Dustin Poirier isn’t retiring simply but, be he’s leaning that method.
Earlier this month, Poirier challenged Islam Makhachev for the light-weight title at UFC 302, dropping by fifth-round submission. It was Poirier’s third probability at undisputed gold, and at 35 years outdated, “The Diamond” is much faraway from one other title shot anytime quickly. As such, after the struggle Poirier hinted at retirement, and given a number of weeks to digest the end result, the Louisiana native continues to be considering that is perhaps it for him.
“I nonetheless don’t know,” Poirier mentioned Monday on The MMA Hour. “I can’t say I’ll by no means struggle once more, however I simply don’t know the rationale. What am I going to struggle for? To get right into a battle? I really like that, however I’ve taken some lumps over time. It needs to be for one thing. And perhaps that’s one thing I’ll understand within the coming weeks, however I’m simply taking it in the future at a time.
“I’m leaning in direction of being executed. For certain. Particularly with getting the title struggle, what number of extra occasions would I have to struggle to place myself again in place to struggle for the world title? I don’t know. And like I mentioned, I’m not going to do it once more, I’m not going to struggle 5 extra occasions to attempt to earn one other title shot. I’m in a bizarre spot and I don’t know tips on how to clarify it or what determination to make. I’m simply taking it daily and seeing what comes with my thoughts altering and simply to see how I really feel.”
Although he finally fell quick towards Makhachev, Poirier nonetheless proved he’s probably the greatest lightweights on the earth, giving the champion and prime pound-for-pound fighter within the sport all he may deal with for practically 5 rounds. And as he thinks about that, Poirier says that’s the most important motive he can’t decide to retiring simply but: As a result of he is aware of how good he nonetheless is.
“The one factor that makes me not wish to stroll away is as a result of I do know I can nonetheless compete with these guys and I really feel like I’m nonetheless getting higher,” Poirier mentioned. “It’s not like I’m slowing down that a lot or age is catching up with me. My response time continues to be good, I really feel good, and I do know I can beat these guys. And say I do depart, a yr from now, it may not be the identical if I ever attempt to come again. I’m scared to overlook what I’ve left to offer, but in addition I don’t wish to give an excessive amount of of myself. … I wish to give extra as a result of I do know that I’ve a brief window to offer the perfect of myself, but in addition I’ve given a lot of myself to the game for thus lengthy, it’s simply, the place do I draw the road? That’s a battle I’ve to determine with myself.”
Finally, whether or not or not Poirier retires seems to return down merely to how he feels when the time comes, as a result of Poirier acknowledges that whereas nothing pursuits him in the mean time, an precise struggle supply may change issues.
“Speaking about these issues shouldn’t be thrilling to me, but when my cellphone rang proper now and it was Hunter [Campbell] and he mentioned, ‘This struggle,’ I’ve acquired to see how I really feel when it’s supplied to me,” Poirier mentioned. “That’s how I do know what determination to make. Speaking about it, there’s nothing enticing to me.”
If UFC 302 was the final time Poirier ever steps in a cage, “The Diamond” seems to be at peace with how his profession ended.
“In fact I’m not pleased with the outcome, however I’m pleased with who I’m,” Poirier mentioned. “What’s extra vital, what you purchase on the journey or who you turn out to be on the journey? And the individual I’ve turn out to be on this journey, I’m perpetually grateful to the struggle recreation for turning me into this individual. As a result of the way in which I take into consideration issues, the way in which I view issues, my perspective is totally totally different, and it’s all due to the ups and downs, choosing myself up. I simply have a look at the world otherwise and I’m grateful for that. I’m in an ideal spot.”
“Every thing occurred the way in which it was purported to occur,” Poirier added. “That’s the factor with my mindset transferring ahead after these previous few fights: I wished to win, I ready myself, I used to be able to win, able to sacrifice all of it, do what I needed to do to get my hand raised, however I misplaced and that’s life. What do I do? I get up the subsequent, choose myself up, be grateful my toes contact the ground, and assault a brand new day. If it’s for me, it gained’t miss me. It wasn’t for me that evening.”
