UFC lightweight star Dustin Poirier offered unexpected guidance for aspiring combat sports athletes in a recent interview with Megan Olivi.
When asked what advice he would give to the next generation of fighters hoping to follow in his footsteps, Poirier paused before delivering his response: “Go to college.”
The surprising recommendation came during a thoughtful conversation about the emotional and physical toll of pursuing excellence in professional MMA. After briefly starting with “believe in yourself,” Poirier pivoted to his educational recommendation, emphasizing it by repeating “Go to college” and acknowledging it as “great advice.”
The moment quickly went viral across social media platforms, with fans praising Poirier’s honesty about the challenging realities of a combat sports career.
“Man has seen and suffered enough,” wrote one fan on X (formerly Twitter).
Another commented, “This is absolutely invaluable. Fighting, if anything, should be something that you use to add money [to] your already existing income source. Not your sole source of income.”
Throughout the interview, Poirier opened up about the weight of chasing greatness and the emotional cost of being a professional fighter. He credited his wife Jolie with providing structure and support throughout his career, and mentioned how his daughter Parker helped him realize that fighting wasn’t everything in life.
The frank career guidance comes as Poirier prepares for what may be the final chapter of his iconic career. He’s set to face Max Holloway for the third time at UFC 318 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
“I have a lot of family and friends who don’t have the means to travel all over the world and go to these fights. But this one, and it being my last one, being home in Louisiana, New Orleans, it’s incredible,” Poirier shared with Olivi. “I carry the Louisiana flag proudly, and people from there know I do. So I think that’s why I get the support.”
While Poirier has achieved remarkable success, his candid guidance suggests he wants future generations to consider all options before committing to the demanding path he chose.
