A Dustin Poirier comeback may not be off the table after all. The former interim UFC lightweight champion says he would consider returning to face fellow American star Nate Diaz.
One unfinished fight still has Dustin Poirier’s attention, and it’s Nate Diaz. Speaking recently via talkSPORT, the former interim UFC lightweight champion said he would come back for a matchup with Diaz, reviving talk of a potential showdown that fans have been circling for years and one that would fit naturally on a major card such as UFC 300.
Poirier said he still wants that fight and pushed back on the idea that he ever turned it down, insisting Diaz was the only opponent he had in mind. That matters because this matchup has long carried more heat than rankings logic. It is less about title implications and more about settling a dispute that has lingered through negotiations, public comments, and fan debate.
For the lightweight division, a Poirier return would instantly create movement even if Diaz is no longer a full-time UFC fixture. If Poirier wins, he re-enters the conversation as a major-name gatekeeper or even a pay-per-view option against another elite veteran. If Diaz wins, the UFC gets a proven draw back in the spotlight with fresh leverage for another marquee booking.
From an American fan perspective, this is the kind of fight that has always sold itself. Diaz has remained one of the sport’s biggest cult stars because of his anti-establishment image and willingness to engage in chaos, while Poirier has built a reputation as one of the most respected action fighters of his era. Put those two brands together and the appeal is obvious, even without a belt on the line.
There is also real career urgency here. Poirier walked away after losing to Max Holloway in July of last year, so a return against Diaz would be about closure as much as competition. For Diaz, it would be another chance to prove he can still command the biggest stage in MMA. If this fight gets revived, expect the noise around it to grow fast.
