Dustin Poirier turned pro at 18 years old and has spent the last nine years of his life carving out a spot in the world of MMA.
But outside of the Octagon, “The Diamond” believes his family is helping him balance things.
Poirier takes on Michael Johnson Saturday night in the main event of UFC Fight Night 94. He’s won four straight, including three finishes in those bouts.
“I’m 27 years old, I’ve been in the game, fighting non-stop for nine years, this is my 18th appearance on the big stage and I’ve matured as a person,” he said. “I’m a father now, I’m comfortable with who I am, not that I didn’t believe in myself before, but now I know. As I get older, I realize that fighting is my life, but I’m not all the way in like I was before. I was lost in it.
“It’s part of my life, but it’s not who I am. I’m a father, I’m a son, a husband. It’s part of who I am, it’s not who I am.”
Poirier has picked up wins over Bobby Green, Joseph Duffy, Yancy Medeiros and Carlos Diego Ferreira since a move up to lightweight after a loss to Conor McGregor, the reigning UFC featherweight champion, in 2014.
Dustin Poirier turned pro at 18 years old and has spent the last nine years of his life carving out a spot in the world of MMA.
But outside of the Octagon, “The Diamond” believes his family is helping him balance things.
Poirier takes on Michael Johnson Saturday night in the main event of UFC Fight Night 94. He’s won four straight, including three finishes in those bouts.
“I’m 27 years old, I’ve been in the game, fighting non-stop for nine years, this is my 18th appearance on the big stage and I’ve matured as a person,” he said. “I’m a father now, I’m comfortable with who I am, not that I didn’t believe in myself before, but now I know. As I get older, I realize that fighting is my life, but I’m not all the way in like I was before. I was lost in it.
“It’s part of my life, but it’s not who I am. I’m a father, I’m a son, a husband. It’s part of who I am, it’s not who I am.”
Poirier has picked up wins over Bobby Green, Joseph Duffy, Yancy Medeiros and Carlos Diego Ferreira since a move up to lightweight after a loss to Conor McGregor, the reigning UFC featherweight champion, in 2014.
