Dustin Poirier Says UFC Blocked His Zuffa Boxing Plan With Nate Diaz

UFC veteran Dustin Poirier expressed a strong desire to make his professional boxing debut, ideally against Nate Diaz. However, his plans were reportedly thwarted by the UFC, with Poirier suggesting the promotion is unwilling to allow its fighters to participate in Zuffa Boxing events. Poirier, who retired from active competition last year following a unanimous decision loss to Max Holloway, currently works as a desk analyst for the UFC.

Despite his retirement from active fighting, "The Diamond" remains under UFC contract and has voiced interest in either a rematch with Justin Gaethje or a boxing bout against Nate Diaz, potentially under Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing banner. A fight between Poirier and Diaz was initially scheduled for UFC 230 in 2018 but was canceled due to an injury Poirier sustained. Despite continued mutual interest over the years, the highly anticipated matchup never came to fruition.

Nate Diaz departed from the UFC in 2022, securing a submission victory over Tony Ferguson in his final bout. He subsequently ventured into professional boxing, experiencing a loss to Jake Paul before triumphing over his former UFC rival, Jorge Masvidal. Diaz is now slated to return to MMA to face Mike Perry on an MVP card featuring Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano, set to stream live on Netflix on May 16. His involvement with MVP has fueled speculation that a return to the UFC might be unlikely. Nevertheless, Dustin Poirier maintains hope for a future boxing encounter with Diaz.

Dustin Poirier Explains Failed Zuffa Boxing Plans

During an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, Poirier revealed his aspirations to compete in professional boxing at least twice. However, he expressed skepticism about the feasibility of a Zuffa Boxing match against Nate Diaz. He explained that despite pitching the idea – "Me and Nate Diaz in Zuffa boxing, let’s go" – the UFC seems averse to such crossover events. Poirier believes the promotion aims to maintain its standing as a serious combat sports entity in the boxing world, and fears that allowing an MMA fighter to compete under Zuffa Boxing would open a "messy" precedent, leading every contracted fighter to seek similar opportunities.

Poirier also shared his enthusiasm for a dedicated boxing training camp, envisioning a regimen focused solely on "run, condition, and box," free from grappling and wrestling. He described such a camp as "smooth sailing," stating that striking and sparring days are unequivocally his favorite aspects of training.