Dustin Poirier receives king's treatment from the New Orleans Saints ahead of final fight

USA Today

19-07-2025

The New Orleans Saints have always been a team that embraces their city and anyone from the area, and does whatever they can to provide some exceptional opportunities for Louisiana legends. One of the most recent examples comes in the form of a UFC powerhouse, as one of the best lightweight fighters in recent memory, Dustin Poirier, was given some exclusive access to team facilities.
It started out relatively recently with an interview, where Poirier announced he would be retiring after UFC 318, held July 19 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. While this was written prior to the result of the main card being completed, the retirement is a set deal, seemingly according to his coach.
Days before the fight, Poirier was asked for his take on this year's Saints team. The big-time Saints fan shared his thoughts with WDSU's Fletcher Mackel:
Then shortly afterwards, the Saints' official account posted a video recorded by Poirier, in which he said he was able to tour the team facility with Cam Jordan. These types of overlaps between the team and Louisiana legends are always a fun time, especially considering this event is likely the last of Poirier's career.
With nearly 16 years under his belt as a fighter, it is somewhat bittersweet to see his fighting career come to an end. But ultimately, the decision is his to make, and whatever is right for him is the right call to make, so it will be exciting to see how the last bout of his career pans out.