Dustin Poirier takes UFC 291 knockout loss in stride: 'We're not at a funeral ... I've won life'

Dustin Poirier doesn't know what his future holds after a brutal knockout loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 291, but he remains optimistic.

SALT LAKE CITY – Dustin Poirier is making no excuses for his brutal knockout loss to Justin Gaethje in their “BMF” title fight at UFC 291.

Poirier (29-8 MMA, 21-7 UFC) went down hard with a head kick in the second round of his rematch with Gaethje (25-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) on Saturday at Delta Center, causing a significant setback in his quest for the UFC lightweight title. As much as the result pains him, “The Diamond” refused to sulk afterward.

“It sucks,” Poirier told MMA Junkie and other reporters at the UFC 291 post-fight news conference. “Losing sucks, but I’ve lost before. It’s not cool to be acquainted with these feelings, but I’ve been here before. But the career I’ve had and the fights I’ve had, where I’ve come from, I feel like I’ve already won. I’m just taking it minute by minute right now. If I win like a man, I’ve got to be able to lose like a man.

“It’s heartbreaking. But I keep coming back like Pookie. It keeps calling me. I can’t stop. I might need another hit. I don’t know. I’m just taking it one day at a time, one minute at a time right now. But I’m happy right now. My life is good, my family is good, my daughter is excited for me to get home. We’re not at a funeral here. I’ve won. I’ve won life. I already won. Where I come from, I’ve already won.”

Poirier performed well in the opening round with Gaethje. Things were trending in his direction before a surprising kick to the skull shut his lights out, giving Gaethje redemption from his fourth-round TKO defeat in their original meeting in the 2018 Fight of the Year.

Poirier admits he didn’t anticipate the shot, because Gaethje doesn’t often utilize that technique.

“I just got hit with a shot I didn’t see,” Poirier said. “Naturally just instincts I got one hand up, but the foot still got around. … I still can compete. I have tread on the tires. I feel great. I did a nine-week camp and pushed myself. Easiest cut of my life. I busted my ass, that’s why losing sucks. I did all this work, but nothing is guaranteed.”

As far as his future, Poirier said he couldn’t make some commitments. He was intrigued by the idea of a trilogy bout, but with Gaethje likely headed toward a 155-pound title shot against the winner of October’s UFC 294 championship bout between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira, the path isn’t clear.

“Before this one when they offered me Beneil (Dariush), I was just like, ‘Ah, I’m not that excited about it,'” Poirier said. “But when this one came it got me scared and nervous because of what just happened could happen. That’s what kept me waking up in the morning to bust my ass. I knew not only the excitement of the fight, the danger of the fight – a win would get me – we’re No. 2 and No. 3. No. 1 already beat us, and he’s fighting for the title again. How much higher on the ladder could I go? A win over him would be a lock to get the title shot, I thought. We’ll see.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 291.