Dustin Poirier is gearing up for a career-defining bout against Islam Makhachev in the main event of UFC 302, which could determine his legacy in the sport, reported by APnews. With 30 MMA victories under his belt, Poirier is eyeing one more shot at the UFC lightweight championship. This match, set for Saturday at the Prudential Center in New Jersey, will be his third attempt to clinch the undisputed title.
At 35, Poirier is at a crossroads. The Louisiana native is contemplating retirement, driven by a desire to spend more time with his family — his wife and their daughter, who is about to turn eight. Poirier’s career has been marked by his genteel nature and active charity work, earning him respect in an industry often dominated by more abrasive personalities. Even his opponent, Makhachev, has urged Poirier to reconsider hanging up his gloves.
What Dustin Poirier said
“My wife’s I’m sure tired of me being gone and being in training camp and being stressed out about another fight,” Poirier said. “I’m tired of missing soccer practices, cheer performances, birthday parties. I want to be there for my family and be in a routine.”
Poirier enjoys a fulfilling life outside the cage, with strong family ties, financial security, and a successful hot sauce business that pays homage to his Lafayette roots. Despite this, the pull of the octagon remains strong. “I just can’t get enough,” he admitted. “Even though I think I have my fix, I’m back home, barbecuing, watching football, at my daughter’s soccer game, and I’m like, I’ve got to scratch this itch. I have to fight somebody.”
That somebody is Makhachev, a 32-year-old Russian fighter backed by Khabib Nurmagomedov, who enters the fight with a 13-win streak. Makhachev has expressed his excitement about facing Poirier, saying, “It’s my dream to fight someone like Dustin, a big name in this sport.”
Chasing the Championship
Poirier’s career, though illustrious, has a glaring omission: an undisputed championship. He has come close before, falling short against Charles Oliveira in 2021 and Nurmagomedov in 2019. After each setback, Poirier fought his way back into contention, including notable victories over Conor McGregor. His latest fight, a “Fight of the Night” victory over Benoît Saint-Denis at UFC 299, has set the stage for this crucial encounter with Makhachev.
What's ahead of Dustin Poirier
Poirier has hinted at retirement but remains undecided. “I know it’s big because of where I’m at in my career,” he said. “I’m probably not going to get another shot to climb that ladder. I’m 35. How many shots can you give somebody? How many times can I climb that mountain? I’m trying not to focus on that part of it. Just take it as another fight so I don’t have any added pressure.”
After the fight, Poirier plans to make an “intelligent decision” with input from his family and his team at American Top Team. “It’s feelings-based,” he said. “Do I want to do this again? Because I love it. I’m scared to not be able to have that opportunity to do it again. But dude, how much can I give of myself to this sport?”
Fighting for legacy
Poirier did hold the interim UFC lightweight championship in 2019 after defeating Max Holloway. While he treasures that belt, he longs for the undisputed title. “That’s a huge win,” he said of the interim title. “It’s up there, but it’s not undisputed. What else can I do in this sport? I’m not bragging up here, but I’ve been fighting so long that of my generation, I’ve fought the best guys at 155 pounds in the world. Some of them twice. I’ve done it all and I’ve beaten a lot of them, but I haven’t had the label of undisputed world champion. And that’s the reason I ever put a pair of gloves on when I was 17 years old. It’s to be the best in the world.”
Saturday night’s fight against Makhachev represents Poirier’s final shot at fulfilling his ultimate dream. “It’s about me accomplishing something I told my wife when I was 17 that I was going to do,” he said. “It’s not about business, it’s a personal thing that I think if I can get it done, I can look back, say I’m content, I’m proud of everything I did.”
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