Dustin Poirier’s UFC 318 main event in July almost turned into the ideal farewell.
While ‘The Diamond’ lost a decision to Max Holloway, he still put on a memorable fight in front of his hometown fans in Louisiana, a state that had not hosted a UFC event in a decade.
Now, several months into retirement, Poirier has spoken openly about how much he misses the sport.
Asked by a fan on social media how much he misses MMA, the 36-year-old responded: “Every day, the moment my eyes open. I’ve done it for two decades, dedicated my life to it… A part of me has died.”
Dustin Poirier comments on possibility of return to fighting
His comments about life after fighting have led some fans to wonder if he might eventually return.
Although the former interim UFC lightweight champion is firm in his decision to step away from the sport, he has not entirely ruled out a future return to competition.
Speaking to MMA Fighting, he said: “My wife and my family really [don’t] want me to continue fighting.
“The way that last fight was, obviously premeditated, we had the time to set things up and do these videos, and display parts of my career that people might have forgot about of when I was a younger fighter, showing clips to the audience and stuff.
“How could I ever – and it was at home in Louisiana – how could I ever do that again? It was such a perfect sendoff, I’d be doing myself a disservice by coming back.
“Never say never, but it would take the perfect circumstances and everything for me to ever put a pair of gloves back on and fight somebody.”
Poirier reveals his one regret from final UFC appearance
During that same conversation, Poirier opened up about the one thing he wishes he could change about how his fighting career ended.
Even after everything he achieved, the feeling of leaving on a loss still lingers. It is a frustration that does not seem to fade, no matter how much time passes.
“Any time I’ve ever lost in my career, I’ve always righted the ship.
“I’ve always put things back in the right direction – and now walking away from this, I know that was it.
“I don’t get a chance to right this ship anymore, I don’t get a chance to put my hands in the air again.”
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