Dustin Poirier insists he was ready and willing to take a short-notice fight with Justin Gaethje.
The lightweight duo are currently 1-1 after previously sharing the Octagon in 2018 and 2023.
A trilogy chance popped up when Dan Hooker was pulled out of his UFC 313 fight with Justin Gaethje. earlier this week.
About 24 hours later, Rafael Fiziev was announced as Hooker’s replacement by UFC CEO Dana White.
Dustin Poirier denies rejecting UFC 313 call
Soon after his new opponent was confirmed, Gaethje claimed five lightweight stars refused to face him on 10 days notice.
“Arman [Tsarukyan] and Charles [Oliveira] understandably said no. Max [Holloway] and Dustin [Poirier] understandably said no. [Renato] Moicano got the call and said no,” the former interim UFC champion tweeted on Wednesday evening.
He added: “Props to Fiziev for volunteering to fly across the world and take this fight. Big risk here for me taking this rematch against an elite striker. Life’s a trip. Best live show on earth going down March 8th #UFC313”
Dustin Poirier has now taken to X – formerly known as Twitter – to set the record straight.
“I never got the call, I didn’t say no,” he wrote in response to Gaethje’s viral social media post.
Poirier added: “I’m the one who reached out to them when I read the news. Ask Hunter [Campbell]. All respect to you and Fiziev, looking forward to this one again.”
Arman Tsaryukan has also denied turning down a short-notice fight with Gaethje – but he did admit to asking for the bout at a catchweight before Fiziev agreed to make 156lbs.
What’s next for Dustin Poirier?
Poirier hasn’t fought since getting choked out by lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 last June.
The 36-year-old flirted with retirement before confirming that he will return for one final UFC fight.
Until recently, details about when and where Poirier would have his last scrap had been scarce.
‘The Diamond’ has now revealed a likely date and the ‘incredible’ location for his UFC swansong.
“It’s summer. July or August, probably. We’re working on UFC New Orleans,” Poirier told MMA Fighting.
“I’m trying to retire in my home state. The UFC hasn’t been there since 2015. I fought on the card as well. I fought Yancy Medeiros, but that was the last time I got to fight at home. To retire where it all started in Louisiana would be incredible for me and my career.”
Poirier says there’s still work to be done to book a suitable dance partner after he insisted on facing ‘legends only‘.
He added on his potential opponent: “Not quite yet. Still working on a couple of things.”