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Dustin Poirier isn’t retiring simply but, be he’s leaning that approach.
Earlier this month, Poirier challenged Islam Makhachev for the light-weight title at UFC 302, shedding by fifth-round submission. It was Poirier’s third likelihood at undisputed gold, and at 35 years outdated, “The Diamond” is way faraway from one other title shot anytime quickly. As such, after the combat Poirier hinted at retirement, and given a number of weeks to digest the end result, the Louisiana native remains to be pondering that could be it for him.
“I nonetheless don’t know,” Poirier stated Monday on The MMA Hour. “I can’t say I’ll by no means combat once more, however I simply don’t know the explanation. What am I going to combat for? To get right into a battle? I really like that, however I’ve taken some lumps over time. It must be for one thing. And perhaps that’s one thing I’ll notice within the coming weeks, however I’m simply taking it sooner or later at a time.
“I’m leaning in direction of being achieved. For certain. Particularly with getting the title combat, what number of extra occasions would I have to combat to place myself again in place to combat for the world title? I don’t know. And like I stated, I’m not going to do it once more, I’m not going to combat 5 extra occasions to attempt to earn one other title shot. I’m in a bizarre spot and I don’t know the way to clarify it or what choice 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 brief towards Makhachev, Poirier nonetheless proved he’s the most effective 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 largest 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 stated. “It’s not like I’m slowing down that a lot or age is catching up with me. My response time remains 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 one of the best of myself, but in addition I’ve given a lot of myself to the game for therefore 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 for the time being, an precise combat provide may change issues.
“Speaking about these issues just isn’t thrilling to me, but when my telephone rang proper now and it was Hunter [Campbell] and he stated, ‘This combat,’ I’ve received to see how I really feel when it’s provided to me,” Poirier stated. “That’s how I do know what choice to make. Speaking about it, there’s nothing engaging 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.
“After all I’m not proud of the outcome, however I’m proud of who I’m,” Poirier stated. “What’s extra necessary, what you purchase on the journey or who you change into on the journey? And the particular person I’ve change into on this journey, I’m perpetually grateful to the combat recreation for turning me into this particular person. As a result of the way in which I take into consideration issues, the way in which I view issues, my perspective is totally completely different, and it’s all due to the ups and downs, choosing myself up. I simply take a look at the world differently and I’m grateful for that. I’m in a terrific spot.”
“Every little thing occurred the way in which it was presupposed to occur,” Poirier added. “That’s the factor with my mindset transferring ahead after these previous few fights: I needed 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 following, choose myself up, be grateful my toes contact the ground, and assault a brand new day. If it’s for me, it received’t miss me. It wasn’t for me that evening.”
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