Dustin Poirier Tears Into Nate Diaz

Dustin Poirier (30-10 1 NC) has delivered a blunt verdict on Nate Diaz’s (22-14) performance against Mike Perry (15-8) at MVP MMA 1, saying the result made chasing the fight look like an easy win rather than a meaningful matchup.

Poirier reacted to Perry’s corner stoppage victory over Diaz, as he pulled no punches: “He looked horrible. He looked like he didn’t want to be in there, looked like a punching bag. He looked off balance. His timing was horrible.”

The two have unfinished business stretching back to a 2018 fight that never materialised. Poirier suffered a hip injury, though Diaz publicly accused him of using it as an excuse. Poirier addressed that directly: “We could’ve fought. He knows that. I wish he would be honest with the fans about what happened the couple of times we were supposed to fight.”

Poirier retired following a unanimous decision loss to Max Holloway at UFC 318 in July 2025. A proposed Diaz fight under the Zuffa Boxing banner was reportedly declined by TKO, however, Poirier acknowledged that Diaz’s performance has changed the dynamic entirely: “After a performance like that, it’s like I’m picking on somebody now if I’m chasing Nate Diaz. It’s like I’m picking on an easy fight, easy win. But Nate Diaz, I will knock you clean out if we fight.”