Video: Poirier Draws Hero’s Welcome In Lafayette

Dustin Poirier did not bring the lightweight title back to Louisiana, but that didn’t stop local fans from giving “The Diamond” a championship welcome when he returned home to Lafayette, three days removed from his UFC 302 submission loss to Islam Makhachev in Newark, New Jersey.

Poirier scored a record-tying tenth “Fight of the Night” bonus in defeat.

“Good to be back home,” Poirier said. “I haven’t slept seven consecutive days in my own bed since January. I’ve been on the road, traveling, fighting, training. It’s good to be back and I appreciate everybody from Lafayette, coming out here to greet me at the airport, and my family. The support is crazy and it means a lot to me, so thank you, Louisiana.”

Poirier remains ranked in the Top 5, despite the loss to Makhachev.

“The Diamond” hinted at retirement in his UFC 302 post-fight speech, a decision that is likely to come within the next several weeks. Whether or not the former interim lightweight champion returns to MMA could depend on what matchmakers have to offer him for the second half of 2024 and beyond.

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For more UFC 302 results and fallout click here.