Grab the tissues.
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Interim Lightweight Champion Dustin Poirier faces BMF titleholder Max Holloway for the third time in his retirement fight this weekend (Sat., June 19, 2025) at UFC 318 inside Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA.
Today, during UFC 318 media day, “The Diamond” read letters from a few people, plus a special one sent by his friend and fellow Louisiana native, Theo Von, who is a low-key UFC diehard fan.
The letter said the following:
Congratulations on your UFC career. It’s been a blessing to witness the wars over the years. Some of my favorite fights were your win over Max Holloway in Atlanta—one of my best memories, when Dana White put the belt on you. The Dan Hooker fight, the Benoit Saint Denis knockout—I was watching that one from Australia, and the whole bar went crazy. It was magical.
It’s also been a gift when you didn’t get the victory. Watching you navigate those times, take the high road, be patient, and be honest with yourself—and share the lows with your fans as much as you could—allowed us to grieve in those moments with you. Thank you, man.
Watching you show up for yourself and for the wars has inspired me so much over the years, and I know I’m not the only one. There are times I want to quit, but I don’t because you didn’t quit. You never quit; you readjust. You recalibrate, you believe in yourself, and you make the walk back into the fire of life. Because you do that, it helps us all do that.
On behalf of the fans, if they allow it in the state of Louisiana, I want to say thank you for letting us be a part of it all. I couldn’t feel luckier to know a human as unique as you.
You are an inspiration to me and many. Thanks for sharing all you could with us. You’re a great fighter but also a really, really great Dustin Poirier. God bless the Diamond. I’m excited to see what it shines into next.
All love,
Theo Von and everyone.
“The Diamond” also reads letters from his coach, Mike Brown, his longtime manager, and a former training partner, which can be seen in the video player above.
Poirier comes into his retirement fight a three-time title challenger and tied for the most Fight of the Night bonuses in UFC history (10) and the only fighter to win the UFC interim belt, defeating a current UFC undisputed Champion.
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 318 fight card right here, starting with the ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6:15 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 10 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 318: “Holloway vs. Poirier 3” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.
This story originally appeared on MMA Mania
