Dustin Poirier’s loss at the hands of Charles Oliveira may well signal the end for the lightweight contender. Poirier was laconic at the post-fight press conference, telling reporters that he was “heartbroken” to lose another title challenge.
“It sucks. Worked hard to get back here to fight for another world title. Got choked out again. I’m just heartbroken really.”
Is This the End of Dustin Poirier’s UFC Career?
Last time Dustin Poirier challenged for the lightweight strap, he held the interim belt. In a title unification bout, he went up against the undefeated champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, only to succumb to a rear naked choke. History repeated itself when he fought Charles Oliveira this weekend, tapping to the same submission in only the second round.
Poirier was complimentary of Oliveira’s grappling prowess, and even claimed that he felt that he was winning the fight going into that fateful second round.
“Obviously, I knew his jiu-jitsu was the best, some of the best, the most submissions in UFC history coming into this fight.
That’s kind of the reason I didn’t go crazy trying to sweep and get up that second round. Cause like I said leading into this, I’d rather lose the round than give my back and lose the fight trying to scramble back up. But he ended up getting to my back regardless.
The guy’s good. He’s the champ. Same thing with Khabib. It’s such a small room for error in these kinds of fights. I felt good.
After the first round sitting on my stool, going into the second, I was drinking water and thinking I’m going to be the world champion tonight. Such a crazy thing what we do.”
That “crazy thing” might be in Poirier’s past, however. The 32-year-old fighter has had a long, impressive career, and his bank account is generously proportioned after a pair of fights in 2021 with Conor McGregor, both of which Poirier won via knockout. The Diamond, however, was unsure if he wants to fight for a belt ever again.
“I can do anything I put my mind to. I can fight for another belt. I can go on another streak. I can claw and climb and get back to wherever I want to be. It’s just do I want to? That’s the question I have to look in the mirror and answer.
Do I want to do it again? Do I want to go down that road again? That answer will come in the next couple of days, next couple weeks. Just need to let this pass and see what’s next for me. But if it’s in my heart and that’s what I want to do, I’ll be here again fighting for another world title.”
Do you think we’ll see Poirier fight in the Octagon ever again? Let us know in the comments.
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