UFC’s former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier has been out of the octagon since this summer after being successfully D’Arce choked by the division king, Islam Makhachev. Since taking this hiatus, rumors about Poirier’s future have circulated, particularly after he joined ESPN MMA as a guest analyst, leading fans to speculate that he might be starting a new chapter in his career.

However, that assumption may be incorrect, as ‘The Diamond’ has been dropping hints about his return to the octagon over the last month, including cryptic messages that left fans puzzled. This sentiment was recently echoed by renowned MMA journalist Ariel Helwani when he asked Poirier if he was coming back.

Poirier confirmed his intentions, and Helwani took it a step further by inquiring about how many fights Poirier wanted to have. When asked, “Just waiting for one and done or two more?” Poirier replied, “I want the hardest guys I can get. You know I was asking for Justin Gaethje, asking for Dan Hooker. I want to have hard fights. I’m not trying to avoid getting beat up; I want to fight. It’s just about availability and the time frame. We’ll see.”

This statement from Dustin Poirier strengthens the speculation surrounding his cryptic message from a few weeks ago. He ignited talk about a potential fight against Justin Gaethje by leaving a tweet that simply read, “Trilogy?” This suggests he is seeking fan input on a possible matchup. Gaethje is the only opponent whose path has already crossed with Poirier’s, and he is one fight away from getting a second rematch against Poirier. The two fighters have gone back and forth in the Octagon, facing each other at UFC on FOX 29, where Poirier emerged victorious, and UFC 291, where Gaethje claimed the win.

Their rumored fight could serve as the conclusion of their thrilling trilogy, determining who holds the upper hand in their storied rivalry. However, the latest remarks from Gaethje have raised significant questions about the fight’s likelihood of taking place.

Justin Gaethje on the ‘trilogy’ against Dustin Poirier

Since Dustin Poirier hinted at his intention to face off against Justin Gaethje again in the octagon, both fighters have remained quiet about their potential next moves. However, earlier this month, Gaethje finally opened up about facing the former interim champion while speaking to The Schmo, where he discussed the possibility of becoming Poirier’s next opponent. He claimed, “It could be anybody, you know? It could be me; it could be anybody. He’s a world-class fighter at the highest level, so anytime he fights, he’s spectacular alone. Obviously, we fought twice, so it makes sense, but I have no idea what’s going to happen.”

Initially dismissing the notion, Gaethje seems satisfied with the current status of their rivalry, where they’ve each knocked the other out in their encounters, leaving the big question of who is superior still open. For the 35-year-old Gaethje, who is on the edge of the twilight of his career, ego no longer matters.

He is more satisfied with his current game plan, stating, “He (Poirier) knocked me out. I mean, I am okay with that. I am sure that it’s a little bit more bitter since I was the last one to win, but it does not matter.” Now, with Dustin Poirier again mentioning Justin Gaethje, the ball is in Dana White’s and the UFC’s court. We will have to wait to see how this story unfolds. Stay tuned for further updates.