We all watched the brutal fight between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje take place at the Delta Centre this Saturday. From the looks of it, Poirier took significant damage and a Knock-out loss as well.
However, the fighter’s spirits are high as ever, and he believes he has “won life.” Continue reading to find out the reason behind his high morale and future plans.
Poirier expressed his disappointment at the UFC 291 post-fight news conference, acknowledging that losing is difficult and that he has experienced it before. Despite the challenging feelings, he believes that his career and past fights have already brought him a sense of victory. He is taking things step by step, recognizing that just as he can win like a man, he must also be able to accept loss like one.
The defeat is disheartening, but he feels a strong pull to continue in the sport, perhaps likening it to needing another “hit” or opportunity to compete again. Nevertheless, he is taking each day and minute as they come. Despite the setback, Poirier finds solace in the fact that he is content with his life. His family is well, and his daughter eagerly awaits his return. He emphasizes that it’s not a funeral-like situation; he already considers himself a winner in life, given his background and achievements.
After performing well in the opening round against Gaethje, Poirier found himself on a positive trajectory until an unexpected kick to the skull turned the tide. This resulted in Gaethje redeeming himself from their previous meeting in the 2018 Fight of the Year, where Poirier had secured a fourth-round TKO victory. Poirier acknowledged that the kick took him by surprise since Gaethje seldom employs that particular technique. He described the moment, stating that he couldn’t anticipate the shot, and although he instinctively tried to defend himself with one hand up, the kick still connected effectively.
Despite the defeat, Poirier maintained his confidence and stated that he remained capable of competing at a high level. He expressed his physical readiness, having gone through a rigorous nine-week training camp where he pushed himself to the limit. He mentioned that the weight cut was the easiest he had experienced, highlighting the effort he invested in preparation. Nonetheless, he humbly admitted that in the world of competitive sports, there are no guarantees, and losing can be disheartening despite all the hard work put in.
Regarding his future plans, Poirier expressed uncertainty and explained that he couldn’t make any firm commitments at the moment. While he found the idea of a trilogy bout with Gaethje intriguing, the potential obstacle is Gaethje’s probable trajectory toward a 155-pound title shot. Gaethje is likely to face the winner of October’s UFC 294 championship match between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira, which may hinder the possibility of an immediate trilogy fight between Poirier and Gaethje. As a result, Poirier’s path forward remains unclear.
So, what are your predictions for Poirier’s future in combat sports? Let us know who you think he’ll fight next!
