Dustin Poirier, the lightweight contender known as “The Diamond,” is contemplating retirement following his recent title shot defeat. After a grueling fight at UFC 302, Poirier lost to Islam Makhachev by submission in the fifth round.
This marked Poirier’s third attempt at capturing undisputed lightweight gold. Now 35 years old, the Louisiana native acknowledges he’s unlikely to receive another immediate title shot. In a recent interview on The MMA Hour, Poirier expressed his indecision about the future.
“I’m still unsure,” Poirier admitted. “While I can’t say I’ll never fight again, I lack the motivation. What’s the purpose? The competition itself is thrilling, but I’ve absorbed a lot of punishment throughout my career. There needs to be a compelling reason, and maybe that will come to me soon. Right now, I’m taking things day by day.”
Poirier currently leans towards retirement. He acknowledges the difficulty of securing another title fight and his reluctance to endure a lengthy climb back to contention. “I’m in a strange situation,” he said. “I’m struggling to articulate it or make a decision. I’m taking it slow and waiting to see how my feelings evolve.”
Despite the loss, Poirier showcased his elite skills against Makhachev, the reigning champion and a top pound-for-pound fighter. This is a major factor in his hesitation to retire. “The biggest reason I can’t fully commit to retirement is because I know I can still compete at this level, and I believe I’m still improving,” Poirier explained.
“My reflexes are sharp, I feel good physically, and I’m confident I can beat these guys. But if I walk away now, a year from now, it might be different if I try to return.”
Poirier’s ultimate decision hinges on his emotions. While he lacks current motivation, he acknowledges that an enticing fight offer could sway him. “Discussing hypotheticals isn’t appealing, but if my phone rang right now with Hunter Campbell offering a specific fight, I’d have to gauge my reaction then,” Poirier said. “That’s how I’ll know what to do. Just talking about it doesn’t hold any interest for me.”
Win or lose, Poirier appears content with his career trajectory. “Naturally, I’m disappointed with the outcome, but I’m proud of who I am,” Poirier stated. “What truly matters – the achievements gathered or the person you become on the journey? I’m eternally grateful to fighting for shaping me into who I am today.
The way I think and perceive things has completely transformed, all because of the challenges and overcoming them. I see the world differently now, and I’m thankful for that. I’m in a good place.”
Poirier concluded with a philosophical outlook, “Everything transpired as it was meant to be. That’s my mindset moving forward. I craved victory, I trained relentlessly, and I was prepared to win. I gave it my all, but I lost, and that’s life. What’s next? I wake up the next day, dust myself off, appreciate being alive, and tackle a new day. If something is meant for me, it won’t elude me. It just wasn’t meant to be that night.”
