He smiled and called the champion in when he got hit with something good, and responded in kind, slicing open Makhachev in the fourth while taking a fight that looked destined to be done quickly with how the opening round played out into the final frame.
And even there, he worked, he hustled, he tried his absolute damnedest to avoid bad spots and give himself a chance to win, right up until he was caught dead to rights and had to tap.
There was a lot of talk about Poirier “finishing his story” on Saturday, a narrative adopted from the journey of WWE champ Cody Rhodes heading into WrestleMania, where he won the title. Although the challenger didn’t exit as the champion, thus being denied his fairytale ending, this contest was actually the epilogue to a story that was finished a few years ago.
UFC 302 REWIND: Final Results | Bonus Winners | Makhachev Interview
Poirier has been an exceptional competitor, thrilling fighter, and incredible ambassador for this sport for some time now; those things remain as true today as they did all along, regardless of the fact that he left New Jersey without the undisputed title in tow.
If this is the end of the line for the 35-year-old standout, call the tailors and get them to start fitting him for his Hall of Fame jacket because title or not, that’s where he’s headed.
Winning the title undoubtedly would have been an incredible way for Poirier to go out, but this actually felt truer to his story, more telling of who he is and why we’ve all loved him for so long.
Congrats, Champ, and thank you.