Poirier Uninterested In Pimblett Fight – ‘Legends Only'

Dustin Poirier has no desire to fight Paddy Pimblett as he plans what could be his final fight. 

Poirier said he wanted to fight in his hometown of Louisiana before he hangs up his gloves. He has every incentive to do so, having come up short in another title defeat in his last fight. Islam Makhachev secured a fifth-round submission win as the latter retained his UFC Lightweight Title. That defeat added to Dustin’s other two title losses against Charles Oliveira and Khabib Nurmagomedov. Several names have been mentioned for Dustin’s next fight.

Dustin’s Options

Max Holloway, Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker were some. Dustin has beaten all three, although he does have a loss to Justin. Justin knocked him out at UFC 291. It was a massive setback since he missed out on the BMF belt. But Holloway holds the BMF belt, who could be a target. A fight with Holloway also sets up a trilogy. But Dustin could still target the winner of Gaethje vs. Hooker, who face off at UFC 313. 

Paddy is looking for big fights following his best win. Paddy defeated King Green via a triangular choke in his last fight. That took his record to 6-0. It was the first time Paddy had a win against a ranked opponent. Pimblett does have a massive fanbase in the UK. Even Makhachev, at one point, was not opposed to the fight. He praised Paddy’s win over Green, increasing speculation that he could get a title shot. But that is unlikely now as Islam is targeting a move up. He has been linked with a move to either welterweight or middleweight, ruling Paddy out. But at one point, it was being considered. 

"When he deserves, why not? If he won the next couple matches, when he’s going to be like top 10, why not? Because I don’t have some exciting fights in my division. We need some new names. I see how he finished King. It was a good performance, and now it’s the time that he has good opponents when he’s at the top. Now he has to train more. Now it’s all guys who are so dangerous," Islam stated 

Poirier On Pimblett

Meanwhile, Dustin is in talks with the UFC over his next fight, as he expects a solution by the summer. But it will not be against Pimblett as his focus was elsewhere. That leaves Dustin with plenty to ponder moving forward in the future. 

"I was worried when I first came to them with the idea that I want to retire at home in Louisiana that they would be against it, but surprisingly they were down for it to push forward and try to make it happen for me. I think we’re close, I think this summer we could have a fight in New Orleans. It is a hundred percent not Paddy Pimblet. Legends only. I’m not gonna retire fighting Paddy Pimblett," Poirier said

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