There comes a time when even the best have to say goodbye to the sport and for Dustin Poirier that moment might be drawing near. After a crushing defeat to Islam Makhachev at UFC 302, Poirier seemed ready to hang up his gloves. It was ‘The Diamond’s third loss in his quest for the undisputed UFC lightweight title.

Yet, as retirement loomed, the 35-year-old offered his fans a glimmer of hope, one last fight. But who would be his opponent for what may be his last dance inside the Octagon? While the fans and analysts buzzed with possibilities, it looks like the Louisiana native might be interested in welcoming ‘El Matador’ to the lightweight division!

Dustin Poirier sends a rumble in the MMA world by showing interest in Ilia Topuria bout

Ilia Topuria, the reigning UFC featherweight champion, has his sights set on fresh challenges. Despite only one defense of his 145-pound title, El Matador seems poised for a leap to lightweight. Speaking on the Spanish podcast, El Partidazo de COPE, Topuria stated, “I’d like to move up to the next weight class, and since Islam is the champion fighting in January and he won’t be ready for April or May, I’d like to fight against the number one contender right now, who’s Charles Oliveira.”

But here’s where things get interesting. In a recent post shared on Instagram by Championship Rounds, it was revealed that Dustin Poirier might have something to say about Topuria’s move up to 155 lbs. The post contained a screenshot of a fan’s post on X which read, “Hear me out… if Ilia wants to move up to LW, do Ilia Topuria vs Dustin Poirier.”

The post was re-posted by ‘The Diamond’ signaling his interest in the bout and it has left a buzz in the MMA sphere. What makes this potential bout so tantalizing? For Poirier, it’s a chance to face a surging champion and leave the sport on his terms. For Topuria, it’s the ultimate proving ground—a shot at cementing his dominance in a second weight class against one of the UFC’s most respected veterans.

But even as one door may be opening, this might also be the end of the rumors surrounding a possible clash between Poirier and Colby Covington. ‘Chaos’ had called out Poirier in 2022 after a win over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272. But ‘The Diamond’ shut those talks down in a blunt statement during an interview with Fight Bananas where he had stated, “He’ll never make money with me, it’s BS.”

So, as the fans buzz about the possibility of seeing Ilia Topuria clash against ‘The Diamond’, the featherweight champion has also come out with a surprising statement on when he plans to hang up his own gloves!

Topuria drops a bombshell about his plans to be “out by 30” from MMA  

Ilia Topuria’s rise in the UFC has been meteoric. In less than a year, ‘El Matador’ conquered Alexander Volkanovski to claim the featherweight crown and stunned the world by becoming the first man to knock out Max Holloway. With stunning accolades, an undefeated MMA record, and the world at his feet, Topuria has confessed that the allure of new challenges has him considering lightweight—and fast.

As mentioned above, Topuria is eyeing a bout against Charles Oliveira while the champion, Islam Makhachev, takes care of business. But what about his future? In the candid conversation on El Partidazo de COPE podcast, he dropped a bombshell that his MMA career might be shorter than fans would like. Topuria stated, “I’m 27. I hope to be out by 30. Right now, in my division, I no longer have the motivation to defend the belt anymore. Now I want to move up a category and we’ll see how everything goes.”

In conclusion, the clock is ticking for both Dustin Poirier and Ilia Topuria, albeit in different ways. For Poirier, the sands in his MMA hourglass are nearly gone, but the allure of one last battle against a rising champion like Topuria could be the perfect curtain call. For Topuria, the leap to lightweight is a quest for legacy—a chance to prove his mettle in a second division before his self-imposed deadline of 30 years of age. Could Poirier’s swan song and Topuria’s lightweight move collide in a clash of eras? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!