On June 1 in the main event of UFC 302, the American failed in his third attempt to win the full belt, losing to the Dagestani with a choke hold in the fifth round.
"I was close to ending my career in the octagon. But I don't want to lay down my gloves in the octagon, this is it. Every fight could be my last. I've been thinking about that for a couple years now. A week after the fight, I don't have a decision.
I don't know yet. I don't know what to fight for next. Maybe in the coming weeks something will come up, some motivation. I'm leaning towards ending my career more than ever. I want to fight for the belt - but how many times will I have to fight for that. I don't want to fight five more times for a title shot. My wife insists that I finish my career. So far, no fights appeal to me," Puryear said on The MMA Hour show.