Poirier at Home: Advantage at UFC 318 in New Orleans? Analysis

Poirier Returns Home: A Career Finale in Louisiana

The moments of joy continued for Dustin Poirier, one after another, building a narrative of success in his mixed martial arts (MMA) career. In April 2015, at a UFC Fight Night event, Poirier felt the satisfaction of competing at lightweight, his natural category, after having fought at featherweight in his first UFC appearances. The knockout victory in the first round against Diego Ferreira was a relief, especially after a defeat that slowed his momentum against Conor McGregor. In addition, the $50,000 bonus for the performance of the night added a sweet touch to the victory. But the greatest joy for Poirier that night came from the words of UFC matchmaker Joe Silva immediately after the fight. Silva reminded Poirier, a native of Lafayette, Louisiana, that the UFC had a card scheduled two months later in New Orleans.

Silva told me he would save me a spot if I wanted it. New Orleans, I’m coming home, baby!

Dustin Poirier

In June of that same year, Poirier made the two-hour trip from his hometown to the “City of Jazz”, carrying with him the hopes of his community. Although Daniel Cormier, also from Lafayette, was initially expected to headline the event, he was relocated for a light heavyweight title fight. The absence of Alan Jouban due to injury left Poirier as the only local hero, which generated great anticipation.

Poirier’s entrance was explosive. The flags of the Acadiana region waved in the stands, honoring his Cajun heritage. The fighter met familiar faces in the crowd, and then commented: “I knew I’d have them on my side. They’re swamp people. That’s how we are.” Poirier managed to control his emotions and rewarded his supporters with a technical knockout victory over Yancy Medeiros in less than three minutes. Now, almost a decade later, the UFC returns to New Orleans on Saturday for UFC 318. Poirier will headline the event with a trilogy against Max Holloway. This home fight will be even more special for Poirier, as it will mark the end of his career in the octagon.

Poirier has talked about his retirement for years and has expressed his desire to return to New Orleans. In April, during the NFL draft, he enthusiastically announced that the UFC would return to New Orleans in July, and that July 19 would be his last fight, where he would hang up his gloves in Louisiana, the place where it all began. This event at home is more significant because Poirier is more rooted in Lafayette. In 2015, he spent a lot of time in Florida, training with American Top Team. However, after becoming a father, he moved to Louisiana so his daughter could be close to her family. Poirier has also become involved in the community, auctioning off fight gear to raise funds for local causes, which led to the creation of the Good Fight Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides support to underserved communities in southern Louisiana. The choice of Holloway as the final opponent is intriguing. Some wonder why Poirier, with two wins over Holloway, would give him a third chance. Will it be the opportunity to retire with Holloway’s symbolic BMF belt? Or simply Holloway, a former featherweight champion with the most significant strikes in UFC history, met Poirier’s requirements for his farewell.

I said, ‘just legends'”,

Dustin Poirier

Poirier also appreciates the symmetry of this fight with Holloway. “It was my first fight in the UFC in 2012,” Poirier said, “and it will be my last fight in the UFC.” Considered the “Diamond” Poirier, the event promises to be a celebration, no matter who takes the victory.

Fights at home are not frequent and generate a special energy. Las Vegas has hosted more than 250 UFC events, followed by the New York metropolitan area and London. The most iconic image of a home fight occurred in Rio de Janeiro, where José Aldo, after knocking out Chad Mendes, jumped into the crowd in a moment of euphoria. McGregor, in his third UFC fight in Dublin, predicted and delivered a knockout in the first round, demonstrating his confidence and connecting with his local audience. Home fights can generate a great impact and potential for the stars.

Although fighting at home can be a dream, it can also be a nightmare for some fighters, like Derrick Lewis, who has had mixed experiences in Houston. For some, the pressure is overwhelming, while others, like Duke Roufus, see the advantages of fighting at home, encouraging their fighters to focus on it. Roufus has had success in the “home fight”, including Anthony Pettis, who won the title in Milwaukee, showing an attitude of confidence.