UFC light-weight legend Dustin Poirier is getting ready to retire after one last battle. There’s been a lot speak about who his opponent ought to be — Justin Gaethje, Michael Chandler, Max Holloway and even a tournament that includes all the above are simply a few of the concepts floating round within the MMA world.
Nevertheless, none of these names make sense for The Diamond’s final hurrah. Poirier ought to battle both light-weight champion Islam Makhachev or soon-to-be-lightweight Ilia Topuria.
Many will scoff on the thought of Poirier preventing Makhachev. In any case, Poirier misplaced to the champ in his final battle at UFC 302.
However think about the truth that Poirier gave Makhachev one in every of his most difficult fights, taking him into the fifth spherical for less than the second time in Makhachev’s UFC profession (the opposite was Alexander Volkanovski, who’s at present preoccupied with reclaiming the featherweight belt).
Makhachev has made fast work of nearly everybody at 155. When Renato Moicano stepped as much as exchange Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311, Makhachev took him out in simply over 4 minutes. Volkanovski’s second run at Makhachev lasted solely 3:06, and Charles Olivera solely made it into the second spherical.
Poirier getting one other shot at Makhachev is smart. If he may pull off the upset and retire with the belt, the UFC would have a storybook ending to promote for the remainder of his profession.
But when that rematch doesn’t work out, the subsequent most suitable choice is Poirer vs. Topuria. The previous featherweight champion is leaving his title for Volkanovski and Diego Lopes to battle over and heading straight for the light-weight belt. Perhaps he ought to must show himself at 155 earlier than he will get a title shot, although.
Topuria has one UFC battle at light-weight, knocking out Jai Herbert in March 2022. That was a very long time in the past, and Herbert wasn’t within the high 15 then, neither is he now.
Requiring Topuria to get by means of Poirier (at present ranked 4th within the light-weight division) to get to Makhachev is smart. Plus, the battle is a simple promote to followers. Who wouldn’t need to see the 2 elite strikers duke it out?
If UFC boss Dana White needs to script a massively worthwhile ending to Poirier’s profession, solely Makhachev or Topuria make sense as last opponents. All different fights can be mid at finest.
