In the aftermath of his emotional retirement at UFC 318, Dustin Poirier reflected on one of the most pivotal moments of his farewell performance with characteristic honesty and zero regret.
When asked about his decision to attempt a guillotine rather than continue striking in the second round, “The Diamond” was unequivocal in his response.
“Nah. Never,” Poirier stated firmly when questioned about any second thoughts regarding the submission attempt.
The moment in question came during a wild second round that epitomized the back-and-forth nature of Poirier‘s final appearance. After weathering early adversity when Max Holloway had rocked him and secured top position, Poirier managed to turn the tables dramatically. He fought his way back into the exchange and eventually dropped the BMF champion with a perfectly timed strike.
As Holloway hit the canvas, Poirier faced a split-second decision that would define the round’s conclusion. Rather than follow up with ground strikes, the Louisiana native chose to dive for a submission finish, wrapping his arms around Holloway’s neck in search of the guillotine choke that had served him well throughout his career.
“Had to do one last one,” Poirier explained with a slight smile, referring to his decision to attempt the submission technique that had become one of his signature moves over the years.
The veteran’s eyes lit up as he recounted the moment, revealing just how close he believed he came to securing a storybook ending to his career.
“And d—, I really thought that was going to be the one, man,” Poirier said, his voice carrying both the excitement of the moment and the disappointment of what might have been.
Despite his confidence in the attempt, Holloway‘s defensive skills and positioning ultimately thwarted the submission effort.
“I had him hurt but he rolled to his back and I just couldn’t control it,” Poirier acknowledged, giving credit to his opponent’s ability to escape from a precarious position.
The sequence represented everything that made Poirier’s career so compelling – the willingness to take calculated risks, the pursuit of finish over safety and the instinctive nature that had carried him through countless bouts at the sport’s highest level. Even in his final performance with everything on the line in front of his home crowd in New Orleans, Poirier remained true to the aggressive, opportunistic style that had made him a fan favorite.
While the guillotine attempt ultimately came up short and Holloway would go on to win a unanimous decision, Poirier’s reflection on the moment revealed a competitor at peace with his choices.
Akılalmaz bir raunt sonu! 🫨
Dustin Poirier, son maçını ‘Guillotine’ ile kazanmaya çok yaklaştı. pic.twitter.com/hv85YEy57d
— S Sport Plus (@ssportplustr) July 20, 2025
