Lightweight star Dustin Poirier rattles off a list of some of his favorite champions in UFC history.<\/p>\n
Its not the traditional whos who of megastars.<\/p>\n
Michael Bisping. Robbie Lawler. Even Charles Oliveira.<\/p>\n
The common thread between them is their journeys to the top were filled with potholes and detours.<\/p>\n
There is a list of guys that for me it was very special when they won the belt, Poirier said. Underdogs. Of course, everyone battles adversity. But the guys who were counted out a couple times and still made it happen. Im trying to add my name to that list this weekend.<\/p>\n
Poirier will challenge Oliveira for the lightweight belt in the main event of UFC 269 on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.<\/p>\n
Some guys come in and burst on the scene, UFC president Dana White said. These two have been grinding and working hard for a very long time. Theyre two blue-collar guys.<\/p>\n
Both fighters had been in the UFC for more than a decade before their first title shots. Oliveiras run included a stretch of four losses in six bouts before a current nine-fight winning streak, capped by a knockout of Michael Chandler in May that secured his first belt.<\/p>\n
Poiriers first shot at a belt came in his 22nd UFC fight when he won the interim crown in 2019 only to lose the unification bout to Khabib Nurmagomedov later that year.<\/p>\n
The 32-year-old has reeled off three straight victories since, including two wins over Conor McGregor that secured his legacy and financial future.<\/p>\n
Now he wants more.<\/p>\n
If I can become the world champion on Saturday night, then Ive done it all in the sport, Poirier said. Everything Ive set out to do. Ive set my family up in a good position financially. I have other businesses outside of fighting. But I have to check that box. Thats forever. None of this was done in vain regardless of what happens Saturday night, but it just cements everything that we thought when I first put on the gloves and started this journey.<\/p>\n
That journey began when he was 18 with his then-girlfriend and now wife Jolie driving him up Interstate 49 from his native Lafayette, Louisiana, to an amateur show in Arkansas.<\/p>\n
They might not have chatted about one day winning a UFC title on that drive, but that dream started coming more and more into focus as he tore through the amateur ranks and turned pro at age 20.<\/p>\n
Poirier steadily climbed the ranks only to experience a setback each time he started to get close to title contention.<\/p>\n
He thinks those losses shaped not only who he is as a competitor but also a person. Poirier, who dropped out of high school in the ninth grade, has several successful business ventures and runs a charity that has made a major impact in his community. He hopes an auction of his fight gear from Saturday will provide 300,000 meals for underserved people in Louisiana.<\/p>\n
Its been a beautiful journey, he said. A learning experience that helped me become the fighter I am but also the person I am. I just hope I can pass on these lessons learned to my daughter and other fighters in the future. Its more than fighting; its life lessons, and Im happy with the person Ive become.<\/p>\n
Jolie, the vice president and director of the Good Fight Foundation, has been there since that first road trip. He credits her for talking him out of quitting on several occasions.<\/p>\n
Its one of the reasons Poirier is looking forward to Sunday even more than Saturday.<\/p>\n
When I do think about it, I think about the next day, he said of the fight. Not the moment, but the next day when I can exhale. Ill win the fight, do media, go back to the hotel still in the rush of madness. But when I get on the plane with my wife and daughter and I can exhale, nobody is asking questions, I can hold the belt and my family. Thats what I think about. And I cant wait to see what it feels like.<\/p>\n
The fight headlines a 7 p.m. pay-per-view card that also features a womens bantamweight title bout between Julianna Pena and champion Amanda Nunes. Preliminary bouts begin at 3:15.<\/p>\n
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com<\/a>. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on Twitter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n View post: <\/p>\n Dustin Poirier looks to cap journey by winning title at UFC 269 - Las Vegas Review-Journal<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Lightweight star Dustin Poirier rattles off a list of some of his favorite champions in UFC history. Its not the traditional whos who of megastars Continue reading