Poirier open to boxing match vs. Nate Diaz: 'I'd do it'

UFC legend Dustin Poirier doesn't plan to come out of retirement to compete in mixed martial arts again, but he says he'd be willing to face Nate Diaz in a boxing match.

"Zuffa Boxing, (12 rounds), me and Nathaniel. I'd do it," Poirier wrote Monday night on X. "Only one more fight I'd take."

He added: "I'm retired, I'm done, but Nate is one that got away."

Poirier, a former interim lightweight champion, retired from MMA in July after he lost to Max Holloway in a trilogy bout at UFC 318 in his home state of Louisiana.

Poirier and Diaz were scheduled to square off in a marquee bout in the UFC in 2018, but Poirier withdrew due to an injury. They've both talked about rescheduling the matchup several times since, but it never materialized in the Octagon.

Diaz, one of the biggest stars in MMA history, left the promotion in 2022 and has since competed twice in boxing. He suffered a unanimous decision loss to Jake Paul in his professional debut in 2023 and then earned a win over former UFC title challenger Jorge Masvidal last year.

Zuffa Boxing, headed by UFC CEO Dana White, is expected to hold its first event in 2026. On Monday, it announced a long-term U.S. media rights deal with Paramount+ and CBS.