WAR WOUNDS
UFC star hit with INDEFINITE ban following three horror injuries as career hangs by thread after Makhachev loss
Scroll down below to see the gruelling damage the UFC star suffered
DUSTIN POIRIER suffered THREE horror injuries in his ill-fated bid to win the lightweight title which have seen him slapped with a lengthy ban.
The fan favourite came up short in his third attempt to become undisputed 155lb champion last weekend in the main event of UFC 302 in New Jersey.
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Poirier, 35, took dominant champion and pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev to the fifth and final round but was submitted by a D'Arce choke.
The fight was a bloodbath, with both men wearing crimson masks in the later rounds.
And days after his latest and quite possibly final title setback, Poirier took to social media to reveal the extent of his injuries.
He wrote on X: "Nose is broken bad, rib is broken and my ACL is partially torn."
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Poirier followed that up with an X-ray of his busted nose, which was shattered in multiple places.
He wrote across the image: "Four or five breaks from the headbutt."
Porier's trio of injuries have resulted in the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board handing him an INDEFINITE medical suspension.
Ahead of fight night, the former interim lightweight champ admitted retirement could be on the cards if he came up short in his latest bid for undisputed glory.
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And he's since teased that the end is indeed nigh, telling ESPN: "After the [Justin] Gaethje fight, it was a big test for me and my personal growth.
"Practising my mindfulness and practising gratitude.
UFC star Dustin Poirier trains smart and looks hench in the gym
"Because I said it yesterday or the other day with you, without gratitude, nothing is ever enough.
"My cup is full, my family is good. I have my health, they have theirs.
"I'm chasing dreams and I'm living the life that I only could have imagined when I was a kid just by chasing my dreams.
"I came up short and it hurts bad.
"Because like I said, I know I'm not going to get another chance. I'm probably not going to get another chance to be undisputed world champion."
In the post-fight press conference, he added: "I was fighting to be the world champion.
"What else am I fighting for? Just the thrill? Because I am addicted to it, no doubt. But for the money?
"Me and my family are good. I don't need the money. Money's great, but my health is first.
"What am I fighting for? To be the champion again?
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"Will I ever get that shot even if I go on a streak? I don't know.
"It's such a tough mountain to climb that I've climbed so many times."
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