Just when you think you’re out, they pull you back in. For Dustin Poirier, that pull comes in the form of a long-simmering rivalry and a ghost he just can’t shake: Nate Diaz.
Poirier, a man who seemingly walked off into the Louisiana sunset this past July, has dropped a bombshell that has the combat sports world buzzing. On Monday, “The Diamond” took to social media and made a declaration that felt both out of nowhere and perfectly in character: “Zuffa Boxing, [12 rounds], me and Nathaniel, I’d do it,” Poirier wrote. “Only [one] more fight I’d take.”
Poirier vs. Diaz: A Fight Years in the Making
For a fighter who just had a storybook send-off against Max Holloway at UFC 318 in his home state, this is a sharp pivot. Poirier has been adamant about his retirement. He wanted to leave the sport with his health and faculties intact, a rare privilege in the brutal world of mixed martial arts. But the specter of Nate Diaz, the one that got away, seems to be the only thing that could lure him back into the fire.
This isn’t just a random callout; it’s a chapter that was never finished. Poirier and Diaz were slated to headline at Madison Square Garden back in 2018. The fight was a dream matchup—two all-action, gritty fighters known for leaving it all in the cage. But it crumbled before it could ever materialize.
The “he said, he said” that followed has fueled their feud for years. Poirier maintains that Diaz’s difficult negotiations with the UFC were the reason the fight collapsed. Diaz, in classic fashion, flips the script, accusing Poirier of pulling out due to a hip injury. He even went as far as to claim a victory by forfeit, a mental jab that has clearly stuck with Poirier.
When asked by a fan if he missed fighting, Poirier’s response was simple and telling. He admitted he did and confirmed his willingness to step into a boxing ring. The unfinished business with Diaz is a splinter he can’t seem to remove. “I’m retired, I’m done,” Poirier clarified, “but Nate is one that got away.” It’s that single thread of “what if” that keeps the door to one more fight slightly ajar.
Why a Boxing Match Makes Perfect Sense
The timing of Poirier’s comment is no coincidence. It came on the same day that Zuffa Boxing, Dana White’s new venture, announced a major broadcasting deal with Paramount+ and CBS. Suddenly, White has a platform and a need for big, needle-moving fights. What could be bigger for an inaugural splash than two of the UFC’s most beloved anti-heroes settling a score in the boxing ring?
For Diaz, this is familiar territory. Since leaving the UFC in 2022, he has dabbled in the sweet science, taking on Jake Paul in a losing effort before rebounding to defeat his old rival Jorge Masvidal. He’s proven there’s a market for his unique brand of combat, and a fight with Poirier would be his most lucrative and compelling matchup yet.
For Poirier, it’s a perfect storm. He can honor his MMA retirement while satisfying his itch to compete. He gets to finally settle the score with Diaz, not in the octagon where he’s already built his legacy, but on new ground. A boxing match is a different kind of challenge, a different kind of risk. It allows him to scratch the competitive itch without betraying his promise to stay away from the unforgiving grind of MMA.
The Final Chapter for “The Diamond”?
Let’s be clear: fighters rarely stay retired. The call of the crowd, the allure of the paycheck, and the unquenchable thirst for competition are powerful forces. But Poirier’s case feels different. This isn’t a desperate cash grab or a refusal to accept that his time is up. He walked away at the top of his game, still a top-10 lightweight.
This potential fight is a calculated exception, a specific mission to close a loop that has bothered him for years. It’s personal. It’s about pride. It’s the kind of storytelling that combat sports thrives on.
Will it happen? In the fight game, you never say never. Dana White now has a boxing promotion to build, and a Poirier vs. Diaz headliner is a ready-made blockbuster. The narrative is there, the animosity is real, and both fighters have a history of putting on unforgettable shows. For Dustin Poirier, it seems the only thing that could drag him out of a peaceful retirement is the chance to write the final, violent sentence in his long and bitter history with Nate Diaz.