Dustin Poirier will make his final walk to the Octagon on Saturday at UFC 318 against Max Holloway. In a sport full of wild characters, “The Diamond” is a rare fighter who handled his career with class and humility. Delivering classic fight after classic fight, the American Top Team mainstay is going to be sorely missed by UFC fans. One of his teammates-turned-coaches shared insight on the fighter and gave a look behind the curtain at Dustin Poirier—the teammate.
“Funny fact, Dustin was the first high-level athlete I had the pleasure to work with since I made the switch from fighting to coaching… and the first fight we had together was Anthony Pettis. I was still active, so we did a lot of sparring for that fight and mitt work. So this week is pretty special.” – Thiago “Pit Bull” Alves
Pit Bull is one of the most feared strikers MMA has ever seen. He holds notable wins over Matt Hughes, Karo Parisyan, and Josh Koscheck, as well as challenging Georges St-Pierre for the title in 2009. Coach Alves knows this game better than most. Someone with that résumé and passion for the sport can only complement Dustin’s already defined skill set. We spoke on some adjustments between now and the last encounter.
“I think right now, at this stage of their lives, they’ve already accomplished so much in the sport, you know? Being champions in two different weight classes. I think it’s going to be even better! We’ve prepared ourselves for the best Max Holloway possible. (Max) moving up to 55 gives you extra juice, rejuvenation, and excitement. We factor everything in. But Dustin’s a dog, always been a true fighter. Things are bad, he puts his chin down and keeps swinging. But we made it more strategic.”
Max and Dustin are no strangers to slugfests, which is why we find this bout for the BMF title. Being their third fight with each other, they are no strangers to each other either. When fighters find themselves in this situation, it’s best to make sure their own game is tight instead of focusing on holes in their opponent’s. Strategy is important to create the offense appropriate for winning rounds and getting the knockout.
Poirier has been with American Top Team for 13 years. We spoke on his first impression when joining the powerhouse.
“Solid dude, very respectful. Wanted to learn, and he knew he was a new guy in an established gym, and he knew what we had to offer. Look at him right now. I always say at American Top Team, you either fit in right away or you don’t… A lot of guys come and go, but Dustin stayed with us. He trusts the work, and look where he is right now. One of the most accomplished lightweights in UFC history.”
Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway for the BMF title at UFC 318 will be an instant classic—two fighters who are fan favorites for what they do both in and out of competition. Emotions will be high not only for them, but for everyone engaged. We get a wonderful way to send off a special career as The Diamond rides off into the sunset. Don’t blink!
For the full interview with Thiago Alves see “Din Thomas FightCourt” on Youtube.
