Petr Yan acknowledged the conclusion of Dustin Poirier’s professional fighting career after UFC 318, which took place this past Saturday in New Orleans. Poirier officially announced his retirement in the octagon immediately following his main event loss to Max Holloway, who successfully defended the BMF title.
Poirier’s Career and Final Fight Reflected by Yan
Set to compete this weekend at UFC Abu Dhabi against rising bantamweight prospect Marcus McGhee, Yan shared his thoughts on Poirier’s legacy and last bout. He described the fight as “great and exciting” and praised Poirier’s extensive and thrilling career, highlighting the many intense battles he engaged in throughout his time in the UFC.
Yan noted,
“I think it was a great and exciting fight,”
reflecting on the UFC 318 main event. Regarding Poirier himself, Yan said,
“And speaking about Dustin, I think he had a great, amazing career. He had a lot of big fights, a lot of exciting fights. He’s been in a lot of wars and of course, he wanted probably to go out on a win.”
He also acknowledged the competitiveness of Poirier’s final opponent, adding,
“But it’s just a sport, you know? His opponent Max Holloway is also an amazing athlete, also deserves to win.”
Petr Yan’s Journey and Rebound Ahead of UFC Abu Dhabi
Like Poirier, Yan has faced highs and lows in his career. After losing the bantamweight title via disqualification to Aljamain Sterling at UFC 259, Yan endured a difficult stretch including losses to Sterling in a rematch, Sean O’Malley, and the current champion Merab Dvalishvili. However, Yan has found renewed success in 2024 with wins over Song Yadong and former UFC champ Deiveson Figueiredo.
The 32-year-old fighter admits he is unsure what has sparked his recent winning momentum but remains focused on future goals.
Yan explained,
“I don’t know what’s different in the mindset,”
then emphasized,
“I’m still hungry, I still want to win and become the next title challenger.”
He further added,
“That’s what motivates me right now — to get this win and to challenge for the belt again.”
The End of an Era and What Lies Ahead
Dustin Poirier’s retirement marks the close of a significant chapter in UFC history, leaving behind a legacy defined by resilience and memorable fights. Petr Yan’s comments underline the respect Poirier commands in the MMA community, while also setting the stage for Yan’s own pursuit to reclaim a title shot. As Yan prepares for his bout at UFC Abu Dhabi, the MMA world looks forward to seeing if his recent resurgence will continue and lead him back to championship contention.