'If I can be that little light' - Poirier's fight outside the UFC

Dustin Poirier knows Saturday's lightweight title conflict against Islam Makhachev whitethorn beryllium his last chance astatine undisputed gold.

When nan 35-year-old American walks retired to look Russian champion Makhachev astatine UFC 302 successful New Jersey, it will beryllium his 3rd effort astatine winning nan title.

Poirier boasts 1 of nan astir distinguished resumes successful UFC history.

He is simply a erstwhile lightweight interim title holder, but has grounded successful his quest to go undisputed champion successful defeats by Khabib Nurmagomedov successful 2019 and Charles Oliveira successful 2021.

Over nan past fewer years location person been ups and downs; career-changing victories complete Conor McGregor mirrored by soul-crushing title defeats, but location has ever been 1 changeless - Poirier's thrust for helping nan underprivileged.

Since astir 2017, Poirier has auctioned disconnected his conflict kit aft each bout pinch nan money raised being put towards underserved communities.

At New Jersey's Prudential Centre against Makhachev, whether he realises his 18-year dream of becoming champion aliases falls astatine nan last hurdle erstwhile again, Poirier will proceed nan trend.

"It started pinch a constabulary serviceman who mislaid his life successful nan statement of work and near down a family. He sewage killed blocks distant from wherever maine and my woman went to precocious school," Poirier tells BBC Sport.

"It really struck location truthful I sold immoderate things I owned and donated nan money to nan family. And past aft different conflict I did nan aforesaid thing, auctioned disconnected immoderate gloves and shorts and gave nan money to a nutrient slope successful Louisiana."

Off nan backmost of nan media sum Poirer's bully deeds received, he and his woman Jolie decided to group up nan Good Fight Foundation - a non-profit level wherever chap fighters and fans tin donate to thief underserved communities.

"Instead of ‘Dustin does this, Dustin sells his shorts,’ we made nan Good Fight Foundation wherever different fighters tin get down it and it tin turn organically alternatively than conscionable being nether my name," said Poirier.

"And since past we’ve done immoderate astonishing things, man. I’m proud of it all. I’m proud of recognising I person an opportunity to usage my platform.

"It’s 1 point to waste nan fight, but doing these large interviews and my sound is heard much than nan group going done nan struggle, I deliberation that’s a powerful spot to beryllium successful to usage your expertise to help.”

Since its commencement nan instauration has succeeded successful projects specified arsenic providing meals connected Thanksgiving to group successful shelters successful Louisiana and building h2o wells for susceptible tribes successful Uganda.

A number of chap UFC fighters person besides contributed complete nan years, including Nurmagomedov, Max Holloway, Brendan Allen, Eryk Anders and Cub Swanson.

With nan money raised from auctioning Poirer's conflict kit aft nan Makhachev fight, nan instauration hopes to supply 1,300-1,400 children successful Louisiana pinch nan schoolhouse supplies they request for nan forthcoming world year.

Poirier says nan experiences he's had pinch group going done hardships person changed his position connected life.

"The world has capable antagonistic worldly going connected successful it, if I tin beryllium that small light, that small help, I deliberation everybody should do that who can,” said Poirier.

“It’s made maine put things successful position and beryllium much grateful for everything maine and my family person and nan opportunities I have.”

During nan build-up to his bout pinch Makhachev, Poirier has hinted that nan conflict whitethorn beryllium his last, saying he will make a determination connected status based connected his feelings.

Although he says thing will ever switch nan emotion of competing, describing himself arsenic being "addicted to fighting", Poirier is thankful for nan distraction his instauration provides.

"I don’t cognize if thing will ever capable nan void of fighting, but it decidedly keeps maine busy," said Poirier.

"There’s a consciousness of accomplishment erstwhile I spell done these goals pinch nan instauration and execute these things and thief these people, it really makes maine consciousness good.

"We’re ever moving connected a caller goal.”