Dustin Poirier's 10 biggest UFC fights, ranked

Making the highest 10 is an underrated however vital struggle for Poirer’s UFC tenure – and that got here towards Jim Miller.

Not solely was this clearly the most effective struggle on an underwhelming UFC 208 pay-per-view card, however Miller was in a position to train Poirier a helpful lesson in calf kicks.

As one of many first fighters to efficiently use decrease extremity leg kicks within the octagon, Miller was in a position to abuse the southpaw versus southpaw matchup (regardless of that originally being Poirier’s sport plan).

Poirier was in a position to dig out a deceptively shut majority choice win, all whereas taking away an vital leg kick lesson that may come in useful for his sequence with Conor McGregor.

Talking of a sequence involving Poirier, I needed to give a nod to the Lousiana slugger concluding the controversy of his first contest with Eddie Alvarez.

With their first encounter at UFC 211 ending in an unlucky no-contest attributable to an unlawful knee on Alvarez’s finish, there was an honest quantity of warmth and build-up between these two heading into their predominant occasion assembly on FOX.

Though Alvarez virtually jeopardized the struggle by fouling from a dominant place, referee Marc Goddard made the best name by taking away place from the “The Underground King,” moderately than taking a degree. That stated, Poirier ended up instantly capitalizing on the scenario by placing Alvarez away with a vicious mixture alongside the cage.

A win over Alvarez counts for lots in my ebook, so this one makes the highest 10.

Notching the no. 8 spot is a bloody basic between Poirier and former UFC champion, Anthony Pettis.

After I use the time period “bloody,” I’m not using English slang — I imply to say that this is among the bloodiest fights you’ll ever see.

An immediate basic from Soar Avenue, this battle options all the pieces from devoted stress hanging to some extremely entertaining (and slippery) scrambles with submission scares round each nook.

The ending is a bit abrupt, but it surely’s nonetheless worthy of constructing my listing.

Sliding in at No. 7 is a more moderen efficiency from Poirier reverse Benoit Saint-Denis.

On the time, Saint-Denis was on a five-fight ending streak within the UFC and was the odds-on favourite to beat Poirier come the evening of their encounter at UFC 299.

Regardless that Saint-Denis received off to a powerful begin and was in a position to get to some dominant positions, Poirier was in a position to struggle again to his toes and hit the Frenchman along with his patent test proper hook – a punch that I particularly predicted would finish the struggle in my pre-fight breakdown.

Like many occasions earlier than, it was a second the place Poirier was being doubted after coming off a loss and wanted to remind the lots who he was. And that he did.

It all the time feels bizarre to place a fighter’s loss on an inventory like this, however I’d be remiss if I didn’t shout out one of many biggest featherweight wars of all time between Poirier and Chan Sung Jung.

In what was among the many first wave of five-round predominant occasions for non-title fights that the UFC began placing on, Poirier and Jung got a chance to showcase the lighter weight courses after Zuffa LLC., presently, lately absorbed World Excessive Cagefighting and it’s subsequent roster.

It was a barnburner from the primary bell that featured thrilling exchanges on the toes and insanely memorable scrambles on the ground.

Poirier ended up faltering within the fourth body after showing to be taking up within the third, however this struggle finally ended up being a optimistic for the product of Louisiana given the truth that it helped encourage him to begin coaching full-time at American High Crew to improve his sport.

Regardless of Poirier’s 25-minute conflict with Dan Hooker already incomes a top-five spot for me, you may argue that it charges even increased if this immediate basic went down in entrance of an precise crowd as an alternative of the hole ambiance of the UFC Apex.

It was a blood-stained conflict that noticed each events going at it in each section, demonstrating the extent of doggedness that may one way or the other exist inside a human being.

It’s not for the faint of coronary heart, but it surely’s a struggle that’s undoubtedly value revisiting.

Narrowly nothing the No. 4 spot is Poirier’s three-round thriller with Michael Chandler at UFC 281.

Akin to the earlier choice reverse Hooker, Poirier was as soon as once more coming off a failed bid for the light-weight title, leaving everybody from pundits to the Gen Pop to marvel what his standing was.

Fortunately for us, Poirier had a prepared dance associate in Chandler who was prepared to check the WEC vet from the primary bell.

The primary body was arguably the spherical of the 12 months, whereas the remainder of the struggle performed out in a fully brutal and bloody vogue (that includes a few of the nastiest fish hook fouls you’ll see from the Chandler aspect). That stated, Poirier was in a position to persevere via some robust spots to safe one of many sweetest submission finishes of his profession.

Coming in at No. 3 is Poirier’s rematch with Conor McGregor again at UFC 257.

Regardless that this struggle might not have as many moments as a few of the earlier picks, I’d argue that the significance of this encounter alone earns its spot within the high 5.

Not solely was Poirier’s rivalry with McGregor a heated one, however this struggle was an simple milestone for the Loisianan’s legacy given the gravity of the Irishman.

Not solely did Poirier implement classes discovered from his battle with Jim Miller, however he was additionally in a position to punish McGregor along with his superior lead hand all through the struggle.

Regardless that this struggle is arguably interchangeable with my choice for No. 1, Poirier’s rematch with Max Holloway must accept second place on this listing.

An immediate basic that serves as a strong two-way technical affair for the struggle nerds on the market, Poirier and Holloway display a few of the best hanging exchanges we’ve been aware of in MMA.

Holloway always makes an attempt to get his constructing dynamic going, however Poirier constantly counters efficiently to destroy the Hawaiian’s progress.

Taking the highest spot is Poirier’s first assembly with Justin Gaethje again at UFC on FOX 29.

Akin to Gaethje’s earlier conflict with Eddie Alvarez, this struggle was one other excellent instance of two automobiles in a dying race with each other, seeing who could make it to the end line in a single piece.

“A sport of inches” could also be related to Al Pacino within the movie Any Given Sunday, however you’ll see why MMA is well simply as apropos an instance when trying on the situation of Poirier’s leg in what was a successful effort.

My favourite form of struggle within the sense that it actually examined human limits on either side of the equation.

*Honorable mentions: Dustin Poirier vs. Diego Brandao at UFC 168; Dustin Poirier vs. Akira Corassani at TUF Nations Finale.