Dustin Poirier is in the bottom nine of his splendid UFC career. In fact, he may be heading to the clubhouse very soon.
The 35-year-old will be the challenger for Islam Makhachev's UFC Lightweight Championship on June 1 at UFC 302 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
It is the third time that Poirier fights for an undisputed title. He lost each of the previous two.
Poirier lost to Charles Oliveira at UFC 269 via submission on December 11, 2021 in Las Vegas, just over two years after Khabib Nurmagomedov won UFC 242 the same way.
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Dustin Poirier poses on the scale during the UFC 299 ceremonial weigh-in at Kaseya Center on March 8, 2024 in Miami. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
The Lafayette, Louisiana native knows this is his last chance to finally win a belt.
“I know this is my chance, I won't get another one,” Porier said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.
At the time, Porier said he would “probably retire right there” if he won a potential championship fight against Makhachev. He wasn't sure what would happen with a loss, and he still is.
“I want to retire from the sport, I don't want the sport to retire me,” Poirier told us at the time.
However, this will be his 40th fight as a professional and he admits it “could be” his last fight, win or lose.
“I have to see how I feel there,” he says.
Well, so far, with about three weeks until fight night, he says he's “right where I need to be.”
Dustin Poirier reacts after his victory against Benoit Saint Denis of France in a lightweight fight during the UFC 299 event at the Kaseya Center on March 9, 2024 in Miami. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
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“We're getting over the hump of crazy, crazy hard work and dangerous things. Now it's starting to get more fluid, I'm starting to focus on the weight, making sure I feel good before fight week, shooting forward.” full throttle, a lot of reps, a lot of technical training,” Poirier said.
Poirier was the underdog in his fight at UFC 299 against Benoit Saint-Denis, but he scored a big win. It is very likely that he extended his career, as he had lost two of his previous three fights.
That gave him a little confidence, but it doesn't seem like Poirier needed much of that.
“I'm grateful, man. I try to keep that mentality no matter what fight is coming up and stuff like that. Growing up, my mentality has changed over the years. I wake up with gratitude every day, but having this big fight going on the horizon, adds more fuel to the fire. I wake up motivated. I've been fighting for a long time.
“I'm 35 years old, this is my third shot at the undisputed UFC world title. Like I said, man, gratitude. I'm just grateful to be in the position I'm in and to work hard and persevere all these years. To climb again and again through these young killers in this young division. To get to the top of the mountain and have the opportunity to put your hands in the air and be the undisputed world champion, the best in the world, that is in. “The only thing I'm focused on, man, is just doing my best at night.”
Dustin Poirier reacts after his victory against Benoit Saint Denis of France in a lightweight bout during the UFC 299 event at the Kaseya Center on March 9, 2024 in Miami. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
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He added: “I know I can beat anyone in the world. I know this guy I'm facing is the pound-for-pound number one. He's in a tough, tough stylistic matchup for me… But I think my whole career “I has prepared for tonight. “Everything happened the way it's supposed to happen for me to come in and fight for the world title on June 1.”
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