At 36 years old, Dustin Poirier has nearly done it all. Over 15 years in the fight game and slugging it out every time like his life depends on it, ‘The Diamond’ has earned his stripes inside the Octagon. Moreover, with an interim title and the scalps of the best 155fers, the Louisiana juggernaut is approaching the next chapter, of his storied career. UFC 302 offered him one final shot at undisputed gold as he stepped into the Octagon to face the dominant Dagestani champion, Islam Makhachev. Despite a valiant effort, Poirier fell short, losing via submission.

Leading up to the bout, ‘The Diamond’ had hinted that win or lose, this could mark the end of his journey. But in true Poirier fashion, the veteran isn’t quite ready to close the book just yet. Instead, he’s opting for one final dance before officially hanging up the gloves. Moreover, Poirier wishes to hang up his gloves and have a full-circle moment in his hometown of New Orleans. In an interview with MMA Fighting, he said, “I’m trying to retire in my home state. The UFC hasn’t been there since 2015. I fought on the card as well. I fought Yancy Medeiros, but that was the last time I got to fight at home. To retire where it all started in Louisiana would be incredible for me and my career.”

But brace yourselves, as there is an update on the same. In an interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, ‘The Diamond’ gave a development on his final fight. “Dustin Poirier tells  @MikeBohn that he expects his retirement fight to be announced within the next two weeks.”

Continuing with the interview, the Louisiana native reflected on his final outing and what it meant to him. “I am not emotional yet, I am sure as time goes on, there’s gonna be waves of different feelings. Right now, I am feeling confident and okay with my decision for it to be my last fight. Like I have said that I can still do this at the top level for a few more years. I know there is no doubt in my mind, but what am I fighting for?”

Poirier has previously stated that he does not believe in disrespecting the sport and only fighting for the title. If it’s not the title, then there is no use in fighting, is what he believes in. His decision also involves his family and business ventures, which he now wants to dedicate more time to. The owner of The Good Fight Foundation declared that he wanted to focus on his daughter and be healthy for her, while also concentrating on his businesses outside of combat sports.

Apart from that, he also addressed his concerns about his health previously. Poirier told NBC News, “My body feels good, but I’ve been getting punched and kicked and kneed in the face for almost 18 years. I want to take care of my brain health.” Now that the retirement fight is on the horizon — and with talks of it possibly taking place in Louisiana — the question remains: Who will ‘The Diamond’ face for his last dance?

Who will Dustin Poirier fight in his retirement outing?

Sometimes, being impatient pays off—especially when you’re an MMA fan fishing for answers. Just moments after UFC 314 wrapped up, one fan took to X and rolled the dice. The user @flowerchild_ty tagged former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier with a hopeful (and slightly desperate) request: “@DustinPoirier, can we get the details for your next fight pleaseeeeeeeeeee.”

Luckily for all of us, ‘The Diamond’ saw it—and with just one word, he sent shockwaves through the MMA world: “War.” No date. No name. Just one word—enough to ignite speculation and excitement across the fanbase. With constant whispers of a Poirier vs. Max Holloway trilogy floating around, that one-word reply poured gasoline on the fire. Poirier has already made it clear that only elite-level opponents are worth his time at this stage of his career. So if ‘War’ is coming… it’s going to be big.

Meanwhile, Poirier was front and center this past weekend as a desk analyst for the UFC Miami PPV. Seated alongside Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier, he found himself right in the eye of the storm. And when Chael is in the mix, secrets tend to unravel fast—whether you want them to or not. With his signature blend of sharp wit and showmanship, Sonnen stirred the pot once again:

“155 has only one piece of clarity, it’s that Dustin and Max [Holloway] are matched up. After that, we don’t have anybody for [Arman] Tsarukyan. We don’t have anybody for Ilia, we don’t have anybody for Justin Gaethje. I think the bosses are sitting and waiting for the outcome of Paddy and Chandler.”

The statement left Poirier visibly rattled. Cormier quickly jumped in, trying to cool things down, saying he wasn’t sure if the matchup was happening. But Poirier’s reaction spoke volumes: “I don’t either… I started sweating when he said that.”

So—was Sonnen just speculating, or did he accidentally leak a blockbuster? Will we finally get a trilogy between two of the sport’s most beloved warriors? Or does Poirier have a different warpath in mind? Let us know what you think!