Dustin Poirier says he would consider ending his retirement for a fourth showdown with Conor McGregor, as the Irish star prepares for his long-awaited UFC return.
Poirier stepped away from competition after losing to Max Holloway in their BMF title fight at UFC 318 last July. Now, the former interim champion says the right call from the UFC about McGregor could bring him back.
"If it was realistic and they called me and said, 'Hey,' I would probably get back in the drug-testing protocol and get licensed again, yeah," Poirier said on the "Weighing In" podcast.
Poirier currently holds a 2-1 lead over McGregor in their trilogy, with McGregor not having fought since breaking his leg in a TKO loss to Poirier in July 2021. McGregor is scheduled to return against Max Holloway in a rematch headlining UFC 329 on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Poirier also weighed in on what to expect from McGregor after the long layoff, comparing the situation to Nate Diaz’s recent loss to Mike Perry at MVP MMA 1. "Yeah, I don't think Conor's going to look as bad as Nate. That was really bad," Poirier said.
He added that McGregor’s power remains a key factor: "I think the punching power is going to be there regardless. Conor's going to come back from the injury and still have that natural punching power. The question for me is the timing, the athleticism, the movement, all those questions need to be answered."
