Dustin Poirier sets 30-day timeline for 'internal struggle' over UFC future : 'I don't want to walk away on an L'

More than two months removed from his title-fight loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 302, Dustin Poirier is still sorting through his process about fighting again.

Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) was very realistic prior to and after his fifth-round submission defeat to Makhachev in June. He knew it would almost certainly be his final shot at the undisputed lightweight belt, and therefor he needed to evaluate his priorities going forward after a more than 15-year career.

“The Diamond” recently took an extended vacation with family and friends, and during that time he had chances to think. He determined, alongside his wife Jolie, that a decision needs to be made sooner than later, and said the month of August will play a definitive role in judging his next move.

“Me and my wife kind of said when we get back from vacation we will – cause obviously you’re drinking and eating whatever you want on vacation – we’ll clean it up, go 30 days, August, and make a decision after that,” Poirier told MMA Junkie in an interview facilitated by his new sponsors at Brooks Running. “Get in shape, see how I feel. We’ll see, man. I don’t know. … I need to make a solid decision so I can get out of the limbo, because I’m still kind of like fighting myself every day. Not sure what I’m doing.”

If Poirier, 35, isn’t chasing the title, he needs to fight out what he’s competing for. He said he understands the risk of stepping into the octagon for the wrong reasons, and needs to be certain of himself if he’s ever going to commit to doing so again.

“Inside of me it’s like I’m battling it,” Poirier said. “I feel like I can’t leave. I can’t walk away. I know I still can do it. I know I can beat these guys. It’s like an internal struggle. It’s a battle for sure. I want to fight. But we’ll see.

“Nothing is guaranteed here. I don’t know what kind of battle I’m going to be in if I lose two-in-a-row. I’ve never lost two in a row. Nothing is guaranteed in this. If I do walk away I definitely want to walk away on a high note and a win. I don’t want to walk away on an L.”

Poirier, No. 5 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie lightweight rankings, said his first steps will be to return to his home gym in Lafayette, La., and see how his body holds up to more intensive training after multiple physical issues stemming from the Fight of the Year candidate with Makhachev.

“I’m supposed to have surgery on my nose in October,” Poirier said. “But if I made a decision or something popped up, I could push it back or whatever. Who is there for me to fight? I’ve just got to do this 30 days, get in shape, get back on the mats hard. I haven’t been able to grapple. I’ve been able to hit the bag and stuff but I haven’t been able to grapple a lot. I might be able to now. My knee is feeling better. But I’m not sure how structurally sound my nose is. When somebody face cranks me or gets something across – I don’t know what’s going to happen. Rib is better. Ribs are getting better. That’ just a time thing. I don’t know. I’ve just got to get back on the mats and see how I feel and what’s out there for me and I’ll make a decision.”

Poirier’s heart appears to still have a strong bond to the fight game, and he admits a very desirable opportunity would be hard his back on. With Makhachev seemingly nursing a hand injury coming out of his fight with Poirier, there could be a potential interim title scenario in play. If the promotion needed an alternate option to face No. 1 contender Arman Tsarukyan, then Poirier said he would jump on it.

“Yeah for sure (an interim title with Tsarukyan) interests me,” Poirier “I wonder what they’re going to do with that. Is Arman going to continue to wait for Islam? I don’t know when Islam is going to be back. I saw a thing that he might have to have surgery. We’ll see. The lightweight division has been so crazy over these past years.”