Dustin Poirier Announces Unexpected Retirement Plans After UFC 299 Benoit Saint-Denis Fight

Dustin Poirier has dropped a hint about possibly leaving his gloves inside the Octagon! The Louisiana native is set to take on Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299 in a lightweight clash. Despite being highly anticipated, the fight almost didn’t happen as earlier reports indicated that there was miscommunication about the bout between the two parties.

But the bout is on and the confusion has been cleared, however, in a recent interview, Poirier revealed that this may be the final fight of his storied career. In a recent conversation with TMZ Sports, ‘The Diamond’ shared his thoughts on the possibility of UFC 299 being his last appearance inside the Octagon!

Dustin Poirier may ride off into the sunset after UFC 299

The matchup between Poirier and Saint-Denis was surprising for the fans as Poirier had previously expressed interest in only fighting household names or in highly meaningful fights. In an appearance on The MMA Hour, he revealed, “In my head, I was kind of like, ‘Maybe a legacy fight. Maybe an RDA. Maybe another former champion. I don’t know, just something…”

Nonetheless, he accepted the fight against Saint-Denis as he respects the sport and acknowledges the young fighter’s hunger and winning streak.

But in his conversation with TMZ Sports, Poirier was questioned about the possibility of this clash being the end of his UFC run. He responded by stating, “Every fight could be [my last]. Where I’m at, 35 years old. This is my 30th fight in the UFC. Every fight could be it.”

This revelation adds an extra layer of significance to his clash with Saint-Denis. While the fight may not have been the legacy bout Poirier initially envisioned, his decision to honor his commitment reflects his respect for the sport and his opponent’s talent.

As fans eagerly await UFC 299, they’re left wondering if they’ll witness the end of an era for one of MMA’s most respected fighters.

Read More: Dustin Poirier Claims UFC’s Bold Decision Saved Him a “Bunch of Money”: “I’m Glad It Happened”

But Poirier’s odds of success in the fight have been questioned by a former UFC middleweight who believes that the betting lines do not accurately reflect the matchup inside the cage!

‘The Diamond’ should not be an underdog against Saint-Denis according to Chael Sonnen

Chael Sonnen is surprised that Dustin Poirier is the underdog against Benoit Saint-Denis for UFC 299. Poirier is returning to the Octagon after a knockout loss to Justin Gaethje in July 2023. And despite his ranking being higher than the Frenchman, Poirier remains the underdog in the odds for the clash.

As such, Sonnen, speaking on his YouTube channel, criticized the odds against ‘The Diamond’. He stated, “Don’t forget, Poirier’s an underdog, which is a colossal mistake, there is no justification for whoever set that line.”

He also emphasized that the odds are influenced by perception rather than facts and questioned the logic behind favoring Saint-Denis just because he won his last fight. His questioning of the logic behind favoring Saint-Denis over Poirier speaks to the complexity of assessing fighters’ chances in the octagon. Ultimately, Sonnen’s remarks serve as a reminder that in the fight game, anything can happen, regardless of the odds.

Do you think Dustin Poirier will retire after UFC 299? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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