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Nicolas Atkin

Dustin Poirier has hinted he could retire following his crushing defeat by Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi.
“The Diamond” (25-6, 1 no contest) raised questions about his future in a forlorn social media post on Sunday morning, with his face bandaged and bruised.
“Thank you guys for the support, it means a lot to me,” he said in the video. “If I choose to fight again, I’ll be back strong. If not I’ll see what God has in store for me.”
An emotional Poirier broke down in tears several times at the post-event press conference inside The Arena on Yas Island.

In a surprising social media post, Dustin Poirier has raised questions around his fighting future following his loss to Khabib. #UFC242 pic.twitter.com/PPRB7SxGhk
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) September 8, 2019

“This is my 41st fight tonight. I’m only 30 years old. I’ve just been through so much in my fighting career. I don’t know what’s next. This last week of training camp, I thought the stars were aligning, I thought this was destiny,” he said.
“I don’t want to just keep crying up here in front of you guys, but this just means a lot to me. To have a performance like that, in the moment ... I’ve lost before, but these questions will haunt me. Could I have stopped some of those takedowns? Could I have done more with my under hooks?”
Dustin Poirier slams ‘sell out’ Colby Covington for Jorge Masvidal trash talk
Poirier said he thought he would start outpacing Khabib later in the fight. “I was just waiting for each round,” he said. “But he’s so balanced in his weight distribution against the fence. I’ve fought guys stronger than him and balance wise and skill wise he was really good.”
“The guy’s good man, he’s the world champ,” he said. “Maybe I could have done more. Hindsight is 20/20. I was prepared to fight 25 minutes. He did exactly what I thought.
“I’m gonna beat myself up. I’m the only one who has to deal with these questions. I’m gonna have to live with this the rest of my life. I thought for sure he was winning rounds, but I felt he was getting a little weaker. I thought later the third, fourth and fifth would be my rounds.”


Poirier did appear to crack Khabib with a couple of shorts in the second round and had him in trouble with a guillotine attempt, which even Khabib admitted was “very close”.
“I saw his legs go. But I had trouble landing my shots, I was throwing looping shots, not being slick and setting up combinations,” he said. “I was worried about his takedowns. He has a good poker face, he does a really job of hiding when he’s hurt. He circled well. I didn’t go crazy like I usually do, I just didn’t do enough and I have to live with it.”
“The guillotine was really deep,” he said. “For the rest of my life I’m gonna wonder why I didn’t jump full guard with it. I don’t know why I went across the stomach with the right leg. I sound like I have a lot of excuses. I was just so prepared, this one really hurts,” he said, tears welling in his eyes and his voice cracking.

A reporter told him UFC president Dana White had promised to personally match any sum raised by Khabib for Poirier’s charity, the Good Fight Foundation. The Russian had swapped T-shirts with Poirier for his post-fight interview in the octagon and promised to auction it off to his social media followers.
“That’s great because it’s gonna help a lot of people,” Poirier said. “We’re building a water well in Uganda. I’m sure with the memorabilia sold, we’re gonna reach the goal. I’m proud of that but I wanted to leave tonight the world champ and I just let myself down, I appreciate them for helping with the charity, I’m very grateful for that.”
“I have a lot of good things going, just trying to help as many people as I can with these fights,” he said. “I’ve built a pretty good life for me and my family through this, I’m just trying to do as much as I can with it.”


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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

UFC 242: Dustin Poirier suggests he could retire after Khabib Nurmagomedov loss

Khabib Nurmagomedov tries to choke Dustin Poirier at UFC 242. Photo: Reuters

Russian UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov, left, fights with UFC fighter Dustin Poirier, of Lafayette, La., during Lightweight title mixed martial arts bout at UFC 242, in Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday , Sept.7 2019. (AP Photo/ Mahmoud Khaled)

UFC 242: Dustin Poirier slams ‘sell out’ Colby Covington for Jorge Masvidal trash talk

Dustin Poirier grapples with Khabib Nurmagomedov. Photo: Reuters

MMA - UFC 242 - Khabib Nurmagomedov v Dustin Poirier - Men's UFC Lightweight title - Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - September 7, 2019 Dustin Poirier in action against Khabib Nurmagomedov REUTERS/Christopher Pike

UFC 242: Khabib Nurmagomedov mauls Dustin Poirier to retain his lightweight title in Abu Dhabi

Khabib Nurmagomedov applies a neck crank to Dustin Poirier. Photo: AP

MMA - UFC 242 - Curtis Blaydes v Shamil Abdurakhimov - Men's Heavyweight - Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - September 7, 2019 Curtis Blaydes in action against Shamil Abdurakhimov REUTERS/Christopher Pike

Russian UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov, top, fights with UFC fighter Dustin Poirier, of Lafayette, La., during Lightweight title mixed martial arts bout at UFC 242, in Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday , Sept.7 2019. (AP Photo/ Mahmoud Khaled)

MMA - UFC 242 - Khabib Nurmagomedov v Dustin Poirier - Men's UFC Lightweight title - Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - September 7, 2019 Khabib Nurmagomedov in action against Dustin Poirier REUTERS/Christopher Pike

MMA - UFC 242 - Edson Barboza v Paul Felder - Men's Lightweight - Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - September 7, 2019 Edson Barboza in action against Paul Felder REUTERS/Christopher Pike

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Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


‘The Diamond’ hints at imminent retirement in emotional social media video
Poirier says defeat by lightweight champion will haunt him for rest of his life



‘The Diamond’ hints at imminent retirement in emotional social media video, after saying defeat by lightweight champion will haunt him for rest of his life.


UFC 242: Dustin Poirier suggests he could retire after Khabib Nurmagomedov loss

‘The Diamond’ hints at imminent retirement in emotional social media video Poirier says defeat by lightweight champion will haunt him for rest of his life

‘The Diamond’ hints at imminent retirement in emotional social media video

Poirier says defeat by lightweight champion will haunt him for rest of his life