Dustin Poirier is no stranger to conflict.

Growing up in the hard-knock culture of the the Bayou state taught Poirier how to operate in an embattled environment. Nothing would ever be given, only earned, or in the most extreme cases taken, and facing that reality made anger an ever-present element in Poirier's life.

It would have been easy for the hard-hitting lightweight to become another statistic, but even in his darkest moments Poirier saw something brighter ahead. He just had to fight for it, and the 27-year-old has been fighting ever since.

"My entire life has been filled with adversity, and I've constantly had to fight my way through it to rise above," Poirier told FloCombat. "Times where I've made mistakes and had to climb back to the top. I'm not a survivor, I'm a thriver. I thrive in this. I'm a Phoenix, brother. Every time I get knocked down I come back stronger, and that's what I've been doing my entire life. I do it from the heart because that's the only way I know.

"When people survive they are simply holding on trying to get through and that's not what I'm about. I look for the positive in every situation and I'll fight for each step I have to take."

Turning frustration into fuel helped Poirier emerge from the regional ranks in his homes state to become one of the most promising lightweight fighters in the world. It is a journey that has come with massive success and painful setbacks alike, but Poirier's ability to appreciate, refine and adjust have kept him moving forward even when things don't go his way inside the Octagon.

Every fight is a piece of the puzzle that leads to the next challenge he must solve, and Poirier is confident he'll get where he's aiming to go as long as personal progress continues throughout.


Jun 4, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Bobby Green (blue) fights Dustin Poirier (red) during UFC 199 at The Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

"I have to make some adjustments and keep progressing," Poirier said. "I have all the skills and tools to be a champion there are just little tweaks I have to make. I have to be more of a defensive fighter and respect these guys more. I can't go out there and say, 'F*** this guy' and just think I'm going to walk across and walk over them. Especially with these four-ounce gloves. I have to be a smarter fighter and that starts on February 11."

The seasoned veteran saw his momentum stunted by Michael Johnson at UFC Fight Night 94 back in September, and now he is eager to turn things around in his next go. The former featherweight contender turned lightweight will look to get back to his winning ways when he faces Jim Miller at UFC 208 in Brooklyn in a fight that is all but guaranteed to be a barn burner of a tilt.

Both Poirier and Miller have built their respective careers on a love for the scrap, and "The Diamond" is coming to "Brooktown" to put on a show.

"I made a huge mistake in my last fight because I didn't respect my opponent and it changed my outlook on this game a bit," Poirier said. "I have to respect everyone in this game because everyone is dangerous. Everyone is out there to win no matter what their fighting skills look like. I still believe Michael Johnson is a horrible fighter from a technical standpoint, but that doesn't matter.

"I know I'm a better fighter than him, but whoever is better and whoever works harder doesn't matter in this sport. This is an 'in the moment and right here right now' sport, and I need to be more in the moment when I step into the cage.

"I've been watching this guy fight for a long time, even going as far back to when I was young and trying to fight my way into the UFC," he added in regard to Miller. "I was asking to face a top-10 guy to work my up the rankings, but sometimes fights just make sense. The fight with Jim came across and it seemed like a fun fight to take."

While Poirier will be fighting to return to the win column and resume his run up the divisional ladder, he'll meet an opponent who is currently in the mix of a comeback of his own.

Miller held elite status at 155-pounds for the better part of a decade, but an unfortunate turn of health and rough patch inside the cage put his career in jeopardy. Nevertheless, the scrappy veteran would defeat Lyme Disease and reclaim his groove to notch a three-fight winning streak to close out an impressive 2016 campaign.

Although Poirier holds nothing but respect for Miller, he'll arrive at UFC 208 with violent intentions. One comeback will stop while another will hit a new gear, and Poirier has every intention of being the man moving forward that Saturday night.


© Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

"Anyone who has been relevant for the past seven or eight years in a division this tough is going to be a good opponent," Poirier said. "He has 25 fights in the UFC, has faced the best guys at 155 and has always been near the top of the division. Furthermore, he's still at the top of his game and hasn't lost a step. He's not one of those shot fighters. He's still very dangerous and I think it's going to be a fun fight for the fans.

"I'm going to let the fight unfold, but I'm not afraid to go to the mat with Jim Miller. I've been confident in my jiu-jitsu for a long time and spending the last four years at American Top Team has only made me stronger in that department. I have my hands full every day at the gym and he's not going to show me anything I haven't seen before.

"Jim is also a guy I respect," he said. "He's not a trash-talker or goes out there to be flashy. He's a working man like myself and that makes for an exciting fight. I'm looking forward to going out there and putting on a show."