Dustin Poirier Willing To Go Outside the UFC for Fights, Family and Fans

The last time we saw Dustin Poirier, he was in the midst of what looked to be a Fight of the Night against Eddie Alvarez at UFC 211. A fight that ended due to illegal knees Alvarez landed to Poirier’s head. Since then, ‘Diamond’ Dustin Poirier has moved on to another former UFC lightweight champion, Anthony Pettis, who he’ll face at UFC Norfolk on November 11th. However, it could be the UFC in which he moves away from, according to a candid new interview.

“I love fighting for the UFC. I grew up watching guys in the UFC. It was the biggest company that I know of for mixed martial arts. But as you get older, I have a family, I don’t know how long this window’s going to last. I’d like to fight until I’m 35, 36, we’ll see. But I might have two, three years — I don’t know how many years I have left, so I gotta make the most money that I can right now. And I’m not a guy who’s fighting for fame. I’m fighting because I love to fight and I got a family to feed. I’m a guy who, if I was given an opportunity, I would leave and go fight in ONE FC, go fight in a company you’ve never heard of to maximize my earning potential.”

🔥 @DustinPoirier cuts the realest #interview during the #FCRoadTrip2 with @DuaneFinleyMMA.

Full #video: https://t.co/aD1SzmnSO9 pic.twitter.com/7zXIacc04J

— FloCombat (@FloCombat) October 5, 2017

“I don’t care if you never read another headline about my name. If I’m collecting checks somewhere and putting on good fights for fans, that’s all I care about. I’m not fighting to get my name out there, to get TV deals, to get movie deals, to get big sponsorships. All that stuff is great. I would love all that stuff. But I’m fighting because I love fighting. Everything I do is for her [my daughter]. I want her to live a great life. I want her to go to college and not have to worry about anything. For her and my wife is why I fight. Also for myself, but things change as you get older. Priorities change. I do this for them.” — Dustin Poirier speaking to FloCombat. 

It’s rare that you see a fighter get this open when talking in an interview. You have to respect Dustin Poirier for laying it all out there. More and more fighters are starting to as well, just today news broke that Cub Swanson will become a free agent to either get a better offer from the UFC, or take his talents elsewhere. Things are changing for UFC fighters, but it’s clear Poirier has his one constant: His family. That’s all that matters.

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 10/5/2017.