Dustin Poirier sees his UFC 302 Lightweight title fight against Islam Makhachev as his ‘last shot’ to be crowned champion.
‘The Diamond’ has had an illustrious career thus far and once again has secured the opportunity to try and claim the UFC Lightweight strap on June 1 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
The bout came together due to Arman Tsarukyan not feeling ready, after his UFC 300 victory over Charles Oliveira, for a quick turnaround. Speaking to Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour, Poirier admitted he had no idea that he would be next in line but has always felt that he is just one fight away from his second chance at securing UFC Gold.
“No clue. They asked me a bunch of times, you know, how we do all the press and sit down with DC through the fight week. I got to have so many questions that week, but one that kept coming up was How close do you see yourself to being back at another title shot? And I told them.
“I told them honestly what I felt. I feel like with the career I've had and like I've said before too, I'm not being boastful with the career I've had. I'm one big win away, one big finish away from from from getting the title shot. That's how I felt. And I guess I was correct.”
Speculation is rife heading into the championship about whether or not Poirier will retire following the bout. The 35 year old is taking every opportunity fight by fight and waiting to see how he feels post fight before making any decisions. He said:
“So all like people tagging me on retirement stuff, that's not me saying ‘Hey, guys, I'm retiring.’ That's you guys. That's media asking me, is this? Could this be? you know, you've been fighting a long time. Could this be and I don't know. I'm being honest with you guys. I do not know. You know, in Miami at 299, I got asked the same question and the answer was, I don't know.
“I got to see how I feel. I got to go out there. I got to fight this guy and just see how I feel. But everyone could be my last one. I've been saying this."
The task that stand between Poirier and his dream is a tremendously tough one. ‘The Diamond’ acknowledges the sheer size of the task in hand but believes he has enough to be only the second man to defeat Makhachev. He said:
“I understand the threat in front of me June 1st. The pound for pound number one guy, Khabib’s pupil, if you want to say like, I understand the challenge against me, but man, what a way to finish a story. You can’t write a book or a movie. And if I pull this off and you write a book or a movie and make people think it's real, it's like a real life Rocky story.
“But I'm that guy to do it. I 100?lieve in myself. I think and believe and feel every night when I go to sleep that I'm going to be the world champion, June 1st.”
There is certainly respect from Poirier, something he feels is not full reciprocated by the champion but is not phased by it and is ready to make the most of what he sees as his last chance to capture a UFC title.
“I kind of feel like some of the stuff he says, he might not, no. But I'm going to put my hands on this guy. I'm coming in there to hurt him, you know? Yeah, this is my last shot, you know.”
You can watch the full interview, below:
