Dustin Poirier

Dustin 'The Diamond' Poirier is one of the most beloved fighters of his era and, by most measures, one of the greatest lightweights never to win the undisputed UFC title. A Lafayette, Louisiana native who came up through the regional circuit and the WEC, he moved from featherweight to lightweight and turned himself into a perennial contender, capturing the interim title in 2019 with a five-round win over Max Holloway. His career is a highlight reel of firefights: a pair of decisive wins over Conor McGregor in 2021, a Fight-of-the-Year war with Justin Gaethje, and finishes of Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler.

What kept the undisputed belt out of reach were the sport's very best — Khabib Nurmagomedov, Charles Oliveira, and Islam Makhachev each stopped him in title fights. Poirier retired in 2025 at 30-10 (1 NC) after a razor-close loss to Holloway in their trilogy bout. Tied for the most Fight of the Night awards in UFC history, known for his pressure boxing and granite resolve, and respected for his charity work and willingness to fight anyone, Poirier leaves as a quintessential fan favorite.