Dustin Poirier is set to make his final UFC walk unforgettable. On July 16, 2025, during UFC 318 media day, the Louisiana native confirmed that rap legend Lil Wayne will join him for his walkout at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Poirier will face Max Holloway in a trilogy bout for the BMF title, marking his retirement fight on July 19, 2025.
A Legendary Sendoff
Poirier shared his vision for the walkout.
“It’ll be a little bit of James Brown, a little bit of Wayne,” Poirier said. “Yeah, Wayne’s walking out with me.” This plan combines his longtime walkout song, James Brown’s “
The Boss,” with the presence of Lil Wayne, a New Orleans music icon, to create a special moment for his hometown fans.
Poirier explained why he’s keeping his signature song for this fight.
“I have to,” he said. “I paid the cost to be the boss! On my last one I can’t switch it up that [much], I can’t go that far from that. I have to hear that, I need to feel that vibe before I fight someone.”
The track has been a key part of his routine, giving him the energy he needs to step into the octagon.
Dustin Poirier confirms Lil Wayne is walking him out at #UFC318 in New Orleans pic.twitter.com/Eno2BwgzVI
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) July 17, 2025
Poirier’s Storied Career
Poirier’s UFC journey began in 2011, when he walked out to Lil Wayne’s “Drop the World” for his debut against Josh Grispi. He later switched to James Brown’s “The Boss” for most of his career, including his interim lightweight title win against Holloway in 2019 at UFC 236. Poirier also beat Holloway in 2012 at UFC 143, submitting him in the first round. With a record of 30-9, Poirier has faced top names like Conor McGregor, Justin Gaethje, and Islam Makhachev, whom he fought in June 2024 at UFC 302, losing a hard-fought title bout.
Holloway, the current BMF champion with a 26-8 record, earned the title by knocking out Gaethje at UFC 200. He lost to Poirier twice before and to Ilia Topuria in October 2023 at UFC 308. This third fight with Poirier is a chance for both to cement their legacies.
Lil Wayne’s involvement is a dream come true for Poirier. He first hinted at this idea in April 2025 on The Ariel Helwani Show, saying he’d love Wayne to join him for his final walkout. Wayne, a longtime UFC fan, has supported Poirier on social media for years. While it’s unclear if Wayne will perform live, his presence is sure to fire up the hometown crowd.
The UFC has made exceptions for celebrity walkouts before, like Jack Black with Stephen Thompson at UFC 296 and Mark Zuckerberg with Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298. Poirier’s walkout, blending his past with his present, will be a fitting tribute to his career.
