Rarely do people get second chances in their lives, but Dustin Poirier has.
The pride of Lafayette, Louisiana was allowed the chance to avenge Conor McGregor's 2014 defeat.
Conor McGregor was raped by Dustin Poirier in Abu Dhabi in January
a second chance at the undisputed 155lb Gold for Poirier
The American took the opportunity to exact revenge and won an emphatic second round KO victory over The Notorious at Fight Island.
The American will try to get a similar redemption at UFC 269 Las Vegas, where he will attempt to take the lightweight title from Charles Oliveira.
The last pay-per view bout in a stacked 2021 will see Poirier attempt to be the undisputed king of the 155lb division for the second time.
It's fitting, considering that martial arts gave him a second chance after a difficult few years in his teens.
Poirier was 15 when he dropped out of school after a stint at a juvenile detention center, which he described as 'feeling like prison.'
His future prospects were grim, as are many high school dropouts.
In order to make money, Poirier worked at McDonald's for many years and enjoyed frequent parties with friends.
At the tender age of 18, he discovered boxing, which changed his life forever.
Poirier, who was 'head over heels' for combat and had just entered the gym, took part in his first mixed-martial arts bout.
As the old saying goes: "The rest is history."
He did not know that he would change his life's course forever, but that fight and his decision to walk into the boxing studio changed everything.
It's safe to say that it probably prevented Lafayette's once-boss boy from going down the wrong road.
Although his life was not in danger physically, it is safe to say that martial arts gave Poirier another chance at a secure and comfortable future. He graduated high school and went to university to provide for Jolie.
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Poirier's adventures in the octagon have given his high school sweetheart Jolie, and their daughter Parker, a more comfortable life.
His back-to-back victories over McGregor, no matter how contentious, have cemented his reputation as one of the greatest 155-pounders ever to do it.
If he doesn't get the undisputed UFC gold, his legacy will not be fulfilled.
Two years ago, Khabib Nurmagomedov, the unbeaten mountain, proved too difficult for him to climb in Abu Dhabi.
He will be able to draw on his past experience when he attempts to end the short reign of Oliveira, a submission specialist.
It is not an easy task to return to the base of a mountain in any sport or climb it.
However, it is not possible to give yourself a second chance at your life after being dismissed as a teenage dropout.
Poirier is now ready to show the world that he is the best mixed martial arts lightweight.
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, the pride of Louisiana fell short.
Fan favourites will feel even more pressure from the expectation.
However, pressure is what makes diamonds.
The Diamond is now primed to finally shine, with his latest attempt at UFC gold after his second purifying stage.
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