Dustin Poirier has issued a response to UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev after the Russian champion said he is undeserved of a title shot.
Dustin Poirier scored an emphatic comeback win against Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299 and following the fight, it seemed as though the UFC were setting up for Poirier’s next fight to be for the title.
Despite Islam Makhachev urging the UFC to book the Poirier fight for June, he said that the Louisianan ‘doesn’t deserve’ to fight for the title.
Since then, the 35-year-old has issued a response to the Dagestani champion.
‘I’ve done more in the sport than he has’, Dustin Poirier responds to Makhachev
Makhachev explained that the reason he wants to fight Poirier next, is because he’s the only guy availble for the short turnaround, as he wants to fight three times this year.
Dustin Poirier has fought for undisputed gold twice before but if he had a choice, he’d be getting his third shot in his next fight, as he claims he has ‘done more in the sport’ than the 32-year-old champion has.
“100% that’s what I want, if I could pick a fight the title fight is my choice.” Poirier told MMAJunkie. “I’ve done more in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts than he has. I’ve been around a long time, I was doing this before it was cool and I’m still here doing it at the highest level.
“I could beat anyone in the world and I hope he’s next.” the former interim lightweight champion added.
Since 2009, Dustin Poirier has competed in every calendar year, and following his appearance and win at UFC 299 earlier this month, he became the 13th UFC fighter to compete 30 times, holding the highest win percentage of them all.
Poirier also shuts down Benoit Saint-Denis’ staph infection excuses
Following his loss to Poirier at UFC 299, Benoit Saint-Denis came out and admitted that he went into the fight with staph infection on his forehead.
‘The Diamond’ has claimed ‘that’s all talk’, hinting that the Frenchman is making excuses for losing a big moment fight.
“I think all of that’s just talk, if anything I’ve learned in this sport fighting for as long as I have is people are going to churp, it’s all noise. You say those types of things (admitting injury/infection) when you win, you don’t say that when you lose. I’ve gone into so many fights with staph infection, fractures, lacerated bicep all kinds of stuff, that’s fighting.” Poirier added.
The rest of the lightweight division
With it being Islam Makhachev’s desire to fight in June, Poirier may count himself fortunate that he is the only fighter near the top of the 155lb division, that doesn’t have a fight booked and so the timing is favorable for him.
Justin Gaethje who is also very close to another title shot, is already booked to fight Max Holloway at UFC 300, where he will defend his BMF title.
Similarly, Charles Oliveira is taking on Arman Tsarukyan, also on the April 13th event, meaning neither of those two fighters will likely be able to make the two-month turnaround.
‘Do Bronx’ Oliveira was scheduled to rematch Makhachev for the title back at UFC 294, but the Brazilian withdrew because of a cut sustained in training.
Timing may play into Dustin Poirier’s favor in this situation, and he may well be the first actual lightweight to try and dethrone Islam Makhachev. Makhachev’s first two lightweight title defenses came against former featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski, with him yet to defend the title against anyone in the lightweight rankings.
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