Dustin Poirier retired this previous Saturday evening at UFC 318, however for all of the methods he’ll be remembered for the unimaginable wars he offered throughout his profession, he by no means captured an undisputed title.
However UFC analyst Alan Jouban doesn’t purchase that Poirier shouldn’t be remembered as a champion when trying on the ridiculous document he put collectively through the years. Most notably, Poirier holds wins over 5 former UFC champions to not point out an extended checklist of ranked opposition in arguably the deepest and hardest division within the sport.
Add to that, Jouban believes Poirier claiming the interim light-weight title again in 2019 nonetheless counts for one thing, particularly as a result of reigning champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was on the shelf after being suspended for a post-fight brawl following his win over Conor McGregor.
“I believe lots of people echo they notice Dustin by no means had the undisputed championship belt. However if you actually sit again and have a look at it, he had the interim belt,” Jouban mentioned on the newest episode of The Fighter vs. The Author. “What was happening on the time, he fought Max Holloway in Atlanta, Ga., as a result of what was happening? Khabib [Nurmagomedov] took break day after the incident [with Conor McGregor] so slightly than stripping Khabib, which with all respect to him they need to have, the man didn’t defend his belt for over a 12 months or one thing, it ought to have been an undisputed belt on the road.
“Him and Israel Adesanya [when he fought Kelvin Gastelum], each have had that very same comment about it, that ought to have been for the true belt that evening.”
No matter interim versus undisputed, Jouban appears like Poirier’s document as an entire separates him from nearly each different fighter who’s ever competed within the sport.
Poirier fought prime contender after prime contender and holds wins over the overwhelming majority of them. He could not have ended his profession with the “BMF” title round his waist after a 3rd struggle with Max Holloway however Jouban is aware of Poirier nonetheless deserved it.
“In my thoughts, he’s type of the uncrowned ‘BMF’ champion as a result of have a look at who he has wins over,” Jouban defined. “He has two wins over Max Holloway. He has wins over Justin Gaethje. Wins over Michael Chandler. That was the violent triangle at one level, that was probably the most violent ‘BMF’ kind guys within the UFC and Dustin beat all of these guys. Two wins over Conor. The primary man to knock Conor out. Two wins over Conor McGregor.
“You begin taking a look at different attainable ‘BMF’ kind fights. The Dan Hooker struggle in COVID, one in all my favourite violent fights of all-time. He has wins over so many guys however the circumstances weren’t for the ‘BMF’ on the time. Two wins over Max Holloway however the third one when he was 36 years previous, when the belt [was on the line]. You have a look at all the previous champions that he beat. The Anthony Pettis,’ the Conor McGregor’s, Eddie Alvarez, he beat all these guys that have been champions however on the time he fought them, he didn’t have the belt.”
When the “BMF” title was first launched, it was successfully a enjoyable and imaginative approach to promote a struggle between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz, who each possessed that “anybody, wherever, any time” philosophy when it got here to their careers. Each have been additionally identified for placing on ultra-exciting fights even when neither of them have been in a position to win a championship.
Jouban doesn’t see anyone who embodies that old-fashioned spirit greater than Poirier, particularly when trying on the assassin’s row of fighters he confronted through the years and simply because he by no means claimed the undisputed title doesn’t diminish his accomplishments.
“Have a look at power of schedule,” Jouban mentioned. “Energy of schedule, I’ve all the time mentioned this, Dustin Poirier is on the prime of the heap. Apart from Jon Jones simply because he’s the most effective and he’s overwhelmed all of the champions. Dustin Poirier is No. 2 on my checklist of power of schedule, the hardest fights within the UFC.
“The 155-pound division has all the time reigned supreme they usually’ve all the time had the most important stars, ‘BMF’ lies there as nicely. The hardest fighters, probably the most aggressive division with probably the most fighters within the secure and he has ran by way of all of the hardest guys since he has been within the UFC for 15 years. His power of schedule alone warrants it.”
Poirier competed for the undisputed UFC light-weight title twice throughout his profession however got here up quick each instances.
That also doesn’t inform the entire story about Poirier’s outstanding profession and it’s troublesome to not think about him one of many “baddest motherf*ckers” of all time.
“Respect to all these different guys, he’s actually the uncrowned ‘BMF’ in my thoughts as a result of he’s the one which has extra wins over all these powerful guys than anybody,” Jouban mentioned. “Dustin Poirier’s power of schedule is like no different.”
