A UFC legend is retiring to 'be there for my family for the long run'

Dustin Poirier, a UFC legend, will fight for the final time on Saturday to 'be there for my family for the long run.'

Make no mistake about it: Dustin Poirier is still at the top of his game. Even at 36, he remains among the UFC’s most dangerous fighters both standing and on the mat. He has wins over Conor McGregor, Michael Chandler and Benoît Saint Denis in recent years.

So why, despite a No. 6 ranking among lightweights and a headlining fight at UFC 318 against Max Holloway in New Orleans on Saturday, does he plan on taking off the gloves for good?

It all comes down to family.

“Me and my wife have been together for a long time, since before I was fighting, so she’s been on this whole journey with me,” Poirier told NBC News last week. “She’s been asking me to stop fighting for a long time, and so has my daughter.”

After 30 wins in 40 fights, a resume mostly made up of all-out wars that have made him a fan favorite, Poirier has followed their advice. The Lafayette, Louisiana, native will walk out in front of his hometown crowd and compete for the final time, ending a legendary career.