After announcing his retirement following his brutal defeat to Max Holloway earlier this year, Dustin Poirier has opened up about the battles he has faced outside the cage. The former UFC interim lightweight champion admitted that life after fighting has not been simple. Without strict training camps, purpose, or routine, Poirier has hinted that he may have drifted into drinking and using drugs more than he should have, something he now recognises as a dangerous path.

His comments have hit fans hard, because Poirier has always been known for his honesty, his heart and his willingness to be vulnerable. Now, he appears to be stepping into a new kind of fight one that doesn’t take place inside the Octagon but within himself.

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Poirier’s battle after retirement

Poirier explained that retirement came with a wave of emotions he wasn’t prepared for. After being stopped by Holloway, he accepted that his time at the top level had come to an end. But stepping away from the sport that shaped his entire adult life left a void.
He has spoken about feeling lost, admitting that without MMA’s structure, the days became harder to manage. Poirier revealed that he began leaning too heavily on alcohol and possibly other substances as a way to cope with the sudden silence and the pressure of figuring out who he is without fighting.
In his own words, he said he’s now working on getting sober and trying to “get his life back on track,” making it clear that the process isn’t easy but it has begun.

Poirier’s honesty has drawn respect from fighters and fans alike. For someone who made a career out of walking into danger with courage, this might be the toughest battle yet but if his career showed anything, it’s that Dustin Poirier knows how to fight through adversity.

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