Without fighting, former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier believes his life would have played out much differently — and not in a good way.
Poirier has long been one of the promotion's leading fan favorites and has completed close to everything across a lengthy career inside the cage. One box, however, remains unchecked.
While "The Diamond" has held interim gold on MMA's biggest stage, he's yet to reach the undisputed throne. To date, Poirier has failed to secure the crown in two opportunities, falling via submission to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019 and Charles Oliveira in 2021.
The UFC 302 pay-per-view event this weekend in Newark presents a fresh — and potentially final — shot for the Louisianan, who is set to battle reigning lightweight Islam Makhachev in the main event.
Ahead of the clash, Poirier has been open about the possibility of this assignment being his last, win or lose. And in reflecting on his career during fight week, the 35-year-old has acknowledged the important part that fighting has played in saving him from some rough avenues...
During a recent interview with ESPN MMA's Andreas Hale, Poirier reflected on his storied tenure as a mixed martial artist as he approaches his potential swansong at Prudential Center.
"The Diamond" outlined the positive impact that fighting has had on his life as a whole, noting that it's paved the way for his entry into the business world and even saved him from some grim possibilities.
I've found who I am through fighting. My life has been moulded, in some way or another, by fighting," Poirier said. "Everything I have is from fighting. Everything me and my family have, the businesses I own, the things we run; everything I have is anchored into fighting somehow got me there, got me into the room, or business meetings, or tables with these people I would have never had the opportunity to sit across from and talk to.
It's all because of fighting. Fighting has opened these doors for me," Poirier continued. "To be honest, I could be dead or in jail if I never found fighting. When I was 17 years old, I wasn't doing the right things. I've learned a lot of lessons about myself, about business, about life through fighting. I'm proud of that.
With that in mind, Poirier has been vocal in stating that he will be satisfied and proud of his accomplishments even if his career concludes without an undisputed title crowning.
That's not to say he isn't still in hot pursuit of the mountaintop, however, and he'll look to upset the odds on Saturday night to reach the peak at the expense of Makhachev in New Jersey.
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