Nate Diaz shares surprising 5-word message during Dustin Poirier’s retirement fight at UFC 318

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As Dustin Poirier took on BMF champion Max Holloway for his final fight, former UFC star Nate Diaz had something to say.

The two were once set to meet in the octagon, but an injury prevented their 2018 matchup from ever taking place. Now, with ‘The Diamond’ retiring after UFC 318, it’s a fight that will remain a what-if..

Holloway defeated Poirier by unanimous decision in a five-round battle for the BMF belt. Since then, the Louisiana native has received plenty of praise from fans and fellow fighters, but Nate Diaz had something else on his mind.

Nate Diaz teases Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway about BMF belt

Poirier and Holloway each scored knockdowns in the third meeting of their trilogy, which came 13 years after ‘The Diamond’ first submitted ‘Blessed’ in his UFC debut.

They had already gone the distance in a five-round battle back in 2019, and this fight lived up to expectations, especially with the BMF title on the line at UFC 318.

The original BMF belt was introduced for Jorge Masvidal’s clash with Diaz at Madison Square Garden. Even though Diaz lost that fight, he’s never stopped claiming the title as his own.

That continued during Saturday’s main event in New Orleans, with Diaz reminding everyone that he still considers himself the true owner of the belt.

Jon Anik wants Max Holloway to chase a title shot instead of defending the BMF belt

The BMF title still splits opinion over its legitimacy and role in pay-per-view main events, but it’s hard to argue that the fights under its banner have ever let fans down.

• READ MORE: Ex-UFC champion who trained with Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus du Plessis gives his take on UFC 319 title fight

Even so, lead UFC commentator Jon Anik believes it’s time for Holloway to move on to bigger opportunities after UFC 318.

“I don’t really have a huge appetite to see him defend the BMF title again, were he to successfully defend it here against Dustin Poirier,” Anik told Odds Shark.

“I think he should be chasing the undisputed lightweight title. Of course, we’ll see what happens with Ilia Topuria. But if you were to match Max Holloway up with Ilia again at ’55, or to match him up with someone like Arman Tsarukyan, or to do a rematch with Charles Oliveira…

“There’s a lot of big fights for Holloway at 155 pounds, win or lose this fight,” Anik continued. “I don’t know, man. Holloway vs. Oliveira 2? I mean, God, I think that’s the fight.”