Two fighters face different paths. One, focused on victory, preps mentally for a crucial match. The other, contemplating retirement, is torn between his passion for fighting and his responsibility to their family. As fight night of UFC 299 event approaches, there are a lot of expectations.
Will this battle open up as a new beginning with bigger opportunities for Benoit Saint-Denis, or will it witness the end of the distinguished journey of MMA legend Dustin Poirier in a saddening way? The octagon stands ready, waiting to unveil the fate of these contrasting journeys.
Dustin Poirier talks on UFC retirement
Dustin Poirier earlier gave a scare when he announced that his fight with Benoit Saint-Denis was scrapped before he came for it and then again revealed that it is indeed happening. After the fight announcement, talks of retirement were in the air, particularly as Poirier will be taking on the relatively younger Saint-Denis, who is the betting favorite.
“I can’t do this forever. I’m 35 years old. This is, I don’t know, my 40th professional fight. I have a lot of amateur fights as well. You know, I have a family to be there for, and I can’t love something so much that it becomes everything,” Poirier said of the retirement talks to ESPN MMA Reporter Brett Okamoto, as he stated that his family is more important than his fighting career.
Poirier went on to state that he always leaves an unrecoverable part of himself inside the octagon every time he fights. The former interim champion’s statement is very true considering that he has been in some of the most brutal fights against Dan Hooker, Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, and Eddie Alvarez, to name a few.
Poirier’s last fight was against Justin Gaethje at UFC 291 for the BMF title in a fight that he lost via knockout in the second round. It was a rematch of their first fight, which Poirier won via 4th round TKO after a blood and guts war.
Benoit Saint Denis eyes UFC title shot ahead of Dustin Poirier bout
Saint-Denis made his UFC debut at UFC 267 in a short-notice welterweight bout, which he lost brutally but has reeled off 5 consecutive finishes at lightweight. Preluding his fight with Poirier, the Frenchman already made known his ambitions with the UFC. “Benoit Saint-Denis is one day going to be champion of the lightweight division, he will be the face of French MMA and maybe even more,” remarked Saint-Denis in his interview on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour.
A victory over Poirier could likely get Saint-Denis a title shot, as Poirier is ranked 3rd in the UFC’s lightweight rankings. However, two lightweight fights at UFC 300 could most likely get the next title shot. Dana White had already made it known that the winner of Charles Oliveira versus Arman Tsarukyan will be fighting for Islam Makhachev’s lightweight title next.
Moreover, Max Holloway will be taking on Justin Gaethje for the BMF title in a lightweight bout and they could also potentially get the next title shot. For Saint-Denis, if he makes easy work for Poirer and the fights at UFC 300 go to war, he could likely get a title shot over the others. With numerous potential outcomes on the horizon, Dustin Poirier has been advised by UFC commentator Joe Rogan to prepare himself for his upcoming bout against Saint-Denis as his opponent made it very clear by saying, “I’m just concentrating on one thing is destroying my opponent.”
Will Dustin Poirier stop the finishing streak of Benot Saint-Denis at UFC 299? Leave your prediction below!
