Getting a read on a fighter is not always the easiest thing to do in combat sports.
This especially rings true in the world of mixed martial arts where so many different styles, backgrounds, and personalities step into one cage and look to impose their wills. While the ultimate goal for most typically lies in victory, it’s often the catalyst and drive that ticks in at a different measure. Then there are those who seem cut from something a bit different, and Dustin Poirier is certainly part of that group.
Although his competitive nature fuels him to step into the Octagon, there are additional attributes that have made the Louisiana native a fighter to watch under the UFC banner. The 26-year-old American Top Team product comes to scrap each and every time out, but more than that, he’s aiming to push himself to a different level in the process.
And while setbacks have come along the way, that gritty and ingrained love for the fight is what continues to forge The Diamond into the competitor he is today and the champion he’s aiming to become in the future.
“Sometimes you get knocked down but you get back up,” Poirier told Bleacher Report. “I’ve never stopped believing in myself. I know I’m going to be a world champion. That’s just part of the journey with bumps and bruises and lessons learned. But you get back up. After that last fight I went back home and said, ‘All right. How are we going to get up from this? What are we going to do?’ I started working and went right back at it.
“I got right back in the gym and back to work. I never lost the love or doubted myself. I know who I am and I’m going to show everybody what I’m about. People can expect a great performance from me. Let’s see what he brings to the table, but this is a recipe for a great fight. People are going to see me at my best on Saturday.
In addition to the versatile skill set he possesses, Poirier‘s will to win is ferocious. And when that doesn’t happen, the sting in the aftermath resonates on and on. There’s no doubting the fact his recent loss to Conor McGregor is still burning him up, but so are the three other nights he’s come up short in his professional career. Yet, rather than hang his head and wallow in what could have been, Poirier gets his heart and mind back on track and focused on regaining momentum.
While missteps can’t be taken back, they can become part of the sum total of his overall journey. Poirier‘s intensity is visual to the point it almost becomes tangible, and he will be looking to put that on display once again at Fight Night 63. The scrappy veteran will face Carlos Diego Ferreira on Saturday in Fairfax, Virginia, and he’s determined to show fight fans something special.
“This is going to be an exciting matchup,” Poirier said. “I’ve seen [Ferreira] fight a few times, and we know he has good jiu-jitsu, but he’s not out there diving for guys’ legs and trying to keep the fight on the ground. He’s out there throwing bombs and putting on a show. Those are the kinds of fights I want to be part of.
“I’m glad to be back fighting in Fairfax,” he added. “We had a hell of a fight the last time out I was out there, and this time there’s going to be a hell of a fight and I’m going to get my hand raised. It’s good to come back, fight in the same arena and get some of those vibes back. I like that.”
In addition to looking to get back to his winning ways at Fight Night 63, Poirier will also be making his official lightweight debut inside the Octagon. Where he’s competed against a who’s who of top competition in the featherweight ranks, his showing on Saturday will mark his entry into what is undoubtedly one of the deepest divisions under the UFC banner.
The 155-pound fold has grown to become a deep well of talent over the past several years, and Poirier is eager to get to work in the new division he now calls home.
“It wasn’t that I was tired of anything because I can still make the weight,” Poirier said. “It was just too taxing on my body. It’s not worth draining my body down that much because I’m trying to have longevity in this sport. I want to be healthy and happy. I feel a lot better at this weight. I’m stronger, faster, more explosive…everything is better. I’m enjoying training camps again and that’s important.
“It’s not about who is the biggest in the cage on fight night,” he added. “It’s about who is the better fighter. That’s what I’m going to do…I’m going to be the better fighter. I’m happy and you have to enjoy this, man. This is the kind of job you have to love and enjoy to be great at and you’re going to see greatness on Saturday.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
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