UFC 299: Dustin Poirier’s Career Under Threat as UFC HoFer Underlines Benoit Saint-Denis’s ‘Dangers’

Dustin Poirer may never have become an undisputed champion, but has been a fan favorite in the uber-competitive UFC lightweight division due to his exciting, striking-first fighting style, Having fought top-ranked opponents for over a decade, Poirier’s career is at a crossroads.

He has lost two of his last three fights, including a devastating head-kick knockout at the hands of Justin Gaethje in their UFC 292 BMF title bout last year. With his career on a downward slope, his upcoming UFC 299 bout against the dangerous Benoit Saint-Denis will be a consequential one and may determine the course of the rest of his career. UFC commentator and former champion Michael Bisping thinks a loss may mean curtains for Poirier’s career.

Michael Bisping thinks ‘BSD’ may retire Dustin Poirier

Analyzing the Dustin Poirier vs. Benoit Saint-Denis matchup, Bisping felt that the former French Special Forces operative was a very dangerous opponent for ‘The Diamond’, who has been fighting at the highest level since 2011.

“He’s had an incredible career… He’s been fighting at the highest level for 13 years. And I would understand that if he goes out there and loses to Benoit Saint-Denis and as I say that’s a very real reality, because Benoit has a similar kind of kicking style to Justin Gaethje, he certainly has that kind of power… [and] is very dangerous when you look at it on paper.”

Bisping felt that Saint-Denis had all of the advantages over Poirier, including length, reach, power, and age, which would make their UFC 299 co-main event clash an uphill task for the Louisiana native.

“All the advantages are on the side of Benoit Saint-Denis, he’s younger: 28 versus 35, he’s taller, he’s got a longer reach, and the momentum is on his side as well, won five in a row, finished five in a row. But granted this is the next level, this is a step up for Benoit Saint-Denis. So for Dustin Poirier, this could be the last time we ever see him,” he added. And Poirier himself has indicated that he might be looking to retire soon.

Every fight could be it: Poirier

Dustin Poirier’s upcoming UFC 299 bout against Benoit Saint-Denis this Saturday in Florida will be his thirtieth fight in the UFC. Poirier has only fought top-five ranked opponents since his UFC 236 clash against Max Holloway for the interim lightweight title; another reason why a loss against the #12 ranked ‘BSD’ will be devastating for the #3 ranked Poirier.

And the Louisianan is not under any illusions about what is at stake, and is well aware of the danger the Frenchman poses to him. “This guy is young, hungry, on a streak, has finished his last five opponents. That makes me nervous, so I want to toss myself in the fire. There’s where I feel I do my best work, and those are the kinds of fighters I want to fight,” Poirier told TMZ Sports.

Read more: Dustin Poirier Reacts to Joe Rogan’s Warning About Benoit Saint-Denis; Fans Pick Sides – “Take It With a Grain of Salt”

On being asked why he was looking forward to fighting Saint-Denis, Poirier said that he wanted to see if he still had what it took to compete at the highest level. “To test myself really. To see if I still got it.” Poirier also admitted that he was well aware of the specter of retirement and did not have any grand plans, and felt that “every fight could be it, every fight.”

Read more: UFC 299: Dustin Poirier Admits Expecting Rafael Dos Anjos Instead of Benoit Sanit-Denis From Dana White & Co.