- Dustin Poirier opened up about his BMF title fight defeat to Just Gaethje at UFC 291
- “The Diamond” is not sure about what he wants to do next
Dustin Poirier is not letting his BMF title fight KO loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 291 consume him as he still knows he is one of the greatest lightweights of all time. However, he is not sure if he has the right amount of motivation to look forward to a trilogy match with “Highlight.”
Lost like a Man
Speaking to reporters in his post-fight presser, “The Diamond” pointed out that losing is part of the fight game and he is taking it the same way he takes his victories – “like a man.”
“It sucks you know, obviously losing sucks but I’ve lost before. I’ve said the same thing before, it’s not cool to be acquainted with these feelings but I’ve been here before you know, but man, the career I’ve had and the fights I’ve had and where I come from, I feel like I’ve already won you know so I’m just taking it minute by minute right now. But I’m good. I’m good. If I win like a man, I gotta be able to lose like a man,” Poirier explained.
Trilogy on the ping pong table!? 🏓@Justin_Gaethje and @DustinPoirier link up backstage after #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/iZ7LCOIMUv
— UFC (@ufc) July 30, 2023
Dustin needs motivation
It can be recalled that Poirier knocked Gaethje out in their first match in 2018. However, “The Diamond” admitted he is not that excited about a possible trilogy match. In fact, Poirier emphasized that the only thing that motivated him to take the fight was the idea of being the next title challenger and the thrill of possibly getting knocked out.
“We’ll see man we’re one and one, we knocked each other out. We’ll see,” Poirier said of third fight with Gaethje.
“Honestly, no [I’m not excited about another fight with Gaethje or any top lightweight] even this one like before this one, when they offered me Beneil, I was just like, ‘Ah, I’m not that excited about it,’” he added. “But when this one came it got me scared and nervous because what just happened could happen. That’s what kept me waking up every morning ready to bust my a** and I knew not only the excitement of the fight the danger of the fight that would motivate me… We’re number two and three, the number one, it already beat us and he’s not fighting for the title again, so how much higher on the ladder can I go so I went over to him, I thought it would have been a lock to get the title shot so we’ll see man. I don’t know.”
There’s a great chance Gaethje, the new BMF will be competing for the title next. Things are about to get even more interesting as reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is already set to defend his belt against Charles Oliveira at UFC 294.
As for Poirier, he is not calling it a career yet but he would just be waiting for what lies ahead of him.
