As UFC star Dustin Poirier prepares for his farewell match against Max Holloway at UFC 318 in New Orleans, the respected veteran has weighed in on one of the sport’s most debated topics. He named his Mount Rushmore of mixed martial arts.
During a recent appearance on The Danza Project, Poirier didn’t hesitate when asked to name his top four contenders of all time.
“Top four? Jones, Khabib, St-Pierre, and Anderson Silva,” Poirier stated, selecting some of the most dominant champions in UFC history.
His choices represent a cross-section of MMA greatness spanning different eras and weight classes. Jon Jones is widely regarded as perhaps the most gifted fighter ever to compete in the octagon, with his only career blemish coming from a controversial disqualification.
Khabib Nurmagomedov, who defeated Poirier via submission at UFC 242 in 2019, retired with a perfect 29-0 record and rarely lost even a round during his dominant lightweight championship reign.
Georges St-Pierre, the Canadian icon who ruled both the welterweight and middleweight divisions, makes most experts’ shortlists based on his technical brilliance and championship longevity.
Completing Poirier’s monument is Anderson Silva, whose creative striking and unprecedented 16-fight win streak revolutionized MMA during his prime years as middleweight champion.
Interestingly, Poirier acknowledged that limiting his selections to just four names proved challenging given the sport’s rich history.
“I need more of a mountain, man, because BJ Penn in his prime… Fedor Emelianenko… there are so many legends out there,” Poirier added. “When they were in their prime, man, it was something special.”
With an 18-year career nearing its conclusion, Poirier’s perspective carries significant weight. Having shared the octagon with Nurmagomedov and numerous other champions while witnessing the careers of Jones, St-Pierre, and Silva unfold, Poirier offers a great assessment from someone who has experienced MMA’s evolution firsthand.
Poirier is currently preparing to make his final walk to the cage in front of his home state fans this Saturday.
