Watch Dustin Poirier get hero’s welcome in Lafayette following gutsy effort at UFC 302

Dustin Poirier returned home to a welcome befitting of a champion.

Poirier gave an incredible effort in — what will likely be — his final chance at undisputed UFC gold in the main event of UFC 302 this past Saturday, losing via fifth-round submission to champion Islam Makhachev. “The Diamond” arrived in Lafayette, La., and received a hero’s welcome from a vocal hometown crowd at the airport.

Check out video of Poirier’s arrival home in the video below.

The big story heading into the pay-per-view event was whether or not Poirier would be making the walk to the octagon for the final time. The 35-year-old seemed to lean towards the retirement side following the spirited effort, although he didn’t close the door entirely on another bout.

“My ribs are busted, might’ve torn my ACL — I’ve got to get that checked out. In the third round, I busted my knee real bad. That’s fighting,” Poirier told Lafayette news affiliates at the airport.

“I’ve been fighting a long time, man. It’s been almost 18 years nonstop, 50 fights, a few world title fights. I’ve fought the best of my generation, and I’ve just got to decompress and see what’s next.”

If his loss to Makhachev is, in fact, his final fight, Poirier would end his career with a 30-9 pro record and a 22-8 (1 NC) record for the UFC, which includes winning the interim lightweight title, competing for the undisputed 155-pound championship three times, and two stoppage victories over superstar Conor McGregor.