Eddie Alvarez doesn't like Dustin Poirier pre-committing to retirement before UFC 318.
Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) will compete in his final MMA bout when he challenges BMF champion Max Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) in the July 19 main event at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans (ESPN+ pay-per-view).
Poirier has decided to make his final walk in his home state of Louisiana, and despite already getting the best of Holloway twice, his former foe, Alvarez, has one concern.
"If you are saying, 'I'm done,' right? Then you're already done," Alvarez told MMA Junkie. "There's this small little thing in your mind where you've checked out. Even if you trained really hard and you put your best camp in and all of that. This is a sport where you have to be all in mentally, physically, emotionally. I never like when guys pre-commit to being finished and then still fighting their last fight. Over time, as I watched that happen, the guy I watch, could be like 70, 80 percent of the time that guy doesn't win."
That being said, Alvarez thinks "The Diamond" will get his perfect sendoff.
"The style matchup, I think Dustin wins the fight, but Max is not a pushover for anyone," Alvarez said. "It's going to be a beautiful boxing match. Some of the best boxing we're going to see inside the cage."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Why Eddie Alvarez questions Dustin Poirier's mindset at UFC 318
