MMA Knockout

UFC News: Dustin Poirier Clarifies 2025 Return, 'Fake News'

The former UFC interim lightweight champion will return in 2025, it's just a matter of opponent.

Zain Bando

Mar 9, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Dustin Poirier reacts after knocking out Benoit Saint Denis during UFC 299 at Kayesa Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Mar 9, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Dustin Poirier reacts after knocking out Benoit Saint Denis during UFC 299 at Kayesa Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier (30-9, 1 NC MMA) plans to fight again next year, but who he will fight is still unknown.

Speaking to fans on 'X' recently, Poirier, who is coming off a lightweight title fight loss to Islam Makhachev in June, gave an update on when he would fight next year.

"Thought I had [a fight] but still working on the finale," Poirier wrote.

A fan chimed in and asked if Rafael Fiziev (12-3 MMA) would be next, which was shot down by Poirier.

"Fake news," Poirier wrote.

Poirier told Ariel Helwani last month that he has a vision for how he'd like his UFC career, but it's up to the promotion to make it a reality.

Dustin Poirier Outlines His Next Fight

"I will fight again; it's just how this thing unfolds, we'll see when I retire. It could be uno mas or dos mas. I had a good meeting at the UFC headquarters," Poirier said.

Given Poirier's ties to Louisiana, he would prefer to fight there to cap off a career where it began.

My goal is to get a fight/event here in Louisiana. Whether that's Lafayette, Lousiana, or New Orleans, I want to lay the gloves down where I started," Poirier said.

Given the UFC's now-public Q1 schedule is set, it's safe to assume Poirier won't be fighting until the summer months unless it can make a modification.

Poirier has fought some of the best competition the UFC has to offer, including Conor McGregor (x3), Khabib Nurmagomedov, Dan Hooker, Justin Gaethje (x2), Michael Chandler, Jim Miller and many more.

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Zain Bando
ZAIN BANDO

Zain Bando is a writer for MMA Knockout, part of the Sports Illustrated/Minute Media umbrella. He has covered combat sports since 2019 for notable outlets BJPenn.com and FanSided MMA. He also co-hosts a podcast called "The MMA Outsiders," part of the Empty The Bench Podcast Network, which airs Tuesday nights at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT. A Chicago suburban native, Bando has been enthralled with MMA since 2006 and has been fortunate to attend some of the most high-profile events in the sport's history, both as a fan and media member, including UFC 264, Bellator 297 and Kayla Harrison's PFL MMA debut. He is excited to take the next step in his combat sports writing journey and looks forward to continuing his following of the fight game for years to come. Bando can be reached via email at zainbando99@gmail.com or by social media @zainbando99

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