Dustin Poirier still has fighting on his mind.
“The Diamond” retired this past July at UFC 318 in his home state of Louisiana following a trilogy bout with longtime rival Max Holloway, the culmination of a 41-fight career that saw Poirier become one of the most beloved fighters in MMA history and a one-time interim lightweight champion.
At the time, Poirier appeared to be content with his decision, but he tweeted Saturday evening that his love of the game is as strong as ever.
“Every day, the moment my eyes open,” Poirier wrote in response to a commenter asking if he missed fighting. “I’ve done it for two decades, dedicated my life to it.
“A part of me has died.”
Poirier, 36, took his first pro bout in 2009 and compiled a 7-0 record before joining the WEC and later the UFC, where he quickly rose through the featherweight ranks. Though he never fought for a title in that division, he scored several notable victories, including a first-round submission of future rival Max Holloway, before turning his attention to lightweight.
It was at 155 pounds that Poirier truly established his legacy. Starting in 2015, he went on a 9-1 (1 NC) run, defeating Holloway again at UFC 236 to win an interim belt before falling to Khabib Nurmagomedov in a championship unification bout at UFC 242. Poirier continued to rack up Fight of the Night awards and Performance of the Night bonuses after that and also scored a pair of high-profile wins over Conor McGregor.
Poirier also responded to several messages from fans yesterday, letting them know how much he misses making that walk to the octagon.
Subscribe to my channel
