Dustin Poirier to decide future 'in the next couple of days' as retirement talk swirls after UFC 269 loss to Oliveira
DUSTIN POIRIER has shut down talk of an imminent retirement following his heartbreaking loss to Charles Oliveira – but he will contemplate his future in the 'next few days'.
The Diamond suffered more title heartache last weekend in his UFC 269 showdown with lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, who retained his belt with a slick third-round submission victory.
Poirier, 32, has twice come up short in undisputed title fights but has dismissed the notion he could walk away from the sport after his latest setback.
He said: "I can do anything I put my mind to. I can fight for another belt, I can go on another streak.
"I can claw and climb and get back to wherever I want to be."
Although Poirier is confident of mounting another title run, he's unsure if he wants to drag himself through the heap of killers in the stacked 155lb division.
He continued: "It's just do I want to. That's the question I have to look in the mirror and answer.
"Do I want to do it again? Do I want to go down that road again?
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"And that answer will come in the next couple days, next couple weeks.
I just need to let this pass and see what's next for me.
"But if it's in my heart and that's what I wanna do, I'll be here fighting for another world title."
Poirier has sadly grown accustomed to being the bridesmaid but insists he won't let his latest setback change him.
He said: "I'm not a stranger to his kind of position.
"Nobody wants to be used to losing, but I'm just used to learning. It was what it is, that's the fight game.
"I'm trying not to sit up here and cry at another press conference and cry in front of you guys.
But I'm gonna continue to do what I do.
"Be a father, try to be a beacon of light and keep grinding."
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