Former UFC star Dustin Poirier is still adjusting to life after hanging up the gloves — and it hasn’t been easy.
Poirier retired this past June after losing a hard-fought decision to Max Holloway in the BMF title main event at UFC 318. In his home state of Louisiana, “The Diamond” laid his gloves down inside the Octagon, closing the chapter on a legendary career. But as he revealed this week, walking away from fighting has been far harder than he expected.
“Yeah, it’s harder than I thought it would be,” Poirier told MMA Fighting. “I thought it would be a relief … but it kind of hasn’t yet. Maybe I’m still processing. When you dedicate 20 years of your life to something, you don’t just wake up one day and move on.”
Poirier admitted he still wakes up each day with the same fire to train — only now, the cage isn’t waiting for him.
“Every day I was waking up trying to be a better fighter, learning new tricks, asking questions,” he said. “Then one day you wake up, and it’s just not there. The fire’s still there, but I don’t get to right the ship anymore. I don’t get to put my hands in the air again.”
Despite the emotional toll, Poirier says he’s trying to stay busy and focus on the positives.
“Time heals all,” he said. “I’ve been trying to keep my mind busy so I don’t sit around. But, God, the days are long when I’m not training. It’s not just a sport — it’s a way of life.”
🥃 Dustin Poirier x Bud Light x Bruce Buffer
Poirier recently teamed up with Bud Light and legendary announcer Bruce Buffer for a new campaign — a commercial where they work the Bud Light call center. As part of the promotion, fans can call 1-800-Bud-Light before Oct. 30 to win a trip to UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden, headlined by Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev.
Buffer praised Poirier’s career, calling him one of the sport’s true role models:
“Dustin Poirier is one of my favorite fighters,” Buffer said. “Inside and outside the octagon, he’s one of the greatest role models MMA has ever had. Announcing his name for the final time, I had tears in my eyes. We’re brothers in there.”
Poirier’s sendoff in Louisiana was emotional — a packed arena stayed to cheer him as he left the cage one final time.
“Everybody stayed. Usually people rush out to beat traffic, but not that night,” Poirier said. “I felt the love from the fans, from the UFC — it was an incredible night I’ll never forget.”
🥇 The Diamond’s Legacy
Dustin Poirier leaves behind one of the most respected résumés in UFC history — 32 fights, an interim lightweight title, two BMF bouts, and iconic wins over Conor McGregor. He earned 15 post-fight bonuses, solidifying his reputation as one of MMA’s most exciting and genuine warriors.
When asked if he’d ever fight again, Poirier didn’t completely rule it out — but made it clear it would take something extraordinary.
“Never say never,” he said. “But my wife and family don’t want me to continue. That night in Louisiana was perfect. I’d be doing myself a disservice by coming back. It would take the perfect circumstances for me to ever put on gloves again.”
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