Should Dustin Poirier Be Inducted Into The UFC Hall Of Fame?
Dustin Poirier is one of the most recognized faces in the UFC and has been a fan favorite for many years. His exciting fighting style, humility outside of the cage, and incredible skill set have had fans rooting for 'The Diamond' since the early fights in his career. Notably, Poirier is now 35 years old and has hinted that his career may be slowing down; however, he is ranked 3rd in the current Lightweight rankings and is looking to prove himself again this weekend against a hungry and dangerous opponent in Benoit Saint-Denis.
Poirier is one of the best fighters to have never won a UFC undisputed championship, but he does hold some incredible accolades and impressive records. Not only this, but Poirier's journey in MMA is one of resilience and determination. He remains deeply connected to his roots in Lafayette, Louisiana, and serves as a role model for aspiring fighters. His career continues to inspire many within the MMA community, and he has continued to shine throughout his illustrious career.
Early Career
Poirer, born in Lafayette, Louisiana, turned professional in 2009 at age 20 and primarily competed on the regional circuit across Louisiana and quickly amassed an impressive record of 7-0 within a year, with all victories coming via finish. He would then fight twice under the WEC banner, losing his first professional bout to Danny Castillo unanimously before winning his next fight in the first 53 seconds via TKO.
UFC
Poirier made his UFC debut on January 12, 2011, against Josh Grispi, winning via unanimous decision debuted as a Featherweight. He would go on to win his next three fights, most notably defeating a young Max Holloway via a triangle armbar in the first round, which is, to date, 12 years later, still the only time that Max Holloway has ever been finished. Poirier continued to be highly active in the early days of his UFC career, accumulating four more victories and three losses in his next seven fights. His losses should also be noted. However, they only came when he fought some of the toughest fighters in the Featherweight division, including the Korean Zombie Cub Swanson and a hot rising superstar in Conor Mcgregor.
After his early KO loss to Mcgregor, Poirier returned to the Lightweight division, putting together a string of four victories against Carlos Diego Ferreira, Yancy Mederios, Joesph Duffy, and Bobby Green. His next fight would be another bump in the road, as Poirier was knocked out in the first round against Michael Johnson in September 2016.
Poirier returned to the cage against UFC veteran Jim Miller in February 2017 and got straight back into the win column with a majority decision. However, much to the theme of his career, Poirer would face more adversity as his next fight against an elite opponent, Eddie Alvarez, would end prematurely and ultimately in a No Contest when Alvarez landed illegal knees to a downed Poirier. And, much like he has throughout his career, Poirer would show immense resilience and bounce right back, not only in his next fight but he would string together four wins against some of the best fighters in the world, with wins coming against former champion Anthony Pettis, Justin Gatheje, and Eddie Alvarez. Poirer would then get his hands on the Lightweight interim title when he defeated Max Holloway for a second time seven years after their first fight.
Next, in September 2019, Poirier would have his first shot at completing his dream of becoming the UFC's undisputed champion. However, dominant, undefeated champion Khabib Nurmagamedov would stand in his way. Unfortunately for Poirier, he would fall short due to a third-round rear naked choke.
His next fight would echo around an empty Apex Arena as he stood across from Dan Hooker, who was on the rise and looking toward his own title aspirations. Both athletes would engage in a thrilling 5-round war in what may be the greatest Lightweight fight in the sport's history. Poirier would come out victorious on all three of the judge's scorecards and continue to prove that you can't keep this man down for long.
Early in 2021, fans saw Poirier get revenge on his early career loss to Connor Mcgregor not once, but twice. In their first fight, Poirier would be the first to knock out Mcgregor, as he did in the second round. They would face off again later in the year, and Poirier would come out on top again after Mcgregor experienced the leg break that has kept him sidelined until now. These three victories would be enough to see Poirier attempt to achieve greatness again as he faced UFC champion Charles Oliveira for the Lightweight championship. Similarly to the Khabib fight, Poirer would lose via a rear naked choke in the third round.
At UFC 281, Poirer would engage in a fight of the night against the explosive and former title challenger Michael Chandler. Porier managed to get back to winning ways with his own rear naked choke midway through the third round. In his last fight, Poirier faced off against a former opponent, Justin Gaetheje; they also fought for the symbolic BMF title. However, Gaetheje would right his previous loss with an incredible head kick KO in the second round.
This weekend, Poirer will be tested against a young, impressive newcomer quickly firing up the division rankings with five straight UFC victories, all coming via finish, and an exceptional record of 13-1.
Hall of Fame
Whether Dustin Poirier should be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame involves evaluating not only his career achievements but his impact on the sport. The UFC Hall of Fame recognizes fighters and MMA personalities for their contributions to the sport, with categories for fighters, fights, and contributions outside competition. Dustin Poirier has significantly impacted the UFC and MMA as a whole with memorable fights, including high-profile victories and engaging rivalries.
Poirier's philanthropic efforts, notably through The Good Fight Foundation, have also made a significant impact outside the octagon. At the UFC Hall of Fame 2020 ceremony, he received the inaugural Forrest Griffin Community Award. This recognition underscores his contributions to the community and the positive image he projects for the sport.
Given Dustin Poirier's career achievements, significant fights, and contributions to the community, there is a strong argument for his induction into the UFC Hall of Fame. While he has faced criticism for not winning an undisputed UFC title, his consistent performance against top competition, ability to engage in memorable fights, and philanthropic efforts align with the spirit of the Hall of Fame's recognition of excellence and impact within the sport.
