UFC star Dustin Poirier says one of the sport’s oldest superstitions — that athletes should avoid intimacy before competition — is nonsense.
In a conversation on Theo Von’s podcast, Poirier was blunt when asked if he believed in the idea that physical relations weaken performance.
“I’ve always heard that about boxing and stuff they say it takes your legs away,” Poirier said. “But dude, I’ve came and knocked people out. And I’ve not came and knocked people out too, so I don’t really believe in that.”
He added:
“I don’t feel it. I don’t believe in the ‘it takes your legs away.’ I don’t.”
The superstition has been around for decades. Athletes like Muhammad Ali claimed to avoid intimacy for weeks before competing, thinking it preserved focus. The idea goes back to ancient Olympic competitors, but Poirier doesn’t buy it.
Known for being direct, the Louisiana native challenged the logic with his own career as proof. He’s stopped opponents whether he followed the so-called rules or not.
Poirier is preparing for what may be his last UFC appearance, set to compete against Max Holloway in New Orleans. With 30 wins and 9 losses, he’s had one of the most consistent careers in modern MMA.
Outside competition, Poirier is also recognized for his charity work. He and his wife Jolie founded The Good Fight Foundation in 2017, using memorabilia from his career to raise funds for projects in their hometown of Lafayette.
A 2016 systematic review in Frontiers in Physiology found no consistent negative effect of relations on testosterone or performance.
Short-term changes in testosterone after relations have been observed in some studies, but they’re temporary and minor, often returning to baseline shortly after.
Studies on sports like running, weightlifting, and endurance events show that relations the night before does not impair strength, reaction time, VO2 max, or overall performance.
One 2000 study by Boone and Gilmore found no negative impact on aerobic performance 12 hours after intercourse.
On the flip side, late-night activity, loss of sleep, or emotional stress related to a relationship could indirectly hurt performance.
