Just a few seconds after his resounding victory against Benoît Saint-Denis at UFC 299, two weeks ago, Dustin Poirier opted for his usual fair play, welcoming the “rise” of his opponent and promising him a great career.
But since then, the American has been a little more critical.
In an interview given to MMA Junkie on Friday, he castigated the Frenchman's post-fight comments, too quick according to him to attribute his defeat to a physical problem.
Dustin Poirier responds to Islam Makhachev's claim of potential UFC 302 title shot being undeserved (via @mackenziesalmon) https://t.co/IZ7bOGe0aM
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) March 22, 2024
A few days after his failure in Miami, Saint-Denis revealed that he had undergone a difficult preparation.
“I was tired all week with a staph infection,” lamented “God of War.”
Maybe it's my fault because I arrived too heavy so with the treatment I followed the weight did not decrease as usual.
I had two extra pounds to lose before the weigh-in and it was too difficult.
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“You need to keep this to yourself.”
“I think it’s all just bla-bla,” said Poirier, annoyed.
If there's anything I've learned in this sport, it's that people squeal.
We say these kinds of things when we win, not when we lose.
I've been through so many battles with staph, with a broken foot, with a lacerated bicep.
That's the fight.
Everyone has their little something before a fight, but you can't talk about that when you're losing.
You have to keep this to yourself.
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For the 35-year-old American, the subject is closed anyway.
He will have to quickly refocus on his next fight, which could be for the lightweight title against Islam Makhachev at UFC 203. A unique opportunity, when he has only been interim champion once during of his long career.