Dustin Poirier Calls for Return of Old-School Rules in MMA
Dustin Poirier is gearing up for his final fight at UFC 318 on July 19 in New Orleans, where he will face off against Max Holloway in a highly anticipated trilogy bout. Poirier, who has been in the MMA game for over 16 years, is as old-school as they come and wouldn’t mind seeing the wide-open rule set of the old PRIDE FC days make a comeback for one night only.
In a recent interview on Uncrowned’s “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Poirier expressed his desire for a unique fight scenario for his last Octagon appearance. He proposed the idea of a 10-minute first round, a format popularized by the now-defunct PRIDE promotion in Japan. Poirier also suggested judging fights as a whole rather than round-by-round, a practice still seen in Japan’s RIZIN Fighting Federation.
While the UFC has experimented with different rule sets in the past, Poirier envisions a future where fights for the BMF title feature a 10-minute first round, fights judged as a whole, and even soccer kicks allowed. He believes that adopting these old-school rules would add an exciting element to MMA bouts.
Dustin Poirier has one last war left in the tank. (Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)
(USA TODAY Sports / Reuters)
As Poirier prepares for his final fight, he aims to make it a memorable homecoming in Louisiana. Despite his tough loss to UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in his last fight, Poirier remains focused on ending his career on a high note. The BMF title, which was resurrected for Poirier’s first attempt against Justin Gaethje, holds a special significance for him.
Looking ahead, Poirier envisions retiring as the last BMF champion, cementing his legacy in fight history. He is determined to bounce back from his recent defeat and maintain his pattern of never losing two fights in a row. With his unique vision for MMA rules and his unwavering determination, Poirier is set to leave a lasting impact on the sport.