Remember last year at UFC 299 when Dustin Poirier’s coach told him, “No more guillotines!” Despite the advice, ‘The Diamond’ didn’t hesitate, and within 30 seconds, he attempted another guillotine choke. His actions spoke louder than words, with Poirier declaring, “I will never stop.”Now, the guillotine submission, once a talking point, has reached its full potential. It became a major highlight at UFC London, headlined by Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady. The main card had already made waves, with one featherweight fight wrapped up. But the spotlight was on the lightweight bout between Scottish phenom Chris Duncan and Jordan Vucenic.

The submission reverberated from the O2 Arena in London all the way to Louisiana, where Dustin Poirier, watching the action live, couldn’t resist expressing his admiration for the rising star. ‘The Diamond’ took to X to congratulate Duncan, posting, “Don’t be silly!!! Congratulations!” Known for his catchphrase “Don’t be silly, jump the silly,” which has evolved into a brand of its own, the lafayettian showed his appreciation for the Scottish MMA fighter’s performance. While Poirier is no stranger to the guillotine choke himself, having attempted it numerous times, he has yet to secure a submission with it. Meanwhile, during the event, Duncan also made a request for a bonus from Dana White.

Despite Dustin Poirier holding a black belt in BJJ under Tim Credeur, he has never secured a submission victory in his career. However, his bout against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242 became a defining moment. During their three-round title fight, a pivotal moment came in the third round when ‘The Diamond’ attempted a guillotine choke after ‘The Eagle’s takedown was thwarted.

Many MMA pundits still consider this the closest Khabib Nurmagomedov has ever come to losing. With his father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, watching from the corner, the Dagestani export refused to tap, displaying remarkable composure and resilience to escape Dustin Poirier’s submission. In the same round, ‘The Eagle’ regained control and secured a rear-naked choke to win the fight, dashing Poirier’s title aspirations. However, did you know that the Louisiana native has actually secured a guillotine choke submission before, yet it went unnoticed? Let’s hear from his opponent.

Dan Hooker reveals the unnoticed truth about his fight against Dustin Poirier

Dan Hooker and Dustin Poirier clashed inside the Octagon in 2020, delivering an intense, hard-fought battle that went the full 25 minutes. Both fighters showcased remarkable resilience, but when the final bell rang, it was ‘The Diamond’ who secured the victory. The judges scored the bout in his favor (2 x 48-47, 48-46), awarding him the last three rounds as he demonstrated superior endurance and conditioning.

As in many of his fights, the Louisiana native attempted his signature guillotine choke on Hooker, but it appeared unsuccessful—at least officially. However, last year, ‘The Hangman’ shed light on an overlooked moment, revealing that Dustin Poirier may have actually put him out with the choke without even realizing it. Speaking on Main Event, Hooker recalled, “In the Poirier fight, he had me in the guillotine – I might have been the first guy he ever submitted with a guillotine, but he just didn’t even realize I was out.”

Neither Dustin Poirier nor referee Herb Dean caught what had happened, allowing the fight to continue as if nothing was amiss. Dan Hooker, without alerting anyone, regained consciousness and carried on. Detailing the moment further, he added, “So, I actually woke up. It was the third round, I shot for the takedown, and he jumped the guillotine. He must have just run out of steam squeezing. I woke up and I was like, ‘Oh, the fight’s still going? That’s cool.’”

Now, Dustin Poirier stands on the brink of his “last dance.” With just one fight left in his storied MMA career, the question remains—who will be his final opponent? As the UFC prepares for a return to Louisiana this summer, the Lafayette is set to make his last walk to the Octagon before officially retiring. Who do you think should share the cage with him in his farewell fight? Drop your predictions below!