Dustin Poirier Quotes

When I first started fighting, it wasn't the easiest thing. I didn't have all the money in the world. I was eating Subway once in a while, some packets of oatmeal here and there. It wasn't that bad, but it's because I was fortunate and had good people there to support me.

My brother has the potential to become one of the top guys within Strikeforce. He had a very busy personal life; therefore, he wasn't training as hard as he should, but if he's going to pick up his training, he will be a danger for every fighter.

I've trained with Douglas Lima, he's a tough kid, but I could feel the weight difference.

My dream has always been to be a UFC champion. It wasn't to be a main event fighter.

The main thing I learned in San Diego was I can't do this and compete with the best guys in the world if I'm just doing MMA as a hobby. It has to be my job.

Leaving active duty was so I could become the best fighter in the world at my weight class.

I want to be a fighter, this is what I love to do, but it's totally taxing on the body and the mind. Especially the mind.

When you want to be a fighter, you have to give it everything you got. MMA just became who I am because of the amount of work I was putting into my training. It all starts in the gym. The hours turn into days, days into weeks, and weeks into months; it's like school - the more time you spend learning, the better you'll be prepared for a test.

I've done it in kickboxing, I've done it in boxing. After you clean out a division, you move up in weight.

If you're gonna get punched in the face, elbowed, cut up, busted up, injured, have to cut weight, have to bring yourself to the brink of death to show up the next day and try to put on the performance of your life, you've gotta love it. And if I don't love it, it's just not worth it to me.

My friends seem to think that an hour and a half effort a day is all they need to bring to the altar to make things work for them. I couldn't do that. I thought that if you didn't work at least as hard as the guy who runs a gas station, then you had no right to hope for achievement. You certainly had to work all day, every day.

I went through a training camp; I worked extremely hard. I prepared for UFC 200. This was the big one. This one meant everything to me.

Anderson's been here the longest, he brought our sport to the forefront. He's been around, and yeah, I've always been a fan and I've always enjoyed his fighting style.

As an athlete, you have to become quite selfish with your time and your body and your training.

Wrestling will always be my top priority.

A fighter is a fighter and once they're in the top five in the world, you can't say one might not be ready.

We work just as hard as any footballer, period. We go through the same experiences and heartaches. We make the same sacrifices. We leave our families behind to chase our dreams, too.

My fighting style is mixed martial arts. It's not just stand up, or ground and pound, it's everything together. I have 26 years of a fighting career, and it always works together.

We train and work so hard in our sport, we would be nothing less than a warrior. Day in, day out, this is our life. It's everything. The Olympic dream.

I'm trying to be the best lightweight fighter in the world. That's my main objective. I just have to keep my head up, keep training and enjoy this awesome ride that I'm on.

I wasn't a person who hated working. When I was working and training, I loved it. I loved that I had to work that hard. I think it transformed into the gym and then transformed into the octagon. It was a good thing.

There is still so much room for me to get better. Everyone in this sport evolves so quickly. You could take six months off and come back to a totally different game. That's why I'm always in the gym working. Even if I don't have a fight lined up, I'm still in there working to improve my overall game.

At my first Olympics, I didn't have a contract, and I wasn't making any money. After my first Olympics, I was working at 24 Hour Fitness at the front desk. I would go to practice in the morning, run home, shower, grab some food and then go straight to work. I didn't get off of work until 10 or 11 o'clock at night.

I don't recommend anybody becoming a fighter.

I respect all the fighters. I respect Jon Jones. I respect Chris Weidman, but I'm here for working.