Dustin Poirier Accepts Reality of Multiple Title Fight Failures: “That’s My Story”

Dustin Poirier talks about his career and losing out on winning the UFC lightweight belt ahead of his swansong.

Dustin Poirier Accepts Reality of Multiple Title Fight Failures: “That’s My Story”

Dustin Poirier shares his experience of losing three title fights (via X)

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Dustin Poirier is set to make his final walk to the Octagon at UFC 318 in a highly anticipated trilogy bout against Max Holloway. After nearly 14 years of thrilling performances, ‘The Diamond’ will hang up his gloves, capping off a career defined by grit, heart, and unforgettable battles. Though the Louisiana native earned widespread respect and came close on multiple occasions, he will retire without ever claiming an undisputed UFC title, which is a surprising footnote in an otherwise legendary career.

Still, his legacy as one of the most respected fighters in MMA history is firmly cemented. For the unversed, Poirier has fought for the UFC lightweight title on three separate occasions. However, he came up short in all those fights and never touched undisputed gold despite being a former interim 155lbs kingpin.

Less than a week out from his retirement bout, Poirier appeared in a New York Post interview discussing his final fight against Holloway. Reflecting on his Hall of Fame-worthy career, Poirier openly admitted to having a feeling of disappointment for repeatedly falling short of capturing the strap and rising to the occasion when it mattered most.

I did everything I could to become undisputed champion. I put myself in positions multiple times to get my hand raised and win that belt, and just fell short. Just got beat by really good guys, made mistakes, and it is what it is. That’s life, that’s my story. I wouldn’t change anything. I’m proud of the work that I have put in.

Dustin Poirier via New York Post

Poirier’s first undisputed shot happened in 2019 at UFC 242 when he fought Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight championship. During the fight, Poirier got overwhelmed by Nurmagomedov’s dominant wrestling skills and was submitted in the third round. His second opportunity arrived against Charles Oliveira at UFC 269, where he was again submitted via a rear-naked choke by the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist.

At UFC 291, Poirier failed to capture the BMF title against Justin Gaethje but bounced back after knocking out Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299 to earn his third and final title shot. The Louisiana native then challenged Islam Makhachev for the 155-pound strap at UFC 302.

Although considered an underdog, ‘The Diamond’ impressed fans by putting on an incredibly competitive and entertaining performance throughout. Unfortunately, after four thrilling rounds, Poirier was ultimately submitted by Makhachev, marking his third unsuccessful attempt at the championship.

UFC veteran believes Dustin Poirier shouldn’t have announced his retirement

After losing to Makhachev, Dustin Poirier admitted feeling uncertain about his future and seriously considered retiring from fighting. During multiple interviews, Poirier openly expressed being on the fence, unsure whether continuing his UFC career was the right decision, as he did have hope for fighting for gold again. Eventually, Poirier reignited his competitive spirit, deciding to return for one last electrifying bout against Max Holloway at UFC 318 in his hometown.

Dustin Poirier's retirement after the fight with Max Holloway
Dustin Poirier’s retirement after the fight with Max Holloway (via X)

Initially, Poirier wanted a fight against former featherweight king and current lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, but UFC management declined his preferred matchup. In a recent interview, UFC veteran Eddie Alvarez spoke to The Schmo, sharing concerns regarding Poirier’s retirement situation. Alvarez explained how not announcing his retirement could negatively impact Poirier’s mindset, potentially affecting his performance.

Personally, I don’t like when a guy says, ‘I’m done. I’m retiring,’ and then goes and proceeds to fight. I don’t like that. Poirier has been contemplating retirement since the Conor McGregor trilogy fight in 2021 and confirmed his next fight would be his last one after losing to Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 last summer. I’ve never actually seen it go well for someone who announces they’re going to retire, goes out there, puts on the performance of a lifetime, and then walks off into the sunset. Rarely do you see that. I don’t love that this is the situation we’re going into.

Eddie Alvarez via The Schmo

According to ‘The Underground King,’ Poirier should have quietly retired after his last fight, avoiding unnecessary discussions about future matchups. Meanwhile, fans criticized UFC president Dana White for booking Poirier’s farewell fight on a relatively underwhelming and less exciting card. Despite controversy, Poirier remains the fan-favorite, making everyone curious if he can end his illustrious career with a victorious farewell performance.

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