Dustin Poirier is still undecided about his fighting future and won’t have a decision on his potential UFC retirement for another 30 days.
The long-time UFC veteran has been seriously mulling over retirement since his recent title fight loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 this past June. Poirier fought much better than most people predicted and even gave himself a chance to win the fight, but a fifth-round submission by Makhachev left Poirier with another failed attempt at undisputed UFC gold.
Now 0-3 in official UFC title fights, Poirier doesn’t know how much longer he can keep it up. “Diamond” is still operating at a high level and remains one of the promotion’s biggest draws, but there’s still a really good chance he walks away from the sport for good.
“Me and my wife kind of said when we get back from vacation we will – cause obviously you’re drinking and eating whatever you want on vacation – we’ll clean it up, go 30 days, August, and make a decision after that,” Poirier told MMA Junkie. “Get in shape, see how I feel. We’ll see, man. I don’t know. … I need to make a solid decision so I can get out of the limbo, because I’m still kind of like fighting myself every day. Not sure what I’m doing.”
Poirier, 35, has been down this road before only to continue his career and push towards another title shot. He has never lost two fights in a row throughout his entire 40-fight career, but nothing is certain in this sport and that is what Poirier is struggling with internally.
“Inside of me it’s like I’m battling it,” Poirier said. “I feel like I can’t leave. I can’t walk away. I know I still can do it. I know I can beat these guys. It’s like an internal struggle. It’s a battle for sure. I want to fight. But we’ll see.
“Nothing is guaranteed here. I don’t know what kind of battle I’m going to be in if I lose two-in-a-row. I’ve never lost two in a row. Nothing is guaranteed in this. If I do walk away I definitely want to walk away on a high note and a win. I don’t want to walk away on an L.”
Luckily for “Diamond,” a potential injury to Makhachev could sideline the champion for the remainder of 2024. That would open up an interim title fight in the 155-pound division, which Poirier would be happy to take opposite surging contender Arman Tsarukyan.
“Yeah for sure (an interim title with Tsarukyan) interests me,” said Poirier. “I wonder what they’re going to do with that. Is Arman going to continue to wait for Islam? I don’t know when Islam is going to be back. I saw a thing that he might have to have surgery. We’ll see. The lightweight division has been so crazy over these past years.”
What do you think, Maniacs? Do we see Poirier inside the Octagon again? Will it be for another UFC title shot?
Sound off!