The Joe Rogan Experience JRE MMA Show #176 with Dustin Poirier
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Mar 17, 2026 
Dustin Poirier, retired UFC lightweight star and founder of The Good Fight Foundation, gets candid about brutal weight cuts, fighter pay, steroid-era loopholes, and the emptiness that can follow retirement. He also digs into surgery horror stories, Conor McGregor fame, future boxing temptations, and why kickboxing and new media could reshape combat sports.
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Why Spine Surgery Should Be The Last Resort
- Joe Rogan urges fighters to treat spine surgery as the absolute last step because newer biologics and decompression may preserve tissue.
- They contrast promising disc replacements with the irreversible costs of fusions and the damage from techniques like oblique kicks.
The Moment Dustin Felt His Knee Tear Vs Islam
- Dustin Poirier says he partially tore his ACL against Islam Makhachev when his knee slid along the fence during a pull.
- He felt fire in the joint mid-fight, avoided full rupture by inches, and recovered through rehab instead of surgery.
How Fighting Conor Changed Dustin's Career Reach
- Dustin Poirier says the Conor McGregor fights changed his public recognition more than years of title-level UFC success had.
- He had already headlined cards and fought for belts, but McGregor's fame suddenly opened seminars and appearance money.