“I Really Want to Leave a Legacy” – Dustin Poirier Comments on What’s Next for Him in the UFC

Dustin Poirier has ascended in the UFC Lightweight rankings. In the last 2 months, he leapfrogged the retired Conor McGregor as well as Tony Ferguson to occupy the second spot. He achieved this on the back of a fight of the year candidate performance at the final UFC Apex event before the promotion headed to Abu Dhabi. 

The fight took a lot out of ‘The Diamond’ who entered the cage for the first time since dropping the Interim Title to Khabib Nurmagomedov. 

Now, almost 4 and a half weeks since his war that saw Twitter go insane, Poirier is keen on signing on to fights that mean something in the few years he has left before walking away. Here In a chat Jim Rome on ‘The Jim Rome Show’, he shared details about life away from his fighting career. This includes spending time with his family and playing with his daughter. 

Dustin Poirier wants a big-name fight

‘The Diamond’ said, “I’m not sure what the options will be when the UFC comes back and starts sitting at the table to make these matches. It needs to be a really big name or a title fight.” 

As per the rankings, the fighter is in the prime slot to face the winner of the Khabib-Gaethje fight. He has competed for the title just once in a professional career which began in his home state in 2009. He has 33 fights under his belt and has spent 11 years competing for a purse. 

Poirier said, “I’ve been doing this for 10 years in the UFC, and I still love fighting, but I want these fights to mean more than just a fight. I don’t want it to just be about a show and win purse. I want it to really mean something, and I know I’m in the back nine of my career.”

Given that the fighter knows his physical condition, it is understandable that he only wants to fight the biggest names. This is because these are the names that will push him to be the best version of himself. Furthermore, the biggest names in the lightweight division will all be big draws thereby increasing his earnings per fight. 

‘The Diamond’ said, “I’ve been fighting for a while. I have 40 fights, and I want these last four or five years to really mean something every time I get into the octagon. Not only for me and my family. But for the goals that I’m trying to bring awareness to and raise money for and for my career. I really want to leave a legacy.”

What do you make of Dustin Poirier’s comments? Who do you see him picking as a name worthy of competing against to enhance his legacy?