Dustin Poirier Claims UFC Prevented Zuffa Boxing Match with Nate Diaz

Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier recently disclosed that his ambition to make a professional boxing debut against Nate Diaz was halted by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Poirier speculates that the promotion, led by Dana White, is hesitant to permit its contracted athletes to engage in Zuffa Boxing events.

Despite the Louisiana native announcing his retirement last year following a unanimous decision defeat to Max Holloway, he remains under contract with the UFC and continues to contribute as a desk analyst for the organization. "The Diamond" has expressed interest in a potential rematch with Justin Gaethje or pursuing a boxing match against Nate Diaz under the Zuffa Boxing banner.

Poirier and Diaz were originally slated to compete at UFC 230 in 2018, but Poirier was forced to withdraw due to an injury. Over the subsequent years, despite mutual interest from both fighters, their paths in the Octagon never converged again.

Diaz concluded his tenure with the UFC in 2022 after securing a submission victory over Tony Ferguson. Subsequently, he transitioned into professional boxing, where he suffered a loss to Jake Paul before bouncing back with a win against former UFC opponent Jorge Masvidal.

The Stockton native is now set to return to mixed martial arts to face Mike Perry on May 16, as part of an MVP card featuring Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano, which will stream live on Netflix. Diaz's decision to compete under the MVP banner has recently sparked rumors that his potential return to the UFC might be complicated. Nevertheless, Dustin Poirier maintains his desire to face Diaz in a boxing match in the future.

Poirier Discusses UFC's Stance on Zuffa Boxing

During an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, "The Diamond" conveyed his aspiration to compete professionally in boxing at least twice. However, he expressed skepticism regarding the feasibility of a boxing match against Nate Diaz under the Zuffa Boxing label, offering his rationale:

“I’ve always harbored the desire to box. I’m still contracted with the UFC, and I’ve already presented them with the idea: me versus Nate Diaz in Zuffa Boxing. But they’re not keen on crossover events. I believe Zuffa aims to be perceived as a serious organization within the boxing world, and they’re hesitant to open that door. If an MMA fighter competes under Zuffa Boxing, every other athlete on the roster, male and female, will likely want to follow suit, leading to chaos.”

Poirier also shared his enthusiasm for a focused boxing training camp:

He added, “Imagine a boxing training camp—no grappling, no wrestling. Just running, conditioning, and boxing. It would be incredibly smooth; I’d absolutely love it. I would only need to focus on boxing. Frankly, the striking and sparring days in training camp are my favorites.”