UFC icon Dustin Poirier confirms new career post-retirement
Poirier, 36, enjoyed his last dance in the Octagon at UFC 318 in a thrilling fight against fellow legend Max Holloway, going out in defeat as the Hawaiian pipped him to a decision victory.
Holloway got one over on Poirier at the third time of asking, retiring the American in his home state of Louisiana in the pay-per-view's main event.
However, 'The Diamond' won't be staying far away from the cage after confirming he'll be swapping the trunks for the suit and tie.
Poirier will venture into the media world as an MMA analyst and commentator, joining the likes of Daniel Cormier, Michael Bisping and Dominik Cruz in the contingent of UFC legends turned broadcasters.
He confirmed the career switch on X, writing: 'Looking forward to getting back on the ESPN desk, going to start focusing on that now.'
Poirier is deemed by many as the best UFC fighter never to win an undisputed title. After beating Holloway to win the interim lightweight title, he was submitted by regular champion Khabib Nurmagomedov while trying to unify the belts.
Conor McGregor Eddie Alvarez, Anthony Pettis, Michael Chandler and Gaethje.
Poirier submitted Holloway in their first fight and also beat Pettis and Chandler via submission, while he knocked out McGregor in one of their three clashes and also stopped Alvarez and Gaethje.
Poirier lost his first fight with McGregor at featherweight in 2014, before avenging that result with a knockout of the Irishman in 2021, six months before McGregor suffered a broken leg in their trilogy bout.
The 'Diamond', who was accompanied by Louisiana rapper Lil Wayne during his ring walk on Saturday, retires with a professional record of 30-10 (1 No Contest). Often named as one of the UFC's best boxers, Poirier secured 15 of his wins via KO/TKO, while he earned eight by submission.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
Play ball, take 2: The MLB Speedway Classic resumes at Bristol after rain suspension
A record crowd for a regular-season Major League Baseball game got to see all the pomp and pageantry with the MLB Speedway Classic before the rain washed out the game itself in the bottom of the first inning. Fans returning Sunday only wanted to watch the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds play ball. They enjoyed enough of star Tim McGraw and Pitbull in the rain that suspended the first MLB regular-season game in the state of Tennessee. 'We got to see all of that (Saturday), so as long as we see game today I think we'll be good,' Cindy Lowe of Mount Airy, North Carolina, said. Craig Morton agreed. He and his family, with three children, were ready to see baseball even if Morton is the Reds' fan surrounded by relatives rooting for the Braves. They had a good time seeing McGraw and country singer Jake Owen. Sunday was dry at Bristol Motor Speedway even with overcast skies. 'We're really glad that they played the game today instead of last night because we sat here a couple hours in the rain and everybody was saturated even with rain gear,' Morton said. 'The kids are happy so we're happy.' This MLB Speedway Classic was first announced nearly a year ago as part of Commissioner Rob Manfred's push to take MLB to places where baseball isn't played every day live. MLB played a game at the 'Field of Dreams' movie site in Iowa in both 2021 and 2022. Alabama and North Carolina, too. MLB didn't try to sell every ticket inside the speedway that drew 156,990 for the Battle of Bristol college football game in 2016. The track with a racing capacity of 146,000 meant the final attendance number could reach 90,000 or more even with sections blocked off. The previous paid attendance of 84,587 was set Sept. 12, 1954, when Cleveland Stadium hosted the New York Yankees. Simply canceling this game wasn't an option. The Reds are in the chase for a wild-card spot, and this is the last time these teams meet this season. Teams had police escorts to make sure they got back to Bristol on Sunday. For fans, the commute back to Bristol Motor Speedway, billed as 'The Last Great Colosseum' with its history as a half-mile bullring of a racetrack, was easier for some than others. Steven Long of Atlanta, Georgia, was on a party bus to his hotel in Knoxville with a bunch of distributors. He drove the 110 miles back to Bristol on Sunday by himself even though he had hoped to be driving home. He couldn't miss the first MLB game at a racetrack. 'I had to come back,' said Long, who wore his Braves jersey hoping for a win. MLB will be announcing an attendance figure later Sunday. Officials already knew this event would draw a record crowd with 85,000 tickets sold as of Monday. The big question Sunday was how many people would return for baseball itself after the big party that MLB and Bristol threw for fans Saturday. For Lowe and Jason Lawson, this is a moment they couldn't miss after buying tickets in May. 'The history, the nostalgia of Bristol Motor Speedway combined with Major League Baseball all in one I think,' Lowe said. Long was being joined by a couple of friends. He saw one benefit of returning even if others chose not to. 'We'll have more space around us, so we won't be on top of each other,' Long said. Indeed. Fans had plenty of room to spread out, dance and enjoy the capping event of the MLB Speedway Classic. ___
Daily Mail
19 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams savaged by fans after embarrassing practice video goes viral
Caleb Williams has gone viral for all the wrong reasons after a humiliating practice video of the Chicago Bears quarterback surfaced on social media. Williams, who is gearing up for his second season with the Bears after being drafted first overall last year, suffered disaster when carrying out a standard passing drill at Chicago's training camp this week. Footage shows him trying to throw four balls at three different targets and missing almost every time, before he turns around and screams in frustration. And after watching the clip of his nightmare practice drill, NFL fans quickly ripped into the 23-year-old online. 'Absolutely terrible feet and he is not driving the ball with his hips. Class dismissed,' one user wrote on X. Another put: 'How are you a pro QB missing that bad'. A third brutally claimed: 'There's third graders who can do this.' #Bears QB Case Keenum said Caleb Williams has been grinding and "wants it." His reaction to not completing this drill as he would have liked in today's practice seems to illustrate that very point. #DaBears — Josh Buckhalter (@JoshGBuck) August 2, 2025 'Not one of those was close,' said a fourth. While one simply posted: 'This is hilarious'. Williams showed plenty of promise in his rookie season with the Bears, but it was a disastrous campaign overall for his team They endured a 10-game losing streak which saw Matt Eberflus fired as head coach. Chicago ended the season on a miserable 5-12 record, last in the NFC North. On an individual note, Williams registered 3,541 passing yards for 20 touchdowns in 17 appearances, while racking up a 62.5 percent pass completion rate. He also had 489 rushing yards. The former USC college star was sacked a league-high 68 times in his rookie campaign, 16 times more than Houston Texans' CJ Stroud - who was the second most sacked quarterback last season. Williams will be hoping that figure drops in 2025 after the Bears bolstered their offensive line by trading for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, while agreeing to terms with center Drew Dalman.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Bills coach: WR Khalil Shakir, CB Maxwell Hairston 'week-to-week'
August 3 - Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir and rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston are considered "week-to-week" as they work their way back from their respective injuries, coach Sean McDermott said Sunday. Shakir is nursing a high-ankle sprain sustained in practice on Friday, while Hairston injured the LCL in his knee last week. Shakir, 25, received a four-year contract extension worth just over $53 million this offseason after recording team-leading totals in catches (76) and receiving yards (821) in 2024. He also had four touchdown receptions. In three playoff games, Shakir added 18 catches for 174 yards. The Bills were eliminated in the AFC Championship Game, losing 32-29 to the Kansas City Chiefs. Hairston, who turns 22 on Wednesday, was selected by the Bills with the 30th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Kentucky. He is competing for a significant role in the Buffalo secondary. He was the fastest player at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine in the 40-yard dash (4.28 seconds). --Field Level Media
