Dustin Poirier has an enormous choice to make relating to his future after one other heartbreaking loss in his third try at turning into undisputed champion at UFC 302.
Regardless of a valiant effort, the 35-year-old Louisiana native finally got here up quick in his combat in opposition to Islam Makhachev, succumbing to a late D’arce choke submission that ended his night time. Poirier admitted days earlier than the combat that it’d be powerful to think about a state of affairs the place he may lose after which earn his approach again to a different title shot, so he deliberate to take advantage of this newest alternative.
Sadly, Poirier nonetheless got here up quick in his newest try at turning into undisputed UFC champion, and that left him considering whether or not it might be time to stroll away.
“I used to be combating to be the world champion,” Poirier mentioned on the UFC 302 post-fight press convention. “Like, what else am I combating for? Simply to combat for the joys? As a result of I’m hooked on it, little question. For the cash? Me and my household are good, I don’t want the cash. Cash’s nice however my well being is first. What am I combating for? To be the champion once more. Will I ever get that shot even when I am going on a streak? I don’t know. But it surely’s such a tricky mountain to climb that I’ve climbed so many occasions.
“I’m 35 and I see folks and listen to folks say, ‘That’s not outdated.’ However I’ve 50 fights. I’ve been combating since I used to be 17 years outdated. I fought my first cage-fight after I was 18. I’ve 10 fights that aren’t on my file. I’ve been in a bunch of battles. At a while, that is going to catch as much as me. Clearly, I simply fought the pound-for-pound No. 1 man, and each time I acquired off the stool, I felt like I used to be going to win this combat. I keep in mind considering getting off the stool, ‘I’m going to be the world champion tonight.’ I felt it. So I’ve simply acquired to see.”
So far as the combat itself, Poirier detailed his largest battle in opposition to Makhachev, and it actually didn’t come all the way down to the wrestling, which was the Russian’s main weapon in opposition to him.
Whereas he did spend numerous time on the canvas with Makhachev making an attempt to complete him — together with the ultimate sequence resulting in the D’arce choke submission — Poirier was really pleased with the enhancements he made in that a part of his recreation.
As a substitute, Poirier factors to a power that Makhachev and his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov each possess.
“Truthfully, much like Khabib, his motion is basically unusual,” Poirier mentioned of Makhachev. “The timing of it’s actually unusual, to get his cadence. I needed to open up extra and throw extra quantity, however when he would decide to the pocket, he would exit bizarre. His dips along with his head, I heard my nook telling me throw the knee the entire time, however I simply felt like I’d get taken down off of it.
“His motion is form of awkward, it’s a bizarre timing, so I couldn’t get mixtures going. All the things else was what I anticipated.”
With the loss, Poirier now finds himself again at sq. one once more, and he’s simply not sure he’s going to have the ability to stick round lengthy sufficient to earn one other shot a UFC gold.
There’s part of him that is aware of it’s doable, however then Poirier begins occupied with his spouse and daughter, who must say goodbye to him for months at a time when he’s gone throughout coaching camp. He is aware of if the choice was as much as them, he’d retire instantly, however Poirier is finally the one who has to make that decision.
“I do know the reply — they need me to cease,” Poirier mentioned of his household. “However I do know I can nonetheless compete with these guys. I’ve simply acquired to determine what I’m combating for.
“I beat a younger man final trip. I simply competed with the No. 1 pound-for-pound man and I felt good doing it till the top. I’ve simply acquired to see. I can nonetheless compete, however I don’t need the game to retire me and squeeze me out. I don’t wish to be a kind of guys hanging on. I simply honor and respect this an excessive amount of. We’ll see. I don’t know, however this could possibly be my final combat.”
Maybe the hardest tablet to swallow for Poirier is realizing that if he received on Saturday, his retirement was virtually actually imminent.
As a substitute, the loss leaves him eager for extra, however he simply can’t say how way more he has left to offer.
“That’s the issue — tonight, if I’d have received that belt, I’d be content material with every thing I’ve finished within the sport,” Poirier mentioned. “I didn’t get the final word purpose. The rationale I began combating was to be the world champion, undisputed, and I didn’t get it.
“This could possibly be my final combat. I don’t know. I’ve simply acquired to get house and see what I’m combating for.”
