Dustin Poirier hints at a trilogy fight for his UFC farewell

Dustin Poirier has said he has one more fight left in his MMA career and when he's done, he will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.

On Tuesday, Poirier hinted on social media that he might face rival Justin Gaethje.

By process of elimination, Poirier must face Gaethje.

If Poirier were to agree to a fight with Max Holloway, it would be their third meeting. However, this clash does not seem that likely, as Holloway is scheduled to face Ilia Topuria on October 26th and Poirier has won both previous encounters.

Poirier and Gaethje are 1-1, with the former winning their first fight in April 2018 by fourth-round TKO, but the latter winning the rematch by a stunning head-kick KO at UFC 291 in July 2023.

Both Poirier and Gaethje have lost their last fights. Poirier challenged pound-for-pound king and current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in June at UFC 302. However, Makhachev proved too tough and won by submission in the fifth round.

Poirier's last 5 fights

• Loss against Islam Makhachev by submission (D'Arce Choke) at UFC 302 on June 1, 2024
• Win against Benoit Saint Denis by KO/TKO (Punch) at UFC 299 on March 9, 2024
• Loss against Justin Gaethje by KO/TKO (kick) at UFC 291 on July 29, 2023
• Win against Michael Chandler by submission (rear naked choke) at UFC 281 on November 12, 2022
• Loss against Charles Oliveira by submission (rear naked choke) at UFC 269 on December 11, 2021

Gaethje was spectacularly knocked out by Holloway at UFC 300 in April. The win seems to have changed Gaethje's outlook on fighting and life.

He has stated that he will give up his sport if he is beaten so brutally again.

Justin Gaethje's last 5 fights

• Loss against Max Holloway by KO/TKO (Punch) at UFC 300 on April 13, 2024
• Win against Dustin Poirier by KO/TKO (kick) at UFC 291 on July 29, 2023
• Win against Rafael Fiziev by decision (majority) at UFC 286 on March 18, 2023
• Loss against Charles Oliveira by submission (rear naked choke) at UFC 274 on May 7, 2022
• Win against Michael Chandler by decision (unanimous) at UFC 268 on November 6, 2021

In December, a fight between Poirier and Gaethje could be the main event of UFC 310 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. If that fight were the main event, a co-main event with Weili Zhang would make sense, but the women's strawweight champion may not have a logical opponent.

No. 1 contender Tatiana Suarez is scheduled to fight No. 3 Virna Jandiroba on that card, and Weili has already beaten No. 2 Yan Xiaonan, No. 4 Jessica Andrade and No. 5 Amanda Lemos.

Perhaps Poirier-Gaethje could be the co-main event behind Belal Muhammad's first title defense, Dricus Du Plessis could defend his title in a rematch against Sean Strickland, a title defense against Alexandre Pantoja or Arman Tsarukyan against Dan Hooker would also be options for a co-main event.

You can expect to hear confirmation of Poirier's decision in the next few weeks, if not sooner.