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Earlier this year, in July at UFC 318, Dustin Poirier officially brought an end to his remarkable 14-year career inside the Octagon after completing his trilogy with Max Holloway in front of his home crowd. Although ‘The Diamond’ closed his career with a loss, his legacy remains one of the most impressive in UFC history. Beyond his near miss with undisputed gold, Poirier built a resume stacked with victories over icons like Conor McGregor, Eddie Alvarez, Justin Gaethje, and Dan Hooker.
But more than his wins, what truly defined the Louisiana native was his relentless grit and willingness to leave everything in the cage. Fighting wasn’t just what he did, but it became part of who he was. Now, three months into retirement, Poirier has opened up about a heartbreaking realization: life without the adrenaline and rush of fighting has been far from easy.
Dustin Poirier Admits That a Part of Him Has Died After Retiring From MMA
In a recent social media exchange, Dustin Poirier opened up about the emotional challenges of adjusting to life after fighting. When asked by a fan how he’s been coping since retirement, ‘The Diamond’ admitted that transitioning to a normal life hasn’t been as easy as it might seem.
Months before hanging up his gloves, Poirier had shared his desire to slow down and enjoy a quieter life with his wife, Jolie, and their 8-year-old daughter, Parker. In a joyful milestone, the couple also announced in May 2025 that they were expecting a baby boy, the first boy born into the Poirier family in 30 years.
Since stepping away from competition, the former interim lightweight champion has stayed connected with fans, often replying to messages online. When one supporter wrote, “Hey @DustinPoirier, I’ll miss seeing you fighting. I started watching MMA with you, man. You’re a legend,” Poirier humbly responded, “Let ’em know.”
Another fan followed up, asking how much he misses the sport, to which Poirier offered a raw and heartfelt reply: “Every day, the moment my eyes open, I’ve done it for two decades, dedicated my life to it…. A part of me has died.”
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Dustin Poirier on how much he misses fighting:
“Everyday, the moment my eyes open, I’ve done it for two decades dedicated my life to it. A part of me has died.” 😢
(via @DustinPoirier) pic.twitter.com/cPH6r2CDJA
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 12, 2025
His words serve as a poignant reminder of just how deeply fighting was woven into his identity, and how difficult it can be for even the toughest warriors to walk away from the only life they’ve ever known.
Fighters like BJ Penn, Anderson Silva, and Tony Ferguson serve as reminders of how unforgiving the sport of MMA can be. Each of them stayed in the game for perhaps too long, ending their legendary careers with tough losing streaks. This is something Poirier ultimately avoided.
However, life without fighting can be difficult and dark at times. Even reigning featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski opened up about the shadier side of fighting, admitting after his knockout loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 that his mental health had suffered and that he needed to compete on short notice just to exercise his demons.
Perhaps that’s why Poirier recently hinted at a possible boxing match against longtime rival Nate Diaz under the Zuffa Boxing banner. However, ‘The Diamond’ also shared an update that suggests the fight might not happen anytime soon.
Diaz, now two fights into his post-UFC boxing career, has faced both YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul and his former Octagon foe Jorge Masvidal. After splitting those bouts, losing to ‘The Problem Child’ but avenging his loss against the former BMF kingpin, the Stockton native currently doesn’t appear to have another fight lined up.
When asked by a fan on social media about the rumored boxing match with Diaz, Poirier kept his response short but telling: “Crickets,” he wrote, hinting that Diaz isn’t pursuing the fight.
By the sound of it, fans may indeed have seen the last of Dustin Poirier inside the cage, and perhaps even missed out on what could’ve been a long-awaited clash with his old rival dating back to UFC 230 in 2018.
