Dustin Poirier shuts down retirement talk and names seven potential opponents for next UFC fight
Dustin Poirier has confirmed he plans to continue his MMA career.
‘The Diamond’ suggested he could retire from the sport in the immediate aftermath of his submission loss to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 in May.
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Since then, Poirier has refused to make a definitive statement one way or the other.
Now he’s claimed he cannot leave the sport on the back of a defeat and will therefore return to the UFC Octagon at least one more time.
Poirier told : “After the Islam fight, when I got back home, I thought, ‘Maybe this is it?’
";A few weeks went by, injuries started hurting less and less post-fight, and I was like, ‘I’ve got to do this again.’
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“I’ve never lost two in a row. I can’t leave this sport on a loss.”
Nate Diaz has been touted as a potential opponent for Poirier, but he doubts Dana White and co. would be willing to bring the California native back to the UFC.
He added: "A lot of fans don’t know, behind the scenes he’s such a struggle to deal with that I think they just don’t want to do it anymore.”
“But if it came around, if that was something that was a reality, I 100 per cent would take the fight right now, sign a contract today.
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“And Nate knows that because I’ve done it a few times.”
UFC commentator Anik proceeded to reel off a list of seven names that he thinks make sense for Poirier and asked him if one of them would be next.
Heartwarming footage shows Khabib Nurmagomedov picking Dustin Poirier up off the floor following loss to his protégé Islam Makhachev who choked Poirier out
Anik said: “Do you believe that your next opponent will come out of this batch of names? Nate Diaz, Conor McGregor, Alexander Volkanovski, Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, and Colby Covington.”
“100 per cent,” Poirier responded.
“For sure. If I do fight again and when I do fight again, it will be definitely one of those guys you just said.”
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