After losing his rematch with Justin Gaethje at UFC 291, former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier is unsure of his next move, but expresses interest in a potential fight with Nate Diaz while ruling out a move up to welterweight.
Dustin Poirier, a renowned figure in mixed martial arts, is looking forward to his next endeavor and expresses his eagerness to fight with Nate Diaz. After a disappointing loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 291, owing to a head kick knockout in the second round, Poirier is grappling with the question of his next move in the field. As the former interim lightweight champion, he feels uneasy about the uncertainty of his future in the sport.
Poirier opens up about his fluctuating feelings about the sport during an interview with ‘The MMA Hour’. He admits his love for the sport and also reveals how it sometimes becomes a shadow in his personal life because of the demands and dedication it requires. To keep his performance and commitment at an optimum level, Poirier points out that he has to resort to a certain level of selfishness, isolating himself from family and social events. Despite the conflicts, he proclaims himself to be ‘Mr. Bounce Back’ who doesn’t believe in giving up after a mere loss or two. In his eyes, each fight has to mean something more than just a match; it should be a legacy fight.
Poirier contemplates the idea of moving up to welterweight class as suggested by a few of his fans. Other lightweight fighters like Rafael dos Anjos and Gilbert Burns opted for this shift previously. However, Poirier dismisses it as a choice for himself. He argues that although it might seem feasible considering his current weight outside of the camp, he is not as bulky for a lightweight champion as people presume him to be. Rather, he is more comfortable in his lightweight category and sees no reason to switch.
Nate Diaz has recently made headlines as the other MMA fighter who also lost in the BMF title fight. Poirier views him as a possible opponent in his next fight. The two have a history together, and a previously planned bout between them had to be shelved. The focus is currently on Nate Diaz’s boxing match with Jake Paul scheduled for Aug. 5 in Dallas. Although Poirier supports Diaz, he is skeptical of his chances of winning. Poirier argues that Jake, being young and strong might take the game away, as it only takes one good shot. However, he also admits Nate is known for his stamina so the fight could go either way. Poirier also expresses his willingness to welcome Diaz back to the UFC ring if things do pan out as speculated.