The prospect of a battle between two fighters from different worlds—Mike Tyson, the legendary heavyweight boxer, and Dustin Poirier, the renowned UFC lightweight—sounds like a wild “what if” scenario, but it’s one that sparks curiosity. What would happen if these two fighters, each in their prime in their respective sport, faced off in an imaginary full fight today? The clash of Tyson’s destructive boxing and Poirier’s mixed martial arts skillset would undoubtedly be a spectacle for the ages.

Let’s break down how this fight might play out, considering both fighters’ strengths, weaknesses, and fighting styles.

Round 1: The Early Exchange

The bell rings, and both fighters make their way to the center of the ring or octagon (depending on the setting we imagine here).

Mike Tyson, now at the ripe age of 58, is no longer in his physical prime but still carries the aura of a fighter who once devastated opponents in the ring with his blistering speed, powerful hooks, and devastating uppercuts. Even though he’s far from the explosive 20-year-old “Iron Mike” of the 1980s, his sheer physicality and confidence would still make him a dangerous adversary.

On the other hand, Dustin Poirier, known for his incredible boxing skills, elite endurance, and masterful striking technique in the UFC, would come into this fight with an edge in versatility. Having fought in the octagon, Poirier is well-versed in dealing with a wide range of opponents—both in striking and grappling. However, Poirier has never faced someone with Tyson’s brute power and speed.

As the fight begins, Poirier likely takes a cautious approach, using his footwork and keeping his distance. Poirier’s head movement and lateral movement could make it difficult for Tyson to land clean shots, but the heavy-hitting Tyson would be looking to close the gap early. Poirier would look to establish his jabs and kicks, working his way inside when the opportunity presents itself.

However, Tyson’s aggression and power would be hard to ignore. As Poirier circles, Tyson’s lightning-fast jab and left hook could find their mark quickly, especially since Poirier would need to be wary of getting caught in close quarters. Tyson’s body punches would also be a huge factor—he was known for punishing the body with hooks, and Poirier’s conditioning would be tested early on.

Key Moment of Round 1: Tyson lands a clean left hook to Poirier’s head that backs him up, showing that the legendary puncher still has the power to hurt an opponent, even if he’s past his prime.

Round 2: Poirier’s Adaptation

Poirier, showing the adaptability that made him a top UFC fighter, starts to adjust to Tyson’s aggression. He likely begins to use his kicks more, keeping Tyson at bay and attempting to control the distance. Leg kicks and low kicks would be a valuable weapon against Tyson’s power, aiming to slow him down and reduce his mobility.

Tyson, though, is relentless. He would keep coming forward, cutting off the cage or ring with his patented head movement and swarming style. As he moves in close, Poirier would look to clinch or use his own boxing to land a few hooks. Poirier’s boxing, while excellent, might not be enough to match Tyson’s explosive power, but he would still make Tyson pay for coming inside too recklessly.

At this point, Tyson’s stamina could become a concern. His gas tank was always one of his weak points later in his career, and against a well-conditioned fighter like Poirier, it would be interesting to see how Tyson’s pace holds up. Poirier would likely continue to use his volume striking to frustrate Tyson, throwing combinations and avoiding extended exchanges where Tyson could land something big.

Key Moment of Round 2: Poirier lands a couple of low kicks that seem to slow Tyson down a bit, but Tyson answers with a wild right hook-left hook combination that just misses Poirier, sending a reminder of his raw power.

Round 3: The Mid-Fight Shift

By Round 3, Poirier begins to sense that Tyson’s best shots have been thrown. Poirier’s pace starts to overwhelm the older fighter, who is starting to slow down. Tyson’s power is still dangerous, but his movement becomes less fluid, and Poirier capitalizes on this by using his combination punches and incorporating more of his Muay Thai clinch—something Tyson is less accustomed to, especially when fighting under MMA rules.

Poirier starts landing clean body shots, something that can sap Tyson’s strength, and continues to circle, preventing Tyson from getting in close enough to land his devastating uppercuts or hooks. Tyson’s ability to cut off the cage is a major asset, but Poirier’s ability to constantly move and vary his angles is a major challenge for Tyson, especially as the fight progresses.

This round would likely show the disparity between a boxer’s pace in the ring and a mixed martial artist’s ability to endure a multi-faceted fight. Poirier’s composure and game plan seem to be working in his favor as Tyson tires, his punches losing some of their snap.

Key Moment of Round 3: Poirier lands a crisp right-left hook combination that seems to stun Tyson, but Tyson is still dangerous enough to stay in the fight.

Round 4: Tyson’s Last Stand

As the fight enters the later rounds, Tyson still has the potential to land a knockout shot. However, Poirier’s strategy is working, and his speed, movement, and variety of strikes are beginning to take a toll on Tyson. The legendary boxer, despite his toughness and power, can’t keep up with Poirier’s pace and variety in strikes.

Tyson might still have one big moment left in him—his uppercut is still a lethal weapon when he’s close enough—but Poirier would likely be too smart at this point. By mixing in his elbows and knees from the clinch, Poirier would continue to score points while avoiding the heavy bombs Tyson could still throw.

Tyson’s frustration might begin to show as he realizes he can’t catch Poirier cleanly, and this could open him up to more strikes from Poirier, who now has a clear advantage.

Key Moment of Round 4: Poirier lands a clean uppercut followed by a kick to Tyson’s midsection, leaving Tyson winded and unable to land a counter.

Round 5: Poirier Dominates

In the final round, Tyson’s gas tank is nearly empty, and Poirier’s consistent pressure and strikes have taken their toll. Tyson might still be swinging, but his punches are slow and telegraphed. Poirier would continue to pick his shots, making Tyson miss and using his own footwork to avoid being cornered.

By the end of the round, Poirier likely cruises to a unanimous decision victory, having outlasted Tyson’s power and overwhelmed him with his all-around game.

Key Moment of Round 5: Poirier lands a final flurry of punches, including a crisp left-right combination, leaving Tyson exhausted and unable to land a clean shot in return.

Conclusion: Poirier Wins the Imaginary Fight

In this hypothetical showdown, Dustin Poirier’s ability to maintain a fast pace, mix up his strikes, and utilize his MMA skills ultimately proves to be the key to defeating Mike Tyson, even in his prime. While Tyson’s raw power and brutal aggression would make him a dangerous threat for any opponent, the versatility of Poirier’s striking, his conditioning, and his elusive movement make him a difficult opponent for a boxer like Tyson.

Poirier would win this fight by unanimous decision, surviving Tyson’s initial barrage and outlasting the older boxer with his combination of techniques, pace, and endurance. Tyson, while still dangerous, would find that Poirier’s adaptability and constant pressure were too much for him to handle in the long run.

Even in an imaginary full fight today, this matchup would prove that when it comes to a hybrid of striking, defense, and endurance, Tyson’s fearsome fists aren’t enough to outlast a fighter as well-rounded as Dustin Poirier.