's first victory over Holloway (more about it soon) came to the UFC debut of the Hawaiian with both men far from the title photo on MMA's largest stage. But the same can certainly not be said for their Rematch 2019.
The pair clashed in the main event of UFC 236, where Poirier Holloway defeated through a unanimous decision after a fascinating five rounds. That result won 'The Diamond' interim light weight gold, a fact that also saw him write history.
At the time, Holloway photographed for two -division glory, while holding the featherweight title. That meant that Poirier became the first and only hunter who won an interim -fc title by beating a ruling undisputed champion.
2. Dustin Poirier was the first to eliminate Conor McGregor
When it comes to the 'scoops' of Poirier's career, not much cannot stick to what happened when Poirier had his Rematch against Conor McGregor.
After the trash and mental game of the Irishman set up a loss of the first round for 'The Diamond' in their 2014 fight, Poirier promised to take revenge on McGregor. The Louisianan succeeded in that goal at UFC 257 – and it was emphatically.
After moments of success for McGregor in the first round, Poirier suddenly shut out the lights on the polarizing Dublin resident in the Etihad Arena of Abu Dhabi with an attack of bumps in round two.
The bonus-winning finish set up more than just Poirier for another cash fight with the Irishman and eventually a second title shot. It also etched his name in the history books as the very first man that McGregor eliminated.
1. Dustin Poirier was the first to defeat and completed Max Holloway
This is the most relevant of Poirier's first performance, seen with whom he will share the cage for his pension fight on Saturday evening in New Orleans.
The third fight of Poirier and Holloway will be at UFC 178 13 years after their confrontation, which means that their trilogy will have transferred a longer period of time than all others in the UFC history. The Rematch is already in this list, but Poirier also reached many scoops when he welcomed 'blessed' in the UFC in 2012.
Holloway was unbeaten at the time, which means that the Louisianan triangle arm bar in De Ronde one forever cemented Poirier as the first man who defeated and finished in professional MMA in professional MMA.
Dustin Poirier submits Max Holloway in 😱
Dustin Poirier serves Max Holloway in 😱 We will take you back to 2012 when the diamond and blessed collided for the first time!
Posted by UFC on Sunday, February 4, 2024
Poirier would have had the opportunity to be the first to come out in their trilogy on UFC 318, but Ilia Topuria first came to reach Abu Dhabi there nine months ago.
Nevertheless, 'The Diamond' has the stimulans to knock out Holloway and to have submitted them so far and to have submitted and performed 'blessed' to complete a perfect trio of victories.