Earlier this yr, in July at UFC 318, Dustin Poirier formally introduced an finish to his outstanding 14-year profession contained in the Octagon after finishing his trilogy with Max Holloway in entrance of his residence crowd. Though ‘The Diamond’ closed his profession with a loss, his legacy stays one of the vital spectacular in UFC historical past. Past his close to miss with undisputed gold, Poirier constructed a resume stacked with victories over icons like Conor McGregor, Eddie Alvarez, Justin Gaethje, and Dan Hooker.
However greater than his wins, what actually outlined the Louisiana native was his relentless grit and willingness to depart all the things within the cage. Combating wasn’t simply what he did, nevertheless it turned a part of who he was. Now, three months into retirement, Poirier has opened up a couple of heartbreaking realization: life with out the adrenaline and rush of preventing has been removed from straightforward.
Dustin Poirier Admits {That a} A part of Him Has Died After Retiring From MMA
In a latest social media trade, Dustin Poirier opened up in regards to the emotional challenges of adjusting to life after preventing. When requested by a fan how he’s been coping since retirement, ‘The Diamond’ admitted that transitioning to a standard life hasn’t been as straightforward because it may appear.
Months earlier than hanging up his gloves, Poirier had shared his want to decelerate and luxuriate in a quieter life together with his spouse, Jolie, and their 8-year-old daughter, Parker. In a joyful milestone, the couple additionally introduced in Might 2025 that they had been anticipating a child boy, the primary boy born into the Poirier household in 30 years.
Since stepping away from competitors, the previous interim light-weight champion has stayed linked with followers, typically replying to messages on-line. When one supporter wrote, “Hey @DustinPoirier, I’ll miss seeing you preventing. I began watching MMA with you, man. You’re a legend,” Poirier humbly responded, “Let ’em know.”
One other fan adopted up, asking how a lot he misses the game, to which Poirier supplied a uncooked and heartfelt reply: “On daily basis, the second my eyes open, I’ve carried out it for twenty years, devoted my life to it…. Part of me has died.”
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Dustin Poirier on how a lot he misses preventing:
“On a regular basis, the second my eyes open, I’ve carried out it for twenty years devoted my life to it. Part of me has died.” 😢
(through @DustinPoirier) pic.twitter.com/cPH6r2CDJA
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 12, 2025
His phrases function a poignant reminder of simply how deeply preventing was woven into his id, and the way tough it may be for even the hardest warriors to stroll away from the one life they’ve ever recognized.
Fighters like BJ Penn, Anderson Silva, and Tony Ferguson function reminders of how unforgiving the game of MMA may be. Every of them stayed within the sport for maybe too lengthy, ending their legendary careers with powerful shedding streaks. That is one thing Poirier finally averted.
Nonetheless, life with out preventing may be tough and darkish at instances. Even reigning featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski opened up in regards to the shadier aspect of preventing, admitting after his knockout loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 that his psychological well being had suffered and that he wanted to compete on brief discover simply to train his demons.
Maybe that’s why Poirier just lately hinted at a attainable boxing match towards longtime rival Nate Diaz underneath the Zuffa Boxing banner. Nonetheless, ‘The Diamond’ additionally shared an replace that means the combat may not occur anytime quickly.
Diaz, now two fights into his post-UFC boxing profession, has confronted each YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul and his former Octagon foe Jorge Masvidal. After splitting these bouts, shedding to ‘The Drawback Baby’ however avenging his loss towards the previous BMF kingpin, the Stockton native presently doesn’t seem to have one other combat lined up.
When requested by a fan on social media in regards to the rumored boxing match with Diaz, Poirier saved his response brief however telling: “Crickets,” he wrote, hinting that Diaz isn’t pursuing the combat.
By the sound of it, followers could certainly have seen the final of Dustin Poirier contained in the cage, and even perhaps missed out on what might’ve been a long-awaited conflict together with his previous rival relationship again to UFC 230 in 2018.
