DUSTIN POIRIER dismissed suggestions that he might retire after claiming the lightweight title next week.
The Louisiana pride will try to be the undisputed champion of the stacked division of 155lb against champ Charles Oliveira at the main event UFC 269.
Dustin Poirier will attempt to dethrone Charles Oliveira, the lightweight champion at UFC 269
The lightweight strap would have Poirier finish a career's worth of work. But The Diamond will not give up on his dream to win UFC gold.
The ex-champion at 155 lbs was a former interim champ and told MMA Junkie that he is not retiring. I'm 32, man. I feel good.
"You can see how I move out here today. I feel good. It's fun.
Poirier plans to eventually move up to the similarly strong welterweight division. This could open the door to a grudge match against former team-mate Colby Covington.
He said, "If anything I'll go higher." If I have to, I'll likely go up to 170.
However, the fan favorite is not letting himself get ahead of himself. He is solely focused on ending Oliveira’s short reign as lightweight king.
He stated that his goal was not to be the best at defending titles.
"I don't know. We'll see. We'll see.
"I can't see, none of this is even a reality until December 11, and then I raise my hand.
"I must do this first before we can have these conversations, because I don’t know what the next step is.
"I live my whole life one day at the time, man - a quarter mile at a moment."
Poirier is a contender to Fighter of the Year and enjoys his second chance at UFC gold. He plans to challenge Do Bronx in deep waters.
He stated, "I would love for the fight to get to that point where all of us find out in front the world.
"That's my goal, to get this fight in those deep waters and to see who wants it more, who is willing to bleed harder and leave it all there because I know that I will. No question about it.
"But, going to Justin (Gaethje's) words, Dude! I've said that.
"I keep repeating the same s**t and it feels corny. But when a fighter goes to fight - where our last fight was the most important – and gets hurt, comes back the second round and shows championship grit and finishes Michael Chandler, a man who took Justin to the ring.
"So, if that's anything, it means you know you're just as good as your last fight. He is a world champion."
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