From teen dropout to beating Conor McGregor at UFC 257 in Abu Dhabi: meet MMA hottie Dustin Poirier

Feb 22 , 2021

Dustin Poirier learned to control his anger as a young adult and channel it into UFC. Photo: @dustinpoirier/Instagram

Growing up in Louisiana wasn’t easy for Poirier, who was expelled from school, fought other kids and had few life prospects – until he discovered UFC

Now he’s one of the world’s most successful MMA stars, has an Insta-famous wife and dotes on his daughter Parker Noelle when he’s not in the Octagon

Dustin Poirier was overlooked by many – including his opponent Conor McGregor – ahead of his epic UFC 257 battle in January. But with brutal calf kicks and nonstop punches that scored him a TKO in the second round, all eyes are once again on Poirier as the comeback kid. Victory hasn’t always been easy for him though. Here’s how the 32-year-old fighter went from troubled teen to UFC champ.

His troubled childhood

Poirier was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, USA. When he was just five his parents split, and as he grew older he got involved in more and more high school fights. He was eventually expelled and spent much of his time at juvenile detention and boot camps. He eventually dropped out of school, after finding the education system as being like a “prison”, according to his mother’s account to ESPN earlier this year.

No future

By 16, he was a high school dropout with few apparent prospects to look forward to. However, when he was 18, his life began to turn around as he changed his focus towards professional fighting.

Finding his calling

Dustin Poirier (R) punches Conor McGregor (L) in the lightweight fight during UFC 257 on January 23, 2021 in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Zuffa LLC