dustin Poirier Open to Boxing Return for Fight Against Nate Diaz
LAS VEGAS – Retired UFC fighter Dustin Poirier indicated Monday he would consider returning to competition for a boxing match against Nate Diaz. Poirier, 36, made the declaration on X (formerly Twitter), stating he would participate in a 12-round boxing contest under the Zuffa Boxing banner.
Poirier (30-10) retired from mixed martial arts in July following a UFC 318 loss to Max Holloway in Louisiana. While adamant about ending his MMA career, he identified Diaz as the single opponent who could entice him back for one final fight. “Zuffa Boxing, [12 rounds], me and Nathaniel, I’d do it,” Poirier wrote. “Only [one] more fight I’d take.”
A potential fight between Poirier and Diaz has a history of near misses. A UFC bout scheduled for 2018 in New York ultimately fell apart, with both fighters blaming the other for its cancellation. Poirier claimed prolonged negotiations by Diaz were the issue, while Diaz accused Poirier of withdrawing due to injuries. Diaz even suggested he considered the situation a victory due to Poirier acknowledging his physical limitations.
Diaz (21-13), 40, departed the UFC in 2022 and has since competed in professional boxing, losing a unanimous decision to Jake paul in 2023 and defeating Jorge Masvidal in July 2024. He has publicly expressed interest in a potential return to the UFC.As of Monday evening, Diaz had not responded to Poirier’s proposal.
The possibility of a Poirier-Diaz boxing match arrives alongside the launch of Zuffa Boxing, a new promotion founded earlier this year and led by UFC CEO Dana White. Zuffa Boxing recently announced a long-term U.S. broadcasting deal with Paramount+ and CBS. Poirier added, “I’m retired, I’m done, but Nate is one that got away.”
