Dustin Poirier Starches Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 299

The co-main event of UFC 299 showcased a clash amongst titans. Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier, a seasoned veteran of the UFC’s lightweight division. He squared off against Benoit Saint Denis, a rising contender on a five fight win streak. The bout marked Poirier’s 30th appearance in the UFC octagon, a milestone achieved by only a select few athletes. Since his debut in 2011, he has amassed one of the most illustrious resumes in UFC history. Boasting wins over multiple future hall of fame inductees such as Max Holloway (2x), Conor McGregor (2x), Eddie Alvarez, and Justin Gaethje. His longevity, activity and admirable personality have solidified Poirier’s status as a beloved and enduring figure of the sport.

On the other side of the cage was France’s Benoit Saint Denis. Saint Denis’ mixed martial arts journey began in 2017, after he spent time in the French Army Special Forces Command. After securing eight straight finishes under the promotion Brave Combat Federation, he signed with the UFC in 2021. Despite suffering a loss in his debut, he emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the lightweight division. He has since defeated his last five opponents, three ending by way of knockout. His co-main event clash with Poirier marked his first encounter with an opponent ranked inside the top ten of the division.

Dustin Poirier vs. Benoit Saint Denis Breakdown:

In the first round, the two titans engaged in a hectic battle. Dustin’s repeated attempts at a guillotine choke were highly unexpected. As a result of the failed submission attempt from Poirier, Saint Denis was able to control Dustin for a majority of the round, showcasing a scary submission game. Saint Denis was impressive to watch in the first round. While he appeared to have taken it on the judges’ scorecards, anyone watching could tell that this one wasn’t going the distance.

Saint Denis seemed to have fatigued heavily after the first round, but once again found himself on top of Porier after another failed guillotine attempt. Poirier was able to survive the storm, and found himself back on his feet. After rocking Saint Denis with a clean left hook, Poirier landed a devastating right hand that put Denis’ lights out. Unfortunately, the referee wasn’t able to stop the competition quickly enough, and Poirier got in one last blow that made the fans inside the Kaseya center jump out of their seats.

What’s Next for Dustin Poirer & Benoit Saint Denis?

With another highlight reel knockout added to his resume, Dustin retains his top five ranking inside the lightweight division. He also finds himself in an interesting position. Currently, only two fighters on the UFC roster would be ahead in line of Poirier for lightweight title contention. Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira. Fortunately enough for him, both athletes are scheduled to fight at UFC 300 on April 13. If the stars align appropriately for Poirier, he may end up as the next challenger to take on Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title.

For Saint Denis, he’ll be looking to take some time off and find the right matchup. The fight against Poirier was a difficult challenge to face, and it may take some time for him to recover. However, the performance he displayed in the first round showed that he has the skills to compete at such a high level. With some good rest and strategic planning, Saint Denis will come back stronger and look to make his mark inside of the top ten rankings.

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