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Patrick Blennerhassett

Dustin Poirier exists in an interesting space when it comes to the UFC stardom hierarchy.
One would think the only person to have beaten Conor McGregor twice would be a celebrity juggernaut himself, but Poirier’s reserved, humble, blue collar personality has often kept him as a supporting cast member in the UFC’s theatre show of egomania.
He is regularly drowned out by louder, more bombastic characters like Colby “Chaos” Covington and Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya, who at times, border on caricatures. Let’s face it, grabbing attention in the UFC is almost as hard as grabbing a belt these days, just ask Julianna Pena.
Winning is one thing, but MMA fans want splash, pizazz and highlight reel knockouts along with their champions. Kamaru Usman has learned this the hard way, as he’s been slowly pushing his way to the top with clinical, sometimes boring victories, now finally allowing his personality to flourish in the face of a supervillain like Covington.
“Put some respect on my name,” yelled Usman at UFC 258 after beating Gilbert Burns in February, but it wasn’t until he beat Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal and Covington in grudge matches that UFC president Dana White and the rest started treating him like MMA royalty.
Usman has clearly figured out by now that it’s not just personality, its beating personalities, that makes you famous outside the Octagon.

McGregor had his rival, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and we all know how that ended. The anticlimactic ending to the sport’s greatest rivalry, between “The Notorious” and “The Eagle” fizzling out left an interesting vacuum for McGregor to fill, given he works best as an antagonist, the court jester to the strait-laced opponent, waxing poetic into a hot mic, spitting vitriol a mile a minute.
Poirier did the one thing that shuts up a guy like McGregor, or at least muzzles him, he beat him, repeatedly. Now with McGregor trying to climb back into the conversation after an injury, and looking like he may fight at middleweight if his bulked up Instagram photos are any indication, this begs the question: what of Poirier?
UFC 264: McGregor snaps leg, Poirier gets doctor stoppage
Enter Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira, the lightweight champion, and a date with destiny for Poirier, who has never lost consecutive bouts, this weekend at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
There’s a few diehard UFC purist fans out there who still feel this is Nurmagomedov’s belt, and his ghost looms large over the division, but Poirier beating Oliveira, who won the vacated belt over Michael Chandler at UFC 262 in May, may vault “Diamond” into the stratosphere if he can do it with some flash.
Oliveira is as sneaky as he is cunning, a technically proficient fighter who strikes as much as he stalks, courting punches, trading blows until he’s on your back choking you out. Poirier dispatching with a foe like this would force the UFC brass and its fans to put some respect on the Lafayette, Louisiana native’s name along with his signature brand of Cajun hot sauce.
The win would also force Poirier into some interesting conversations. Right now he sits fifth in the UFC’s pound for pound rankings, meaning the only fighters above him are heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, Adesanya, Volkanovski and of course, Usman at the top. All of them have belts, and Poirier would have his, a title he’s been gunning for his entire career.
He has held the belt – technically – winning the interim lightweight crown after beating Max Holloway at UFC 236 in April of 2019, however he would then be snuffed out in convincing fashion by Nurmagomedov in a reunification bout. Talk to any fighter and the thought of holding a place holder title like this, and then losing it, might have well been a loss in the first place.


Poirier’s career looked like it may have been defined by McGregor, but he has ascended up the ladder by remaining relevant, and quite frankly, being really tough to beat. His last eight fights, after being disqualified for illegal knees against Eddie Alvarez, is an impressive resume unto itself, with victories over the likes of Anthony Pettis, Justin Gaethje and Alvarez in a rematch.
Now he’s headlining a card without McGregor, for a belt that still doesn’t feel like it’s been unified yet. Oliveira would love nothing more to dispose of Poirier and vault himself up the pound for pound ladder from eighth and solidify himself as the rightful heir to Nurmagomedov’s reign.
Poirier’s blue collar ways haven’t been enough to launch him into the UFC stardom stratosphere, but beating McGregor, twice, and then following that up by grabbing the belt from Oliveira, would be impossible to ignore. Poirier stands on the doorstep of superstar status, the question is, can he knock it down this weekend in Las Vegas and make this house his own?


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Martial arts

UFC 269: Dustin Poirier’s ascent to champion now goes through Charles Oliveira as blue collar fighter looks to enter new level of stardom

Is Dustin Poirier ready for superstar status this weekend? His title fight against Charles Oliveira may prove a defining moment in his career at UFC 269. Photo: Reuters

Dustin Poirier dispatched Conor McGregor twice. So can he finally claim the belt and respect he’s been gunning for? Photo: USA TODAY Sports

Conor McGregor faces his moment of truth against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264

Conor McGregor prepares for his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier. Photo: Instagram/Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor’s loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov was an epic fight, but ‘Notorious’ has been on a slide ever since. Photo: AP

Conor McGregor pummelled Donald Cerrone, but he has failed to get back to his previous form in the cage when he looked unbeatable. Photo: AP 

Conor McGregor has one chance to fall on the right side his trilogy with Dustin Poirier. Photo: Zuffa LLC

Is this the last chance for Conor McGregor to remain relevant inside the Octagon? Photo: Getty Images

UFC 268: Kamaru Usman won’t fight Israel Adesanya – unless it’s for US$50 million each

Kamaru Usman celebrates after his decision victory over Colby Covington at UFC 268. Photo: AFP

From teen dropout to beating Conor McGregor at UFC 257 in Abu Dhabi: meet MMA hottie Dustin Poirier

Dustin Poirier learned to control his anger as a young adult and channel it into UFC. Photo: @dustinpoirier/Instagram

Dustin Poirier (R) punches Conor McGregor (L) in the lightweight fight during UFC 257 on January 23, 2021 in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Zuffa LLC

UFC: Khabib Nurmagomedov insists Conor McGregor will lose ‘100 times out of 100’ against Dustin Poirier

Dustin Poirier moves in for a hit against Conor McGregor at UFC 264. Photo: USA TODAY Sports

(FILES) In this file photo Conor McGregor of Ireland walks in the octagon before his lightweight bought against Dustin Poirier during UFC 264: Poirier v McGregor 3 at T-Mobile Arena on July 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. - Conor McGregor underwent three hours of surgery on July 11, 2021, less than 24 hours after suffering a "clean" break of his left shinbone during a devastating UFC defeat to American brawler Dustin Poirier. Doctors revealed that McGregor broke his left tibia and fibula bones in the opening round of the non-title lightweight bout in Las Vegas. (Photo by Stacy Revere / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

UFC: Conor McGregor says Dustin Poirier trilogy ‘fight is off’ after accusing him of ‘smearing my name’ in ugly charity donation feud

UFC lightweights Dustin Poirier of the US and Conor McGregor of Ireland during their face-off at the UFC 257 weigh-ins in the Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, in January. Photo: Zuffa LLC   

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Mixed Martial Arts


‘Diamond’ has a date with destiny against Charles Oliveira at UFC 269 in Las Vegas
Poirier has dispatched Conor McGregor twice, and could add to an already impressive resume and pound-for-pound ranking with a win over the Brazilian



A win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 269 will give Dustin Poirier the title and respect that’s eluded him most of his career.


Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


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The Takedown