UFC veteran Dustin Poirier hinted at retirement after his defeat against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 on June 1.
During an appearance on “The MMA Hour” on Monday, Poirier expressed uncertainty about his future in the sport, stating, “How many more times would I need to fight to put myself back in position to fight for the world title? I don’t know. Like I said, I’m not going to do it again. I’m not going to fight five more times to try to earn another title shot.”
The 35-year-old fighter, unsuccessful in his third bid for the undisputed lightweight title, remains undecided about his next steps. “I’m in a weird spot, and I don’t know how to explain it or what decision to make. I’m just taking it day by day and seeing what comes with my mind changing and just to see how I feel.”
Poirier, who suffered injuries including a broken nose requiring surgery, damaged ribs, and a knee issue during the fight with Makhachev, acknowledged his ongoing struggle with motivation post-match. “I can’t say I’ll never fight again, but I just don’t know the reason. What am I going to fight for? To get into a battle? I love that, but I’ve taken some lumps over the years.”
Reflecting on his career trajectory, Poirier noted, “Every fight for the past few years could have been my final MMA bout.” He admitted he would have retired had he defeated Makhachev, planning to leave his gloves and belt in the Octagon.
Despite the defeat, Poirier emphasized his capability to compete at a high level, stating, “I believe I can still compete with these guys” and feeling he’s “still getting better.”
Poirier highlighted his career consistency, having never lost back-to-back fights, although he hesitated to confirm whether this would motivate a return to the Octagon.
As one of the top contenders in the 155-pound division, Poirier remains a formidable presence in the sport, even following a closely contested bout ending with Makhachev submitting him with a D’Arce choke at 2:42 of the fifth round.
