Though he was gritty as ever and produced a valiant performance, Dustin Poirier came up empty in his third attempt to become the lightweight world champion. The latest failed shot came Saturday night in the headliner of UFC 302 in Newark, New Jersey where he tapped out to a D'arce choke from Islam Makhachev in the fifth round of their fight.
After the loss, the 35-year-old Poirier openly wondered if he had just fought the last fight of his career.
"I know I could compete with the best of these guys ... it's just like if I do fight again, what am I fighting for? Just to fight? I've done that 50 times," Poirier told Joe Rogan in the Octagon. "I don't know. I have a little girl I love and I gotta see. I think this could be it honestly, Joe."
"And I'm not 100 percent but if this is my last fight, I wanted to dedicate this journey to the people who made me the man I am," Poirier told Rogan before mentioning his grandmother, mother, wife and daughter.
The future UFC Hall of Famer has defeated the likes of Conor McGregor (twice), Michael Chandler, Max Holloway, Eddie Alvarez and Justin Gaethje across his 30-9 record with 1 No Contest.
"I could still compete but I don't want the sport to retire me and squeeze me out," Poirier told reporters during the UFC 302 post-fight press conference. "I don't want to be one of those guys, hanging on. I just honor and respect this too much and we'll see.
"I don't know ... but this could be my last fight."