Dustin Poirier says Paddy Pimblett can be UFC champion for three reasons after surprising Michael Chandler win
Dustin Poirier believes Paddy Pimblett has what it takes to be a UFC champion. Poirier is gearing up for the final fight of his illustrious MMA career against Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 318 in July. Pimblett stopped Chandler after three rounds at UFC 314 in AprilGetty Leaving his American opponent bruised and batteredGetty He was Holloway’s first-ever fight in Dana White‘s promotion and will now find himself up against the same man for his last. After dominating Michael Chandler at UFC 314, Pimblett had mentioned Poirier’s name as a suitable opponent to edge him closer to a UFC title shot. However, Poirier opted for a ‘legends only’ approach, and wanted his last bout to be against a fellow UFC veteran. Nonetheless, ‘The Diamond’ had a glowing assessment of Liverpool’s Pimblett when speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show on Monday. “Of course, [I was surprised],” Poirier explained, speaking on Pimblett’s last fight. “I really thought Chandler would beat him. But I was wrong, Paddy’s legit man. “Yeah, [he can be champion], if he believes it, works hard enough, and keeps doing what he’s doing he can be.” Poirier added that he would like to see Pimblett matched up against No. 6 ranked lightweight Dan Hooker, although the Liverpudlian would likely prefer a contest with No. 3 ranked Justin Gaethje, or No. 2 ranked Charles Oliveira. Pimblett moved up four places in the UFC lightweight rankings to No. 8 overall after defeating Chandler, meaning he is only one more bout away from a title fight. Chandler, meanwhile, dropped five spots to Pimblett’s original position of No. 12. Poirier said he was surprised after Pimblett beat Chandler at UFC 314Getty UFC lightweight rankings Champion: Islam Makhachev Arman Tsarukyan Charles Oliveira Justin Gaethje Max Holloway Dustin Poirier Dan Hooker Mateusz Gamrot Paddy Pimblett Beneil Dariush Renato Moicano Rafael Fiziev Michael Chandler Benoit Saint-Denis Grant Dawson Joel Alvarez Poirier went on to reveal that his preferred retirement fight was No. 3 ranked UFC lightweight Gaethje, and also mentioned that he discussed facing former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria. Holloway was the last person Poirier thought he would come up against, yet he will fight his fellow legend in his native New Orleans, Louisiana, before bowing out of the octagon after a stellar career. It will be one of the longest-standing trilogies in UFC history, as both men first met in 2012, before fighting for the interim lightweight title seven years later. The decision to put Poirier in the Octagon with Holloway was one that left the 36-year-old feeling blindsided, although he has now come to terms with it. “I wanted to close out that trilogy [with Gaethje],” he said. “For some reason, they really wanted this fight with Max. So I said, ‘Okay, that’s cool because I respect the guy.’ “They never entertained [Topuria]. They told me it’s not happening, and they wanted Max…like I said, this was blindsided.” Poirier fights Holloway for the third time at UFC 318 in JulyGetty Images - Getty He outpointed the Hawaiian native in 2019 to win the interim UFC lightweight titleGetty Poirier made his UFC debut in 2011 and quickly made himself known as one of the promotion’s toughest fighters. He has challenged for the UFC lightweight title three times, but failed on every attempt against Khabib Nurmagomedov, Oliveira, and Islam Makhachev in his last fight at UFC 302 in June 2024. The Louisiana man knew that he was way off fighting for the belt after being submitted by Makhachev, so decided his subsequent fight would be his last. Speaking to talkSPORT in February, Poirier opened up about his final appearance after a 15-year successful career. “My next fight will be my last fight,” he said. “I’m going to put the gloves down and I’m just hoping I will be able to do that here in New Orleans, Louisiana – where I picked them up. “I started fighting in Louisiana, I would love to retire here in Louisiana in the summer. “The UFC and I have been talking about this, they’re trying to get the state of Louisiana on board, New Orleans on board and we’re pushing for the summer so I really hope it comes together man.” Poirier’s wished have now been granted, as he is set to headline UFC 318 in his hometown. However, Holloway may spoil the party, having recently secured one of the greatest KO’s in MMA history against Gaethje at UFC 300 last April.
Dustin Poirier believes Paddy Pimblett has what it takes to be a UFC champion.
Poirier is gearing up for the final fight of his illustrious MMA career against Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 318 in July.
He was Holloway’s first-ever fight in Dana White‘s promotion and will now find himself up against the same man for his last.
After dominating Michael Chandler at UFC 314, Pimblett had mentioned Poirier’s name as a suitable opponent to edge him closer to a UFC title shot.
However, Poirier opted for a ‘legends only’ approach, and wanted his last bout to be against a fellow UFC veteran.
Nonetheless, ‘The Diamond’ had a glowing assessment of Liverpool’s Pimblett when speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show on Monday.
“Of course, [I was surprised],” Poirier explained, speaking on Pimblett’s last fight.
“I really thought Chandler would beat him. But I was wrong, Paddy’s legit man.
“Yeah, [he can be champion], if he believes it, works hard enough, and keeps doing what he’s doing he can be.”
Poirier added that he would like to see Pimblett matched up against No. 6 ranked lightweight Dan Hooker, although the Liverpudlian would likely prefer a contest with No. 3 ranked Justin Gaethje, or No. 2 ranked Charles Oliveira.
Pimblett moved up four places in the UFC lightweight rankings to No. 8 overall after defeating Chandler, meaning he is only one more bout away from a title fight.
Chandler, meanwhile, dropped five spots to Pimblett’s original position of No. 12.
UFC lightweight rankings
Champion: Islam Makhachev
- Arman Tsarukyan
- Charles Oliveira
- Justin Gaethje
- Max Holloway
- Dustin Poirier
- Dan Hooker
- Mateusz Gamrot
- Paddy Pimblett
- Beneil Dariush
- Renato Moicano
- Rafael Fiziev
- Michael Chandler
- Benoit Saint-Denis
- Grant Dawson
- Joel Alvarez
Poirier went on to reveal that his preferred retirement fight was No. 3 ranked UFC lightweight Gaethje, and also mentioned that he discussed facing former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.
Holloway was the last person Poirier thought he would come up against, yet he will fight his fellow legend in his native New Orleans, Louisiana, before bowing out of the octagon after a stellar career.
It will be one of the longest-standing trilogies in UFC history, as both men first met in 2012, before fighting for the interim lightweight title seven years later.
The decision to put Poirier in the Octagon with Holloway was one that left the 36-year-old feeling blindsided, although he has now come to terms with it.
“I wanted to close out that trilogy [with Gaethje],” he said. “For some reason, they really wanted this fight with Max. So I said, ‘Okay, that’s cool because I respect the guy.’
“They never entertained [Topuria]. They told me it’s not happening, and they wanted Max…like I said, this was blindsided.”
Poirier made his UFC debut in 2011 and quickly made himself known as one of the promotion’s toughest fighters.
He has challenged for the UFC lightweight title three times, but failed on every attempt against Khabib Nurmagomedov, Oliveira, and Islam Makhachev in his last fight at UFC 302 in June 2024.
The Louisiana man knew that he was way off fighting for the belt after being submitted by Makhachev, so decided his subsequent fight would be his last.
Speaking to talkSPORT in February, Poirier opened up about his final appearance after a 15-year successful career.
“My next fight will be my last fight,” he said. “I’m going to put the gloves down and I’m just hoping I will be able to do that here in New Orleans, Louisiana – where I picked them up.
“I started fighting in Louisiana, I would love to retire here in Louisiana in the summer.
“The UFC and I have been talking about this, they’re trying to get the state of Louisiana on board, New Orleans on board and we’re pushing for the summer so I really hope it comes together man.”
Poirier’s wished have now been granted, as he is set to headline UFC 318 in his hometown.
However, Holloway may spoil the party, having recently secured one of the greatest KO’s in MMA history against Gaethje at UFC 300 last April.
