Dustin Poirier, a seasoned name in the mixed martial arts world, currently navigates uncharted waters in his career, facing a unique situation that has his next UFC fight up in the air.
‘The Diamond’ boasts an impressive record, securing victories over notable figures in the lightweight division such as Anthony Pettis, Eddie Alvarez, Justin Gaethje, ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler, and Conor McGregor twice. Despite these accomplishments, Poirier finds himself in a state of limbo after falling short in two attempts to clinch UFC gold. Now, he patiently awaits developments in the division, biding his time before making his next move.
UFC Lightweight Dustin Poirier Next Fight?
“I’m in a weird spot,” Poirier shared with MMA Junkie. “It’s my first time in this position in my whole career where I’m still at the top but waiting for something big to happen. I’ve always just fought to climb and claw my way up to the top to get big fights, and now I’m here, but I’m also running businesses outside of fighting.
In addition to his fighting career, Poirier has ventured into entrepreneurship, with a wine market in Louisiana and a hot sauce company. Balancing these endeavors with his responsibilities to The Good Fight foundation in Louisiana keeps him occupied outside the cage.
“My wife and I are always setting goals and working with the foundation we have, The Good Fight back in Louisiana. Really busy outside the cage, but waiting for something big.”
Poirier’s most recent Octagon appearance took place at UFC 291 in July, where he headlined against Justin Gaethje. Although Poirier secured a fourth-round knockout in their initial encounter, this time, ‘The Highlight’ emerged victorious with a spectacular head kick KO in the second round.
Reflecting on his current situation, Poirier acknowledged a similar feeling before accepting the Gaethje fight.
What’s Next?
“I was kind of in this position before I took this last Gaethje fight,” Poirier continued. “When they called and said Gaethje, it got me nervous. It got me excited to fight. When I hear a name that does that to me, then I’ll know. When they call with an offer and I hear that name and I feel that feeling, then that’s going to be the one. I just don’t know [who]. I haven’t heard it yet.”
Recent rumors hint at a potential return for Dustin Poirier at UFC 300, a significant milestone event for the promotion. Despite the allure of featuring on such a historic card, Poirier emphasizes the importance of the right opponent over the event itself.
“I’m not gonna be here for UFC 400,” Poirier clarified. “I didn’t fight on UFC 200. It would be a big moment in my career and a huge night for me in the history books, but we’ll see what happens. The opponent needs to be right more than the event. Everything just needs to be right.”
In this phase of uncertainty, Dustin Poirier remains a force to be reckoned with, both inside and outside the cage, poised for the next significant chapter in his storied career.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
