UFC 299 Exclusive: Dustin Poirier on his Next Fight, UFC 300, Career Legacy & Smartphones

Family and proximity are the main priorities for former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier (29-8 MMA, 22-7-1 UFC) ahead of UFC 299 in Miami.

Over a decade removed from his UFC debut in Jan. 2011, 35-year-old Poirier has accomplished nearly everything he set out to do.

But when it came to fighting on one of the sport’s biggest stages at UFC 300, the Louisiana native thought otherwise. “The Diamond” opted to take a five-round co-main event fight against No. 12-ranked Benoit Saint-Denis (13-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) at UFC 299.

“The decision to fight here in South Florida on [UFC] 299 was pretty much because it's close to training camp [at American Top Team],” Poirier told MMA Knockout. “It's close to home. All my friends and family are in Louisiana. That's an easy flight from New Orleans to Miami. So, a lot more people would be able to attend this one. And, also, you know, it's a drive away. I don't have to hop on a flight, get all my team booked. And, just the travel, you know, is heavy sometimes.”

Less travel for Poirier means an easier time reaching his fanbase. He said that with over four million Instagram followers and many business ventures, including his hot sauce brand Poirier's Louisiana Style, the Samsung S24 Ultra is his phone of choice.

“I've been a Samsung fan,” Poirier said. “I've been using their products and then, organically, I was on the Joe Rogan podcast. He was asking me to send him some stuff. Some pictures of the surgery I had and I was like, 'Nah.' I was standing my ground. I was like, 'Nah, man, I can't AirDrop you this, I have a Samsung. I just like their products better.' And then he was kind of giving me stuff about it and just stood my ground and said, 'I'm Samsung all the way,' and then they reached out to me the next week, man. It was super organic, though.”

Organic partnerships are the name of the game for Poirier regarding non-combat ventures. However, in the Octagon, he said the Saint-Denis fight is just another step in the long and illustrious journey of a potential Hall of Fame career.

“I just want to continue staying in love with what I do and growing as a fighter, as a person, as a father, a husband,” Poirier said. “This fight journey is a crazy one, and it has been amazing. The journey has been amazing. The ups. The downs. All of it, man. I'm just appreciative of the opportunities I've had. The performances I've put together. My ability to adapt and grow and keep pushing forward. You know, hindsight looking at it, man, I'm really happy with everything, honestly.”

With the co-main fight having five rounds, Poirier said it would play to his strengths compared to Saint-Denis, as the Frenchman has never been past a third round.

“The five-round thing is because I feel like the better fighter wins over five rounds,” he said. “You know, anybody can win in the first, second round, catch somebody. But, to put together a great performance and break someone down and beat them over five rounds, you know, cardio is not an issue for me. It never has been.”

As for what’s next, Poirier said a third crack at the undisputed title, opposite current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, makes the most sense. Despite those aspirations, he is willing to adapt to the ever-changing nature of the division.

“It's tough to say, man,” Poirier said regarding his future. “This is a crazy, crazy thing we do and things change very fastly and opportunities arise out of nowhere. But, with somebody with my track record and the things I've done in this sport, I feel like I'm one win away at anytime from getting a title shot, you know.”

His UFC run includes victories against Conor McGregor (twice), Michael Chandler, Max Holloway (twice), and Dan Hooker, to name a few, which made him a mainstay across lighter divisions.

Despite what happens Saturday night, Poirier’s authentic self keeps him focused on the task, which correlates to Samsung’s daily ease of access. Even something as simple as a toy purchase for his daughter makes decision-making easy.

“There's a bunch of things with AI technology as well,” Poirier said when discussing the phone’s accessibility. “Like my daughter, when she's here and we're online [shopping]. If she sees a toy or she sees something, I can just take a screenshot. Circle the toy, search it right there, find out what it is or book. If there's a book she's looking at, I can.. boom get it right there. Two clicks. It's amazing. It's amazing that the phones have come this far this quickly. And this new phone has been mind-blowing.”

Poirier’s bout against Saint-Denis will mark his 30th UFC appearance, attempting to get back on track after suffering a KO defeat against Justin Gaethje in July.

UFC 299 kicks off at 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT, followed by the pay-per-view portion beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The entire card, including Poirier vs. Saint-Denis, can be seen on ESPN+ in the U.S.

If you use any quotes from this exclusive article, please leave an H/T to MMAKnockout.com for the transcription.