Dustin Poirier the final chapter of his career?
It’s taken Dustin Poirier a decade to become an overnight success. The mixed martial artist from Lafayette Lousiana has been scrapping at the top levels in the sport since his days in the WEC. Now fighting out of American Top Team in Coconut Creek Florida, Poirier is just one in a long line of champions and challengers to emerge from the highly acclaimed gym.
But it was his early years back in Louisiana that helped to forge him into the interim UFC lightweight champion we see today. In the MMA documentary Fightville, we see Poirer at the beginning of his journey. It documents the struggle to make a name and claim his spot, along with others, in the ranks of the Ultimate Fighting Championships.
Roll on some years and through his trials and tribulations. Dustin Poirier has forged a career at the very highest level of the sport. Along the way breaching the divide in terms of weight divisions. Progressing through the majority of his career as a featherweight where Poirier found much success. And was a shoo-in for a title shot at some point down the line.
But it was his fight against a rising loudmouth from Ireland, where that all changed. When Poirier was signed to Conor McGregor at UFC 178. The preceding build-up and war of words, a war he was never going to win. Had him well and truly rattled before ever taping up his gloves.
It was this fight and subsequent devastating loss, where McGregor had called exactly how he would stop Poirier. Which made the fight such a pivotal turning point in his career. And played a huge role in forcing him to make a move out of the division and up to lightweight.
Dustin Poirier Challenging Khabib Nurmagomedov
Now eleven fights later and some five years down the line. The Diamond is finally having those Fightville dreams realised. As he looks to challenge the unbeaten Champion that is Khabib Nurmagomedov for the UFC lightweight crown . In a fight so few are giving Poirier any chance, can he upset the odds?
If there was ever a time for the Diamond to truly shine, this is it. He faces the toughest and most important test of his career. Against one of the most dominating and feared fighters, the sport has ever seen. But like so many times before, when people have been so supremely confident in the final outcome. Can Dustin Poirier be the man to bring it all crashing down?
He is still that guy, who many thought would never come back from the humiliating loss at UFC 178. Still with all those hopes and dreams from way back in Louisiana. If there was to be an epilogue to Fightville, how would it end?
With the words of his coach in the documentary,
“Will he make it to the UFC, will he be a World Champion? .. Emmm Potential.“
Dreams can come true and so can nightmares. When all is said and done, what will it be for that local fighter from Lafayette at UFC 242.
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