Prior to his last fight on UFC 318, Dustin Poirier has placed a familiar face next to a more controversial on his MMA Mount Rushmore.
Van Poirier is expected to receive considerable fanfare when he makes this Saturday for his colleague Louisianans in New Orleans' Smoothie King Center.
In the main event of UFC 318, Poirier will retire against Max Holloway while the fan favorite lightweight veteran hangs its gloves to end an 18-year career.
Poirier shared the cage about an MMA official period that includes almost two decades and witnessed some of the best hunters the sport has ever seen. With that in mind, he is well placed to weigh a never -ending debate.
Dustin Poirier puts former UFC rival Khabib Nurmagomedov on his MMA Mount Rushmore
During a recent performance on the Danza project prior to his last farewell in New Orleans, Poirier was asked to give his view of an age-old discussion.
A multitude of names often appears on the selections of Fighters and fans for their MMA Mount Rushmore. 'The Diamond' opted for four of the most common choices, including his former opponent Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“Top four? (Jon) Jones, Khabib, (Georges) St-Pierre and Anderson Silva,” said Poirier.
Nurmagomedov submitted Poirier to UFC 242 in 2019 and marked the first of three failed attempts by the American to reach the undisputed lightweight throne.
'The Diamond' also gave a number of honorable mentions, including another legendary figure of his old division.
“I need more of a mountain, man, because bj penn in his prime … Fedor Emelianenko … there are so many legends,” said Poirier. “When they were in their prime, man, it was something special.”
Dustin Poirier expects his pension to take longer than Jon Jones'
All four names mentioned were together with retirement. However, Jones has apparently changed his mind.
Only a few weeks after Dana White announced the pension of Jones, the controversial resident of Rochester announced plans to return in 2026 after Donald Trump had placed a UFC event on the lawn of the White House.
'Bones' recently repeated his intention to fight again on that occasion during a walk-and-talk interview with Tiktoker Joy of Everything.
“I can't promise anyone, but I have a very strong feeling that I will be on that card,” Jones said. “I think it will be historical. It will be as big as the 'Thrilla in Manilla', or 'The Rumble in the Jungle', it is above that. In essence it can be bigger than that.
“I would like to take against whom the belt holds at the end of the year. From now on the champion Tom Aspinall is, but we will see who the champion is at the end of the year.
“I feel that I had an American fight for a championship that night, I would put it all at stake … At the moment I just try to be a good burger.”
Poirier undoubtedly expects his pension to take considerably longer than Jones, because he suggests that only an extremely unlikely fourth title shot could change his dedication to hang the gloves this Saturday.