Poirier: It’s Legacy Fights Or Bust For Rest Of UFC Career

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

While everyone is seemingly looking for that big-money fight, Dustin Poirier wants the type of showdowns that will add to his legacy.

The former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) interim Lightweight champion says he only has about five years max left in his combat career, which means all bouts moving forward have to mean more than just earning a paycheck.

“I’ve been fighting for a while, I have 40 fights, and I want these last four or five years to really mean something every time I get into the octagon,” Poirier said in an interview with to Jim Rome (via MMA Fighting). “Not only for me and my family, but for the goals that I’m trying to bring awareness to and raise money for and for my career. I really want to leave a legacy.”

Poirier already has a mighty good resume that will add to his legacy of being one of the more entertaining fighters ever. The type of energy and excitement he brings to the table Octagon night in and night out was on full display in his fight against Dan Hooker at UFC on ESPN 12 a few weeks ago, which he won via unanimous decision.

He also scored another $50,000 post-fight bonus award, bringing his total to 10.

It was his first win since losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242. But it was a big one since Hooker is one of the best 155-pound fighters in the game today. With a nice bounce back victory “Diamond” is eying a title fight, though the top of the 155-pound picture is a bit murky at the moment since Khabib will be out of action for a while after the passing of his father.

“I’m not sure what the options will be when the UFC comes back and starts sitting at the table to make these matches,” Poirier said. “It needs to be a really big name or a title fight. I’ve been doing this for 10 years in the UFC, and I still love fighting, but I want these fights to mean more than just a fight. I don’t want it to just be about a show and win purse. I want it to really mean something, and I know I’m in the back nine of my career.”

Poirier’s legacy outside of the cage is pretty secure, too, and he is still working to build on it with his charity efforts as president of the Good Fight Foundation. It’s something that Poirier will still be doing long after his fighting days are done.

Until then, he will keep cracking heads inside the cage, though who he fights next and when remains to be seen.