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Tag: Dustin Poirier

  • Poirier Reveals Why Oliveira Loss Hurt More Than Title Defeat To Khabib

    Despite the heartbreak of his 2019 defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov, UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier has revealed why his loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 269 hurt more.

    Ahead of this year’s final pay-per-view, many branded Poirier the “uncrowned champion” and expected “The Diamond” to leave Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena with the 155-pound gold wrapped around his waist. His form had suggested that was a big possibility.

    Since his submission setback against “The Eagle,” Poirier had won three straight. Following a decision triumph over Dan Hooker in a 2020 Fight of the Year contender, the Louisianan re-visited his rivalry with 2014 opponent Conor McGregor. After becoming the first man to knock the Irishman out in January this year, Poirier secured the trilogy win when the pair met again at UFC 264 in July.

    But when he set his sights back on the belt, it was a familiar story for “The Diamond.” Despite early success, the 32-year-old found himself tapping out in the third round yet again. This time it was a Brazilian underdog on his back, rather than a Dagestani brute.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXXyt0VsRCO/

    Poirier: “I Could’ve Done More”

    Both of Poirier’s title losses felt like heartbreaking ends to an inspirational journey to the top. But for the former interim champion, one hurt a lot more than the other.

    During an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour in the week after his crushing defeat, Poirier detailed the difference between the two championship failings. Against Khabib, the Louisiana native felt he did everything possible to have his hand raised and was simply beaten by the better man. But he was left with a feeling of what could have been against “Do Bronx.”

    “In the Khabib fight, I felt like I was bested. I did everything that I could and I lost. This one, I feel like I could’ve done more. And that hurts. That’s something I have to deal with. I could’ve been smarter. I could’ve been more in the moment. I could’ve been more locked in. And I could’ve been the world champion.”

    The next step is unclear for Poirier. “The Diamond” has understandably had his motivation dented, and revealed he may never even fight at lightweight again. However, one name that got him excited about the idea of competing again was former foe Nate Diaz.

    But despite going back-and-forth on social media and both seeming to agree on a clash for early next year, negotiation issues appear to have derailed the booking for now.

    For the time being, at least, it appears Poirier’s mind is set on fun fights, rather than another push for gold.

    Do you think UFC 269 was Dustin Poirier’s last chance to become an undisputed champion?

  • Gaethje Questions If McGregor Paychecks Affected Poirier At UFC 269

    UFC lightweight contender Justin Gaethje has questioned whether Dustin Poirier’s lucrative fights with Conor McGregor earlier this year may have hampered his performance against Charles Oliveira at UFC 269.

    At the final pay-per-view of 2021, many expected Poirier to secure his place in contention for Fighter of the Year through a title crowning. In January, “The Diamond” got his 2014 loss to McGregor back by becoming the first man to knock the former two-division champion out. Six months later, the pair headlined their second event of the year. Poirier secured the trilogy victory after the Irishman broke his leg in the opening round.

    Following two lucrative money fights, Poirier turned his attention back to the belt. He became the first man to challenge the reign of fellow promotional veteran Charles Oliveira at UFC 269.

    Despite entering the fight as the favorite, the Louisianan had a dose of déjà vu from his previous title attempt in 2019. Like against Khabib Nurmagomedov, Poirier was submitted with a rear-naked choke in the third round by “Do Bronx.”

    UFC 269: Dustin Poirier suffers more title heartache as Charles Oliveira chokes him out to retain lightweight title
    Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, UFC 269

    The result has seemingly set the stage for new #1-ranked contender Gaethje to have his second crack at the undisputed gold in 2022. Following the main event fight that likely determined which individual he’ll be looking to dethrone next year, “The Highlight” discussed the action that unfolded in an interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto.

    Gaethje suggested that Poirier’s previous outings in 2021 may have had a negative impact on his drive to succeed at UFC 269. Having earned millions with two triumphs over MMA’s biggest superstar, the Arizona native believes Poirier may have had less hunger than before this year.

    “Luckily for me, I’ve just lost a fight two fights ago. You know, I’m back here in this position, but when you get to the top and you lose, you’re not sure if you’re gonna get back. And I’m not coming off two (fights) where I just made $10 million-plus, at the end of the day. (I have) the same goals I had from day one, which are to represent my family, my country, my town, to inspire the world, and to gain economic comfortability for me and my family through this sport.

    “I don’t have that yet, so of course I’m still as hungry as ever. I can’t say that’s why Poirier wasn’t or was; I don’t think he wasn’t hungry, I just, I don’t know. I can’t imagine… I hope one day I know how hard it is to get ready for a fight coming off those two big paychecks.”

    Gaethje Suggests Oliveira Had “More Hunger” At UFC 269

    Whether the McGregor fights had a significant part to play or not, Gaethje, who was in attendance for Oliveira’s first title defense, believes the Brazilian had “more hunger” on the night. Nevertheless, “The Highlight” acknowledged there was more to the result than just that, also suggesting “Do Bronx” is simply better at this moment in time.

    “You know, I think he’s (Oliveira) better right now (than Poirier), more hungry, per se, more specifically. That’s such a huge factor, and then the confidence, the fact the belt is around his waist, he’s representing Brazil on that level, it just makes this man that much harder to beat. I think that was a big piece of it.”

    Having previously doubted the toughness and resolve of Oliveira, Gaethje will now look to prove himself right and do what Poirier failed to do when he gets his own shot at the Brazilian’s gold next year.

    Do you agree with Justin Gaethje? Did Charles Oliveira have more hunger than Dustin Poirier at UFC 269?

  • Dana White Not Standing In The Way Of Poirier vs. Diaz Fight

    UFC President Dana White is leaving the booking of a potential Dustin Poirier vs. Nate Diaz fight to others.

    Talks of a Dustin Poirier vs. Nate Diaz money fight have been running sporadically for three years, with the two initially slated to meet at UFC 230 in 2018. After that fight fell through, both fighters went their separate ways professionally, but on social media, they have continued to bicker over the collapsed bout while also teasing a future one.

    Last week, Poirier appeared on The MMA Hour for a heart-to-heart with Ariel Helwani about what’s next for the UFC vet after losing a second world championship match, this time to Charles Oliveira at UFC 269. Poirier was unsure of his future, but he did know one thing: The only fight that got him excited at this present moment in time is Nate Diaz.

    Nate Diaz
    Image Credit: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    However, even though Diaz immediately returned that interest, there has already appeared to be some negotiating hurdles, with Diaz alleging that the UFC does not want to “pay for” Poirier.

    This is not the first time the UFC has been blamed for this fight not coming together. Back in August, Poirier hinted that the UFC was actually blocking the fight from taking place.

    Dana White More Than Willing To Book Poirier vs. Diaz

    Speaking at the UFC Vegas 45 post-fight press conference, however, Dana White suggested that the promotion would have no issue booking the fight if all the people who matter most want it.

    “Yeah, listen, if that’s a fight that they want and the fans want to see, we’ll do it,” White assured.

    The UFC initially wanted to pair Diaz with Khamzat Chimaev for the final fight of his contract, but Diaz didn’t bite. Last week, the promotion extended Diaz’s contract to buy more time in finding his next opponent. Now, Diaz, Poirier, and the fans could be on the verge of doing the UFC’s job for them.

    Would you like to see a fight between Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz?

  • Dustin Poirier Reveals The Most Heartbreaking Part Of UFC 269 Title Loss

    Dustin Poirier has opened up on his raw emotions and reflections following his heartbreaking loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 269.

    Dustin Poirier made his UFC debut 10 years ago, defeating Josh Grispi at UFC 125 in what was his featherweight debut. From that night forward, his rollercoaster UFC journey has been filled with many ups and downs, and he is grateful for it all.

    That said, there’s no denying that Poirier would prefer if this journey would have been paved in champion gold at some juncture. Unfortunately, he fell short in his two attempts at seizing that ultimate prize, first to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242 and then this past weekend to Charles Oliveira at UFC 269.

    Appearing on The MMA Hour recently, Poirier was candid about one aspect of his UFC 269 performance that particularly bothered him.

    “The second round, trying to get a stand-up instead of maybe attacking with my jiu-jitsu and trying to create space,” Poirier said. “Going into this fight, I thought that if I was put in a bad position, I was gonna hold it out and take over in the later rounds was my mindset. 

    Charles Oliveira defeats Dustin Poirier via third-round submission at UFC 269 - The Athletic
    Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier

    “And obviously, [Referee Herb Dean] wasn’t gonna stand us up. And I just held on, kept holding on. I should’ve created space. I don’t know. Hindsight’s 20/20. There’s a lot of stuff I can say and look back on. And I’m not sure, but I’m just so much better than that. Everybody says that when they lose, but I know I am. It just sucks man because it’s one of those things, like, you maybe never get that opportunity again to call myself world champion. And to underperform?

    “You know, I owed it to myself—this one was for me. It wasn’t for the money. It wasn’t for proving anything. It was for me. And I fuckin’ fumbled, man. It hurts.”

    Dustin Poirier Reveals What Hurts The Most About UFC 269 Loss

    Dustin Poirier arrives home to hero's welcome from daughter Parker after smashing Conor McGregor at UFC 257

    Tactical analysis aside, the one thing that makes Poirier feel worse than anything else is the nonfulfillment of a post-fight moment he envisioned would last a lifetime for someone who means the world to him.

    “The real thing that sucks for me, man, my daughter was there for this one,” an emotional Poirier said. “I really wanted to win and dedicate this world championship to my daughter and just show her that [Emotional Pause]—it hurts, man…” Poirier stated, unable to complete his thought.

    “I really wanted to become the world champion and show tell that she can do anything she sets her heart out (to). That was important to me,” Poirier later concluded.

    There is no doubt that Poirier’s daughter has a father she can be very proud of, regardless of a championship label or lack thereof being attached to the family name. In addition to the fact that he has proven to be an elite fighter regardless, his philanthropical work in and of itself is an even better example for his daughter to follow than any success in hand-to-hand combat.

    Poirier’s The Good Fight Foundation continues to change lives across Louisiana and beyond, and that’s about as good an example as any father can hope to present to his child.

    What do you believe the future holds for Dustin Poirier after his loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 269?

  • Poirier & Diaz Set Their Sights On January Clash In Twitter Exchange

    UFC stars Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz have seemingly agreed to come to blows in January after the Stockton native responded to the former interim lightweight champion’s callout.

    Poirier’s enthusiastic push for a long-desired meeting in the Octagon with Diaz comes just days out from his second failed attempt at reaching the lightweight mountaintop. Having previously fallen short against the great Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019, Poirier’s second opportunity to culminate his inspirational journey arrived at UFC 269 last weekend.

    Unlike his clash with “The Eagle,” the Louisianan challenged champion Charles Oliveira as the favorite. Nevertheless, the Brazilian’s story of upsetting the odds entered another chapter, as he submitted Poirier in the third round with a rear-naked choke, a painfully similar scenario for the #2-ranked lightweight contender.

    Following the loss, Poirier made an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour. The 32-year-old was initially emotional and distraught about the defeat and couldn’t even confirm if he’d fight again.

    But when the direction steered towards an opponent that could re-motivate him, Poirier appeared to find a new lease of Octagon life when the thought of facing fan-favorite Diaz arrived in his head. After suggesting he may never make the cut to 155 pounds again, Poirier named the veteran Stockton brawler as the one name that would get him excited to compete again.

    “When I’ve been lying down, thinking about fights, nothing gets me excited—unless Nate Diaz wants to fight. If he wants to fight, that gets me excited.”

    An Immediate Rebound Opportunity For Poirier?

    The change in Poirier’s tone when a potential Diaz clash came up was noticeable, and the former interim titleholder wasted no time in doubling down on his willingness for a quick turnaround against the 36-year-old.

    Taking to Twitter, Poirier still had Diaz’s name on his mind in the hours after his initial comments.

    “Nathaniel?”

    It didn’t take long for Diaz to react to Poirier’s interview, and he did so with an even better response than fans would have hoped for. Not only did he accept the challenge, but The Ultimate Fighter 5 winner proposed they throw down next month.

    “I’ll fight Dp in January don’t be a scared lil bitch this time now or never.”

    If the fight comes together, it will be one that is three years in the making, and with a built-in backstory. The pair were originally set to collide at UFC 230 in 2018. The bout fell through at late notice, however. While the pair have continued to exchange words since, it appeared their chance to settle their differences in the Octagon had passed.

    But with the fight well and truly back on the radar, it seems fans may not have to wait long for the feud to reach the cage. Following Diaz’s response, Poirier went one better, suggesting he’d even fight him this month, a statement of intent the Stockton native wasn’t entertaining.

    “I’ll fight you this month,” Poirier wrote. Doubting that, Diaz responded, “Ur full of shit.”

    Fighters expressing their willingness to face each other on social media is nothing new, and the genuine nature of the exchanges is often hard to see. However, that doesn’t appear to be the case here. Ariel Helwani confirmed as much following their posts on social media.

    Taking to his own Twitter account, the renowned MMA journalist claimed both men are “legitimately serious” about facing each other in January.

    “Both @NateDiaz209 and @DustinPoirier are legitimately serious about fighting each other next month, I’m told. Both would accept the fight right away for January.”

    With Dustin Poirier’s desire to mount another challenge looking distant at the moment and his interest in a move up to welterweight made clear in previous interviews, it seems like the right time for “The Diamond” to test the waters at 170 pounds. And what better first challenge than a blockbuster matchup against former rival and always-entertaining slugger Nate Diaz?

    How do you think a welterweight fight between Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz would play out?

  • Jorge Masvidal Roasts Nate Diaz For ‘Ironic’ Diss Of Dustin Poirier

    It seems that Jorge Masvidal is looking to reignite a rivalry with Nate Diaz.

    Masvidal and Diaz squared off in 2019, for the specially crafter BMF title. And while the belt ended with a win for “Gamebred” after a doctor’s stoppage, they have constantly flirted with the idea of fight each other again. Over the years, they have gone back and forth on a few occasions, with talks even developing of a rematch at various points.

    Now it seems that they are going at it once more, this time stemming from a tweet that Nate Diaz posted after Masvidal’s American Top Team teammate Dustin Poirier got submitted by Charles Oliveira at UFC 269. Diaz seemed to mock the lightweight title challenger for losing both of his championship attempts by rear-nake choke, implying that he did not learn anything.

    “These guys don’t get any better ?” Diaz wrote.

    This prompted a response from Jorge Masvidal a few days after this tweet. The BMF champ lambasted the Stockton native for criticizing a fighter for not improving while he has had his own notable defensive flaws for years.

    “Just came across this and it’s so ironic that the individual who can’t block low kicks high kicks or mid kicks is talking shit about fighters getting better #canyouevenspelldoubleleg” Masvidal quipped.

    With Jorge Masvidal opening this can of worms again, it is hard not to wonder if he is trying to secure a fight with Diaz after his attempted rebound against Leon Edwards fell apart due to injury. Whether it be this or “Gamebred” just defending his teammate, it is never boring to see these two squabble online.

  • Poirier Only Excited For Nate Diaz Bout, May Never Fight At LW Again

    Dustin Poirier may be in store for some wholesale changes to his career after losing to Charles Oliveira at UFC 269, including a new division with an ‘exciting’ first opponent.

    At UFC 269, Dustin Poirier hoped to finally reach the mountaintop and become a UFC champion. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be, and he lost via rear-naked choke for the second time when bidding to become the undisputed lightweight champion.

    Four days removed from the event, Poirier appeared on The MMA Hour to reflect on the loss and what may be next for him. One revelation made by Poirier is that a strong part of him feels he will never have the opportunity to become the lightweight champion again. As he alluded to at the post-fight press conference, that uncertainty is rooted in questions of desire, not his abilities.

    “I don’t know if I’m gonna make that cut again,” Poirier said about a potential quick path back to a lightweight title shot. “I might never fight at 155 pounds again. I don’t know the future.”

    Poirier recalled back to when he chose to make the move from featherweight to lightweight in 2015, a decision brought about by very similar circumstances.

    “Yeah, that’s kinda what nudged me to go over the edge to go to ‘55 when I was at ‘45. I was close to a title shot then I lost to Conor in 2014, and I knew  I would have to make that cut three, four, fight more times, whatever it would be to get another title shot, and I just didn’t have it in me to do it.

    DraftKings fantasy MMA daily picks: UFC Fight Night 94, Poirier vs. Johnson
    Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

    “And here I am at ’55, and I’m thinking, like, well, if I gotta fight two, three more times to get a title shot, I don’t know if I wanna live those training camps on low calories pushing my body like that. I’d rather just do it and have fun because I love what I’m doing, making it as enjoyable as possible instead of sacrificing and hurting every day in camp because I’m low in calories.”

    The One Fight That Gets Dustin Poirier Excited

    Dustin Poirier Nate Diaz
    (via AP & Zuffa LLC)

    During the interview, Poirier confessed that he does not know what the future holds for him. He is not fully certain when or even if he will fight again. Looking at the landscape at both lightweight and welterweight, nothing particularly gets the veteran’s motor running—that is except for one guy from Stockton, California.

    “When I’ve been lying down, thinking about fights, nothing gets me excited—unless Nate Diaz wants to fight. If he wants to fight, that gets me excited.”

    Diaz and Poirier were booked to fight in 2018 at UFC 230, but that fight fell through for unconfirmed reasons. Since then, the two have occasionally chirped back and forth at one another on social media. Most recently, Diaz threw a shot at a downed Poirier immediately following the Louisianian’s loss to Oliveira.

    Earlier this year, Diaz revealed that he is still keen on the idea of fighting Poirier, and that interest has always been returned. Diaz’s current contract with the UFC has been extended, which buys him and the UFC more time to land the perfect opponent for the final fight on his current deal. So all things considered, now may be as good a time as there ever will be to finally settle some unfinished business.

    Would YOU be excited to see Dustin Poirier vs. Nate Diaz in 2022?

  • Covington Says Poirier Lost To Oliveira Due To “Quitter Mentality”

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington believes former teammate Dustin Poirier lost his title fight against Charles Oliveira due to his “quitter mentality.”

    In the UFC 269 main event this past weekend, Poirier fell short of reaching the lightweight mountaintop for the second time in just over two years. Having failed to unify his interim title against Khabib Nurmagomedov back in 2019, “The Diamond” worked his way back to the top step of the lightweight ladder this year with back-to-back victories over former two-division champion Conor McGregor.

    But in a painfully similar fashion to his submission loss against “The Eagle” in Abu Dhabi, Poirier was forced to tap out and watch his title hopes collapse yet again. Despite knocking down Oliveira, the Louisianan was unable to take advantage, and appeared to fatigue before falling to a third-round rear-naked choke.

    Covington Wasn’t Surprised By Poirier’s Loss

    The result was yet another heart-breaking culmination of Poirier’s inspirational journey. But while many have attempted to console him and send words of support his way, one man was certainly not going to follow suit.

    Poirier’s former American Top Team teammate Colby Covington recently discussed the 32-year-old’s defeat to “Do Bronx” during an appearance on Submission Radio. After refuting the idea that Poirier’s two victories over McGregor were impressive, “Chaos” slammed what he perceives to be a “quitter mentality” the former interim lightweight titleholder has inside the Octagon.

    “Just the quitter mentality of Dustin. He’s always been like that. He doesn’t like to work hard. Living off of beating Conor McGregor. What’s the big deal about beating Conor McGregor anymore these days? I mean, he has a great legacy, he did some great things in the past; the guy made a lot of money, he doesn’t have that same drive anymore. So beating a guy like that is not gonna mean you’re gonna be some world-beater and the best in the world.

    “That’s what I saw. I figured he was gonna gas out and he was eventually gonna quit, and that’s what he did. Just like in the Khabib fight, he quits, he puts his head on the mat, and he leaves his neck open so he can get rear-naked choked. (I) wasn’t surprised. I told everybody… ‘Charles Oliveira, he’s gonna look like a D-1 All-American wrestler and take down Dustin, and beat him.’ That’s exactly what I predicted and that’s what happened.”

    Like Poirier, Covington has also failed to win gold in two attempts between 2019 and 2021. After being finished by Kamaru Usman at UFC 245, the #1-ranked welterweight had his second shot at the title last month at UFC 268. Despite taking “The Nigerian Nightmare” the distance, Covington didn’t do enough to earn the nod on the scorecards.

    While most expect Covington to settle his rivalry with former friend Jorge Masvidal next year, the 33-year-old has also consistently taken aim at Poirier and encouraged the former featherweight to challenge him at welterweight. Having suggested he’d pursue a move up to 170 pounds after winning and defending the lightweight belt, perhaps Poirier’s recent setback will see him commit to the move sooner.

    Do you agree with Colby Covington’s take on Dustin Poirier’s UFC 269 loss to Charles Oliveira?

  • Justin Gaethje Changes Tone On Charles Oliveira After UFC 269 Outcome

    UFC lightweight contender and former interim champion Justin Gaethje is pivoting on his earlier remarks about Charles Oliveira.

    Oliveira shut down Dustin Poirier’s second attempt at a UFC lightweight title, submitting him in the third round. Oliveira survived an early barrage of strikes by Poirier to wear him down and show off his elite grappling prowess. Now, he’s looking ahead to a potential fight with Gaethje.

    Just weeks after Gaethje took shots at Oliveira in the media, going as far as labeling him a “quitter”, he now respects Oliveira’s place as the UFC’s lightweight king.

    This prompted responses from many around the UFC; including Poirier, who gave Oliveira plenty of credit ahead of their fight.

    Justin Gaethje Changes His Tone On Charles Oliveira

    During the UFC 269 post-fight show, Gaethje praised Oliveira for his performance against Poirier.

    “I absolutely loved it,” Gaethje said. “I will give no disrespect to Charles. He is now the undisputed champion and I cannot wait to fight him. I don’t care where or when.”

    While Gaethje has a newfound appreciation for Oliveira’s rise to the top of the heap, he thinks he has the approach to give the champion issues in a potential matchup.

    “I saw a competitor tonight,” Gaethje said. “I saw a dog and I can’t wait to break his face. He gets hit a lot.

    “He better pray and hope for the next however many days until our fight that he takes me down, gets his choke. Because if not, we see what happens.”

    When asked to give a prediction on how a fight with Oliveira would play out, Gaethje continued to keep it real.

    “He just won a championship. I should build it up,” Gaethje said. “At the end of the day, it’s me trying to knock him out versus him trying to get it to the ground. That’s who we are. That’s who he’s been. That’s who I am.

    “Whether it’s in Brazil, in America, preferably not Abu Dhabi. I’m all in. So I can’t wait.”

    Justin Gaethje Vs. Charles Oliveira Is A Fascinating Stylistic Matchup

    Gaethje vs. Oliveira has the potential to be one of the greatest lightweight title fights in recent memory. Both have proven to be tough as nails and have a balanced style on the ground and the feet.

    Gaethje is mostly known for the power with his striking but also has a solid wrestling background. Oliveira has very technical, opportunistic kickboxing to go with an other-worldly Jiu-Jitsu game.

    Gaethje is coming off his UFC 268 win over Michael Chandler that may have been the most exciting fight in 2021. While his stock is arguably higher than ever, a title fight between Oliveira and Gaethje could be an exciting fight for both sides, and it is one that Dana White has already confirmed is the current plan for the promotion.

    How do you think a Justin Gaethje vs. Charles Oliveira title fight would play out?

  • Dustin Poirier Uncertain Of Future After UFC 269 Loss

    If anybody can come back from adversity, it’s Dustin Poirier, but that’s not the question Poirier will be confronting in the coming days.

    At UFC 269, Dustin Poirier entered the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada as a man with a second chance. Two years ago, Poirier contested for the undisputed lightweight title for the first time, and he lost via rear-naked choke to then-champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    UFC 242 results: Khabib Nurmagomedov submits Dustin Poirier to retain
    Image Credit: Per Haljestam, USA TODAY Sports

    In his second attempt at undisputed gold yesterday against Charles Oliveira, he would fall victim to the same hold in the same third round.

    During the UFC 269 post-fight press conference, a brave and visibly emotional Poirier was asked about his future. The veteran is unsure what the future holds, but he is certain that if he chooses to be right back challenging for the world title again, he would.

    However, he is still unsure if that will happen for reasons that go deeper than his abilities.

    “I can do anything I put my mind to,” Poirier told reporters. “I can fight for another belt. I can go on another streak. I can claw, and climb, and get back to wherever I wanna be. It’s just, do I want to? That’s the question I have to look in the mirror and answer. Do I want to do it again? Do I want to go down that road again?

    Dustin Poirier
    Dustin Poirier (Photo: Chris Unger/Zuffa)

    “And that answer will come in the next couple days, next couple weeks. I just need to let this pass and see what’s next for me. But if it’s in my heart and that’s what I wanna do, I’ll be here again fighting for another world title.”

    Dustin Poirier has proven time and time again that he can pull himself up by the bootstraps and get right back to work, whether it’s in the middle of a taxing battle or if it’s after a major setback in the form of a loss. Poirier has hinted at retirement earlier this year, but leading up to this fight he sounded much more certain about sticking around.

    However, those plans were uttered with the expectation that he would be the undisputed lightweight world champion. Now that he has come up short for the second time, it sounds as though everything hangs in the balance for Dustin Poirier, and fans will have to wait and see what the future holds for this living legend.

    You can view Dustin Poirier’s full UFC 269 post-fight press conference scrum below.

  • Diaz and McGregor Take Shots At Dustin Poirier Over “Embarrassing” Loss

    Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor both had something to say about Dustin Poirier’s loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 269.

    In last night’s UFC 269 main event, Dustin Poirier and champion Charles Oliveira went to war to solidify who was the best lightweight in the world. It was Oliveira who had his hand raised in the end to log his first successful title defense. Poirier was gracious and classy in defeat, but grace was not something extended to the Louisianian by two familiar faces to him, Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor.

    First, Diaz took an indirect shot at nemesis Conor McGregor in his reaction to the outcome of the UFC 269 main event.

    “How Conor let Dp fuck him up hella times he sucks”

    It’s up for interpretation if the “he” is in reference to McGregor or Poirier, but judging by the overall context, it would seem the insult could apply equally to either gentleman.

    Poirier had more pressing issues to deal with at the moment than what Nate Diaz had to say about him, but McGregor continues to have plenty of time to fire back at his rival while also launching an indirect shot at Poirier in this instance.

    “you lanky string of piss he got lumped around and got lucky twice. That’s it. Is what it is. Embarrassing night for him alright. That closed guard game. Wtf was that. Wow! Shocking. All good happy Sat night horse yupya it’s proper twelve day tomorrow 12/12. New Paddy’s Day!,” McGregor said in response to Diaz.

    Nate Diaz and Dustin Poirier have been linked together in the past. The two were supposed to fight at UFC 230 in 2018, but that fight fell apart, with both fighters pointing the finger at the other as far as who was to blame for the collapse.

    Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier have fought three times, with Poirier getting the better of McGregor twice, as Diaz alluded to in his tweet. The last time Poirier and McGregor competed against one another was at UFC 264. At the close of this trilogy bout, McGregor suffered a gruesome leg injury that resulted in a Poirier TKO victory via doctor’s stoppage.

    What do you make of these remarks from Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor about Dustin Poirier’s UFC 269 loss?

  • 7 Takeaways From UFC 269: Oliveira vs. Poirier

    UFC 269 featured two title fights that crowned a new queen of the women’s bantamweight division and a current champion proved himself as worthy of holding the title he won earlier this year.

    There was a lot to take away from UFC 269, here are some things that stood out.

    O’Malley vs. Garbrandt?

    During the pre-fight press conference, Sean O’Malley and Cody Garbrandt went after each other, even though they both had their own fights with other people at UFC 269 to worry about. Still, O’Malley seemed to think it would be a good idea for them to square up at the press conference for a future event. Is this something you want to see?

    Lost One 

    Alex Perez
    Image Credit: Jeff Sherwood of Sherdog.com

    It happens enough these days, bookmakers should start laying odds on what fight will get pulled from a card, and for what reason. After the weigh-ins, the UFC announced that the flyweight bout between Matt Schnell and Alex Perez was canceled due to medical issues with Schnell.

    The Savage Gets Back in The Win Column

    Gillian Robertson was on a two-fight losing streak going into UFC 269. If that wasn’t enough fuel to pick up a win, her opponent Priscila Cachoeira missed weight and they fought at a catchweight. Robertson scored the first submission and finish of the night to get back in the win column and did it with Cachoeira fighting dirty. Losers never win, and Robertson proved that here. Check out Robertson’s submission finish and doing it while Cahcoeira was poking her in the eye.

    Kai-Kara France

    UFC 269 results: Kai Kara-France spoils Cody Garbrandt's flyweight debut with massive TKO win - CBSSports.com
    Kai Kara-France. Image Credit: Jeff Bottari

    France stopped Garbrandt in his tracks for Garbrandt’s flyweight debut, leaving questions for Garbrandt’s future but opening doors for France. With his first-round finish of the former bantamweight champion, France made it known he has his eyes on Brandon Moreno and Deivison Figueredo. Either fight would make a great future match-up for him. 

    Dominick Cruz

    UFC 269 tweets: Pros react to Dominick Cruz comeback win, Daniel Cormier commentary controversy - MMA Fighting
    Dominick Cruz, Image Credit: MMA Fighting

    Cruz made news for his criticism of Daniel Cormier’s broadcast style on fight week and that may have taken away from the fact that regardless of how anyone handles a mic, Cruz can still manage the cage better. It’s obvious he does just as much homework for fights as he does for his broadcast duties. Cruz fought and won against a very tough Pedro Munhoz to pick up a decisive victory. If there’s a fight to make, maybe he and Jose Aldo could headline a card in 2022.

    And New!

    UFC 269 results, highlights: Julianna Pena scores shocking upset of Amanda Nunes to claim title - CBSSports.com
    Julianna Pena, Image Credit: Chris Unger

    A huge underdog, Julianna Peña came in with nothing but heart and a great jab that would hand Nunes the loss that would cost her the title, and crown The Venezuelan Vixen the new bantamweight champion. Peña was a +650 underdog and when the going got tough, Peña’s resolve would be the fuel that won her the title. 

    And Still!

    UFC 269 results: Charles Oliveira taps Dustin Poirier to retain title
    Charles Oliveira. Image Credit: USA TODAY Sports

    Diamonds are tough but “Do Bronx” is tougher as Charles Oliveira proved that he can stand with the tougher, more damaging fighter the likes of Dustin Poirier. Oliveira’s chin was definitely tested in this fight, especially in round one but if there were a physical demonstration of “being like water,” Oliveira definitely did it to Poirier when he scored the submission victory. 

    There’s obviously more to take away from this event than what is listed here especially with it being the last one of 2021. New challengers for various titles, up-and-coming fighters looking to get in the top 15, and potential rematches to make. The UFC certainly closed their pay-per-view schedule well.

    What did you take away from the event? Better yet, what would you like to see in 2022?

  • Fighters React To Charles Oliveira Submitting Dustin Poirier To Retain Lightweight Title At UFC 269

    Charles Oliveira vs. Dustin Poirier lived up to expectations with the lightweight title on the line. 

    The two fighters met in a title bout on Saturday night (December 11, 2021) at the UFC 269 pay-per-view event from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    The first round was madness. Poirier stunned him right out of the gate before they clinched. Charles got a brief takedown before Poirier popped right back to his feet. They had a fun exchange before Poirier dropped him only to let him back up. Charles went for a takedown and got it to start off the second round. Poirier did get back up, but when Charles went for an arm submission, it led to Charles rolling on top in half guard and landed some big elbows. Charles finished the fight with a standing rear-naked choke in the third round to retain the title. 

    Peep the highlights of the fight courtesy of the UFC’s official Twitter account:

    https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1469903999017132035

    Let’s see how the fighters reacted to the outcome of this fight: 

    https://twitter.com/LaurenMurphyMMA/status/1469905300144721920
    https://twitter.com/Actionman513/status/1469905337310318595

    Poirier went on a six-fight winning streak including back-to-back wins over Conor McGregor – a KO win at UFC 257 and then a doctor stoppage win at UFC 264. Before that, he got a win over Max Holloway by a hard-fought unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 236 to earn a title shot. He lost by submission to UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov at the UFC 242 show from The Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. In his previous outing, he got a decision win over Dan Hooker on June 27, 2020. 

    Entering this fight, Oliveira had been on a hot streak that included nine consecutive victories. In his previous bout, he won the lightweight title when he beat Michael Chandler by TKO at UFC 262. Before that, he got 

    a decision win over Tony Ferguson at the UFC 256 pay-per-view event. He previously choked out Kevin Lee at the UFC Brasilia event in March 2020, got wins over Jared Gordon by KO at the UFC Sao Paulo event from the Ginásio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and a TKO win over Nik Lentz at the UFC Rochester event from the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, New York on ESPN+. 

    UFC 269 Results: Charles Oliveira vs. Dustin Poirier, Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Pena

    MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC 269. We’ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.

  • Dustin Poirier Looks To Join The List Of Inspiration Champions At UFC 269

    UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier is hoping emulate the success of inspirational champions like Michael Bisping and Robbie Lawler at UFC 269.

    Inspirational is certainly an appropriate word to use to describe Poirier’s career. From dropping out in the ninth grade after repeatedly getting into trouble to challenging for gold on MMA’s biggest stage, not many fighters have forged an unlikely path to success like the Lafayette, Louisiana native.

    After hitting the form of his life with with victories over Anthony Pettis, Justin Gaethje, Eddie Alvarez, and Max Holloway, Poirier entered a 2019 clash with then-UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov as the interim titleholder. The submission loss felt like a crushing end to his journey to the top. But the story wasn’t to end that night in Abu Dhabi.

    Now over two years later, “The Diamond” has recorded a win against Dan Hooker, equaled his score with Conor McGregor by becoming the first man to knock him out, and secured a trilogy victory over the Irishman. Poirier now has his sights back on the title, which he’ll challenge for this weekend in the final pay-per-view main event of the year.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXPwyBlM97F/

    Poirier Hopes To Join Illustrious Company

    In his way on December 11 will be reigning champion Charles Oliveira. As far as shocking and heart-warming championship wins go, not many fit the term better than “Do Bronx.” In his 28th outing in the UFC, the Brazilian had gold wrapped around his waist for the first time after an incredible comeback against Michael Chandler.

    Discussing his fellow veteran’s success at UFC 269 media day on Wednesday, Poirier admitted it felt “special” to see Oliveira reach the top. Citing the triumphs of some other legends, “The Diamond” said his goal on Saturday will be to join the list of inspirational champions who overcame the odds.

    “For sure, man. I’ve been watching that guy a long time. We both been in the same waters: ‘45, ’55 for the last decade in the UFC. And there’s a list of guys that when they won the belt was really special. He’s on that list, Bisping’s on that list, Robbie Lawler’s on that list. Underdogs. Of course everybody’s fighting against adversity, but the guy who were counting out a couple times and made it happen. And I’m trying to add my name to that list. That’s the goal here this weekend.”

    After a lucrative year of money fights with MMA’s biggest superstar, Poirier will look to close his 2021 with a championship crowning inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. For those rooting for the lightweight with the most inspirational journey to the title, this is a tough duo to choose between.

    Are you backing Dustin Poirier to dethrone Charles Oliveira this weekend at UFC 269?

  • Archives: Dustin Poirier Shuts Down Idea of GSP Skipping LW Line (2018)

    Tonight at UFC 269, Dustin Poirier will not have to worry about anyone skipping the line. He will have a second chance at undisputed lightweight gold when he challenges Charles Oliveira. Three years ago, however, things were much less certain. So much so that there were even rumblings of Georges St-Pierre himself potentially looking to win a world title in a third division. However, Poirier was having none of it.

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED AUGUST 6, 2018, 3:54 PM]

    Headline: Dustin Poirier Shuts Down Idea of GSP Skipping Lightweight Line

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    Dustin Poirier shuts down the thought of Georges St-Pierre getting a title shot before he does.

    Poirier is set to do battle with Nate Diaz at UFC 230 on Nov. 3. “The Diamond” is coming off a second-round TKO victory over former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez. Poirier has now gone 4-0, 1 NC in his last five outings. Meanwhile, Diaz will be stepping inside the Octagon for the first time since Aug. 2016.

    Dustin Poirier Shuts Down GSP

    St-Pierre recently expressed his desire to fight the winner of Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor. Nurmagomedov will defend his title against McGregor in the main event of UFC 229 on Oct. 6. During a recent appearance on MMAFighting.com‘s “The MMA Hour,” Poirier said St-Pierre will not get a title shot before he does:

    “Nah, it’s not happening. Look, after I beat Nate Diaz, I’m fighting for the belt. Or I’m fighting GSP, but he’s not going to get [a title shot] before I do.”

    St-Pierre has jumped the line before. Despite having not competed in four years and never fighting at middleweight, St-Pierre challenged Michael Bisping for the 185-pound title at UFC 217. GSP won the bout via submission and vacated his gold the following month.

    UFC 230 will feature a middleweight tilt between Jacare Souza and David Branch. Another 185-pound bout is in the works for the card. The UFC is trying to put together Luke Rockhold vs. Chris Weidman II. UFC 230 takes place inside Madison Square Garden in New York City. The card doesn’t have a main event yet.

    Do you think Dustin Poirier will get his shot if he beats Nate Diaz?

  • Poirier Names The One Thing He & Oliveira Share That Fans Should Know

    UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier has described which part of his game can also be seen in that of his upcoming opponent and 155-pound champion Charles Oliveira.

    Poirier will have his second chance to reach the lightweight mountaintop this weekend in the UFC 269 main event. After capturing interim gold with a victory over Max Holloway in 2019, “The Diamond” fell short in a unification bout against undefeated legend Khabib Nurmagomedov five months later.

    Since then, Poirier has been at his best and firmly established himself as one of the greatest lightweights on the planet. After a five-round Fight of the Night win against Dan Hooker, a memorable knockout of Conor McGregor, and a trilogy triumph over the Irishman, the Louisianan has now turned his attention back to title glory.

    To achieve it, he’ll have to go through another promotional veteran who boasts a similarly inspirational story in the UFC. After 28 appearances on MMA’s biggest stage, Oliveira had gold wrapped around his waist following an incredible comeback against Michael Chandler earlier this year. He’ll be looking to cement his place on the throne in his first defense this Saturday.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXMHJc7hvyY/

    Poirier Acknowledges The Threat Of “Do Bronx”

    Despite his active nine-fight winning streak, which includes successes against Chandler, Tony Ferguson, and Kevin Lee, and his ability to overcome adversity in his championship-winning performance, many have attempted to discredit Oliveira’s reign.

    As well as top contender Justin Gaethje suggesting the Brazilian has to defeat Poirier to truly be seen as the lightweight king, many have branded the #1-ranked contender as the “uncrowned champion.” But the challenger isn’t following the same mindset heading into his second title shot.

    During an appearance on DC & RC, Poirier acknowledged the wide range of skills Oliveira boasts and the threat he’ll pose on Saturday. “The Diamond” also compared his own tendency to finish fights with Oliveira’s, which has seen the Brazilian record the most submission wins in UFC history.

    “He (Oliveira) does a lot of great things. Throws big power shots, he has a good, clean left hook, a good long cross, big knees, good front kicks, and obviously his jiu-jitsu is dangerous everywhere. He does a lot of good things. He’s a very dangerous fighter.

    “That’s the thing, we’re both finishers. We’re not going out there trying to jab and win rounds; circle and jab, and win rounds. We’re trying to finish each other. So the fans are in for a treat when it comes to that.”

    Whether we witness a shocking finish or a five-round war, Saturday’s main event is sure to thrill for as long as it lasts, and will likely be the icing on top of a spectacular cake that will be UFC 269. The UFC is certainly closing out the year in style.

    Are you backing Dustin Poirier to dethrone Charles Oliveira at UFC 269?

  • Dana White Agrees With Poirier Being Favored Over Oliveira

    Dana White explains why he feels the odds make sense.

    We are one day away from the final UFC PPV of 2021. The main event features Charles Oliveira and challenger, Dustin Poirier, throwing down in a highly-anticipated scrap for the lightweight title. 

    Currently, oddsmakers slightly favor Poirier to win the main event at -160. This means that a $160 bet on “The Diamond” would net the bettor $100. The champion is an underdog at +140. So, $100 would net the bettor $140 if Oliveira pulls off the upset. 

    It may seem strange that a champion on a 9-fight win streak is the underdog, but Dana White thinks it makes perfect sense. He explained his reasoning to TSN.

    “Yeah, that’s fair. I mean, when you look at Dustin, what he’s done, what he’s accomplished, he’s a bigger guy, I think he has the advantage on his feet. I think if it goes to the ground, obviously, Oliveira has the advantage. I think that’s a pretty good line.”

    Charles Oliveira
    Charles Oliveira Getty Images

    Is The Champ Getting The Respect He Deserves?

    Poirier has won seven of his last eight fights. Not only does he have a high winning percentage, but the level of competition he’s beaten is also the who’s who of the division. Victories over Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, Eddie Alvarez, and Conor McGregor (twice) are just some names on the murder’s row Poirier has run through en route to this title shot. His lone loss in that time came at the hands of Khabib Nurmagomedov. 

    Oliveira is on a solid streak of his own and earned victories over Kevin Lee, Tony Ferguson, and Michael Chandler during his current run. While Oliveira did have issues in the cage early in his career, “Do Bronx” seems well past them at this point. White knows what Oliveira is capable of and feels that people are sleeping on the Brazilian submission specialist. 

    “No, he doesn’t get enough credit. And that’s one of the things. With some guys, it takes longer than others. Oliveira’s had a long, hard road. 28 of his 31 wins are by finish. He’s got a 90% finish rate, has the record for most finishes in the UFC, most submission wins in the UFC, most performance of the night bonuses, second-most post-fight bonuses in UFC history. I mean, the guy is an absolute stud. He’s just gotta keep grinding and knocking them down, and eventually, his day will come.”

    Do you agree with the UFC 269 betting line for Charles Oliveira vs. Dustin Poirier?

  • Dustin Poirier Is “90% Sure” He’ll Fight At Welterweight In The UFC

    UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier is “90% sure” he’ll fight at welterweight in the UFC before he retires or leaves the promotion.

    Having arrived on MMA’s biggest stage as a featherweight and fought there until 2015, Poirier has found immense success since his move up to 155 pounds. In the near-seven years since, “The Diamond” has gone 12-2 (1 NC). After racking up a trio of consecutive wins against Anthony Pettis, Justin Gaethje, and Eddie Alvarez, Poirier had his first shot at gold in the former of an interim title clash against Max Holloway.

    Following a victory over “Blessed,” Poirier fell short of becoming undisputed champ when he faced the undefeated great Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019. But since the crushing defeat, the Louisianan has fought his way back to the top in mightily impressive fashion.

    Following a Fight of the Night decision triumph over Dan Hooker last summer, Poirier turned the tables on his rivalry with Conor McGregor, defeating the Irishman twice in 2021 to flip the score from 0-1 to 2-1.

    After a lucrative year, Poirier will look to close it out by securing his place on the lightweight throne this weekend. To do so, he’ll have to get past reigning titleholder Charles Oliveira.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXFpYCgtiV6/

    Poirier Sees A Future At 170 Pounds

    Despite undoubtedly being at the top of his game as a lightweight, talk of a possible move up to the welterweight division has long existed, largely due to his very public feud with ex-teammate Colby Covington, who has challenged for the 170-pound title on two occasions.

    During a recent interview with RT Sport MMA, Poirier was asked whether he sees a victory at UFC 269 this weekend leading to an immediate bulk up to welterweight, or if he anticipates having to defend the title first, a scenario which would likely see him run it back with the consensus number one contender Gaethje.

    “I don’t like to look that far ahead. Saturday night has to happen first, but right off the bat, I would think I’ll have to defend the belt… I mean, the whole top-10 rankings system in the UFC at lightweight is tough guys. There’s a lot of guys on long win streaks. There’s some up-and-comers, some new guys to the mix. There’s a lot of opponents that could be my potential next opponent, so we’ll see, man. I don’t like to look that far ahead.”

    Despite intending to remain at lightweight for the immediate future, Poirier did provide a decent portion of hope to those desiring to see a welterweight Poirier before he departs the sport. According to “The Diamond,” there’s a strong chance he’ll compete as a 170lber before his time in the UFC is up.

    “I’m not sure (who I could face at welterweight), we’ll see. Like we just said, getting my hand raised Saturday night, I’m gonna stay here at 55 and fight again. I don’t know when that move to welterweight will be. But I’m pretty sure, I would say I’m 90% sure that before everything is said and done, that I will fight at 170 pounds in the UFC.”

    Before thinking too hard about another move up in weight, Poirier will have to get past Oliveira in the UFC 269 main event. While many continue to underestimate “Do Bronx” and discredit his championship status, Poirier isn’t taking him lightly and knows the threat he poses to his title aspirations.

    Who would you like to see Dustin Poirier face if he eventually makes the move up to welterweight?

  • Gaethje: Oliveira Has To Finish Poirier Before The 3rd Round

    UFC lightweight contender Justin Gaethje believes reigning 155-pound champion Charles Oliveira will have to finish Dustin Poirier early in order to keep hold of the title at UFC 269.

    Gaethje will be keeping a close eye on 2021’s final pay-per-view this weekend as his next opponent is likely decided in the main event. After winning the vacant belt with a miraculous comeback against Michael Chandler at UFC 262 in May, Oliveira will defend the lightweight gold for the first time on December 11.

    The opening challenge to his reign will come from Poirier, widely considered the be the greatest lightweight on the planet right now. Riding two victories over Conor McGregor into Saturday’s headliner, “The Diamond” will be looking to secure his place on the 155-pound throne at the second time of trying.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CWlcJc0FVbd/

    Gaethje Backs Poirier’s “Heart And Will”

    The narrative heading into the second lightweight championship main event of 2021 has largely centered around the idea that Poirier is the “uncrowned champion” of the division, and that Oliveira has a tough night ahead of him. That’s a sentiment that’s consistently been shared by top contender Gaethje.

    As well as claiming that Chandler proved the 28-fight promotional veteran is a quitter at UFC 262, “The Highlight” has previously refused to acknowledge Oliveira as the titleholder until he defeats Poirier. The former interim champion shared a similar view during a recent appearance on Throwing Down with Renee & Miesha on SiriusXM.

    Repeating his doubts about the Brazilian’s grit and toughness, Gaethje suggested Oliveira has to finish Poirier before the third round to have any chance at victory. Should the fight reach the championship rounds, a depth “Do Bronx” has never dived to, the #2-ranked contender believes the Louisianan will have his hand raised.

    “If they get into some grappling situations, I think Poirier can get finished in the first two or two-and-a-half rounds. But I think after that, most fights come down to heart and will. There is something special about Poirier when it comes down to that department you know. He has made all the money but it’s very special when you find someone who is not here just for the money and he is one of those guys. So I don’t see him losing in the heart and will department of this fight.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    Oliveira has consistently maintained that he’s being underrated and unfairly written off ahead of UFC 269, both in terms of his ability to beat Poirier and his willingness to engage in a five-round war. On December 11, he’ll have the chance to prove Gaethje and a sizable chunk of the combat sports community wrong.

    Do you agree with Justin Gaethje? Does Charles Oliveira need to finish Dustin Poirier early at UFC 269 in order to keep hold of the lightweight title?

  • Dustin Poirier: Conor McGregor Chapter Will Never Be Closed

    UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier has admitted that the chapter of his career with former two-division champion Conor McGregor will never “be closed.”

    Poirier and McGregor have shared the Octagon three times. Their first clash came way back in September 2014 when the two highly-regarded prospects met at UFC 178. In one of the best examples of the Irishman’s trash talk working to great effect, Poirier was finished in the opening round.

    Fast forward over six years and the pair reignited their rivalry at UFC 257 in January this year. After a largely respectful pre-fight build, “The Diamond” became the first man to knock McGregor out in the Abu-Dhabi-held main event. Despite seemingly securing a title shot with the victory, Poirier chose to pursue a trilogy money fight with MMA’s biggest superstar.

    In a second 2021 bout fueled by trash talk and personal attacks from McGregor’s side, Poirier put his top contender status on the line. When the former double champ broke his leg towards the end of the first round, during which he’d been dominated, Poirier’s gamble had paid off.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CRO2YpNLBQN/

    Poirier: If Anybody Can Get Back To The Top, It’s McGregor

    Since their third fight at UFC 264 in July, both men have been on drastically different paths. While Poirier has been preparing for his championship fight with reigning titleholder Charles Oliveira, which is set to go down this weekend at UFC 269, McGregor has been recovering on the sidelines, while simultaneously causing controversy in just about every way possible.

    From attacking his UFC peers on social media, to throwing a punch at multi-platinum recording artists Machine Gun Kelly, to allegedly assaulting and breaking the nose of an Italian DJ in a Rome nightclub, McGregor has found himself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

    Nevertheless, Poirier believes the Irishman is capable of getting back to his best inside the Octagon. During an interview with Morning Kombat’s Brian Campbell, “The Diamond” said McGregor has what it takes to make his way back to the top.

    “I’m not really looking at him. I’m looking at the next challenge, the lightweight title. But, you know, if anybody can pull it back together and get back on top, he’s definitely one of those guys that could. It’s up to him. He’s in control of his destiny, of whatever he’s gonna do.”

    When asked whether he believes his own journey with McGregor has come to an end, Poirier suggested that chapter of his career will likely never be over.

    “I don’t think so. I don’t think the chapter will ever be closed.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CWoEEA5rAV4/

    Before potentially turning his attention back to McGregor, who’s made his desire to face Poirier again and challenge for the lightweight title upon his return clear, Poirier’s focus will entirely be on Oliveira for the time being.

    Having previously failed to reach the 155-pound mountaintop against Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019, “The Diamond” will hope to finally secure his place on the throne by de-seating “Do Bronx” in this weekend’s main event. If he does so, perhaps a fourth fight for gold with McGregor will be waiting in the wings for 2022.

    Would you like to see Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor fight for a fourth time next year?

  • Charles Oliveira’s Coach Thinks Dustin Poirier “Afraid” To Grapple

    UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira knows his best path to victory against Dustin Poirier could come with his grappling at UFC 269.

    Oliveira earned the lightweight title by defeating Michael Chandler earlier this year. After getting into some trouble on the feet early in the fight, he rebounded in Round 2 to earn a TKO victory to get the vacant belt.

    Oliveira is best known for his other-worldly grappling prowess, with a UFC record of 14 submissions during his time with the promotion. He’s found a true home at lightweight after an up-and-down tenure earlier in his career at featherweight.

    Oliveira is ready for all scenarios for his matchup with Poirier. During a recent interview with MMA Fighting’s Trocacao Franca podcast, Oliveira’s coach, Diego Lima, spoke about the matchup on the ground.

    “We have someone who’s very afraid of Charles’ ground [game],” Lima said. “In my opinion, Poirier doesn’t want to take this fight to the ground. People that watch Charles’ fights and Poirier’s fights will say, ‘F*ck, Poirier better keep this fight on the feet.’

    “That’s the reality. One thing is for sure, this fight won’t go to the judges.”

    Charles Oliveira Faces Dustin Poirier In His First Title Defense

    Oliveira faces a tough test in Poirier, who many believe is arguably the ‘people’s champ’ after turning down an earlier title shot for a trilogy with Conor McGregor. Poirier has fought for the lightweight title once before, falling to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242.

    While Poirier is most commonly known for his boxing, his grappling isn’t anything to devalue as well. He’s showcased his vastly improved ground game in fights against McGregor, Anthony Pettis, and others.

    Oliveira and Poirier don’t appear to have any bad blood between the two of them, but all respect will be thrown out of the cage when they square off in the UFC 269 main event.

    What is your prediction for Charles Oliveira vs. Dustin Poirier?

  • Bisping Names 2 Options For McGregor’s Return Other Than Poirier

    Former UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping believes there are two leading options for Conor McGregor’s return to the Octagon, neither of which is a fourth fight with Dustin Poirier.

    McGregor, a former two-division UFC champion, has been on a significant downfall since his second title crowning in 2016. In the four years that have followed, the Irishman has gone 1-3. His sole victory came at welterweight against veteran Donald Cerrone last January. That success marked a rebound from his crushing loss to arch-rival Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018.

    After re-entering the win column, McGregor would have hoped to return to lightweight title contention in 2021. Instead, the 33-year-old was knocked out for the first time, saw his 1-0 record against Dustin Poirier collapse to 1-2, and suffered a gruesome broken leg. Since sustaining the injury at UFC 264, McGregor has been on the sidelines, tangling with celebrities in public and fellow fighters on social media.

    Bisping Advises McGregor Against 4th Poirier Fight

    In recent weeks, talk of a McGregor return has certainly picked up. Having consistently provided updates on his recovery through training footage, it’s clear the former double champ is deep into the healing process. With that in mind, McGregor recently revealed his hope to begin full MMA sparring again in April 2022, with his return to the cage imminent after that.

    The options for McGregor’s comeback seem plentiful. As well as potential clashes with Michael Chandler and Max Holloway, both of whom have expressed interest in welcoming MMA’s biggest superstar back to the Octagon, a potential fourth collision with Poirier remains a possibility. If “The Diamond” dethrones Charles Oliveira at UFC 269 this weekend, that could see McGregor fighting for gold upon his return, something he guaranteed would be the case in a recent Twitter post.

    Despite those choices, UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping has given McGregor some different advice. Suggesting against the Poirier tetralogy during a recent Q&A on his YouTube channel, “The Count” said McGregor should either complete his trilogy with Nate Diaz or face former interim champ Tony Ferguson.

    “For McGregor, when he comes back, he needs to think carefully about who he fights next. If Dustin Poirier beats Charles Oliveira next week and Dustin becomes the champion, of course Justin Gaethje’s going to step in and he gets the next shot. But then there’s Islam Makhachev and the whole list of people at lightweight that want to fight for the belt. But McGregor, being who he is, McGregor being the biggest star the sport has ever seen, he may get that privilege to where he can fight Dustin Poirier for the belt because they have unfinished business. They are two and one in Dustin’s favor, but the way the last fight ended with McGregor breaking his leg does give a reason, does give explanation to the subject that perhaps they should do a fourth fight.

    “McGregor brings in eyeballs like nobody else so there is a possibility. My advice would be don’t do that. I think he should try and get his mojo back, get comfortable with the octagon again, because it’s a long layoff. Nate Diaz may be the perfect person or even Tony Ferguson.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    Conor McGregor Nate Diaz
    Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz

    With Nate Diaz having just one fight remaining on his contract, and with heavy talk of a departure from the promotion, it appears that if the UFC wishes to book a third fight between the Stockton native and McGregor, it’ll have to be the highest priority for when the Irishman is ready to return.

    On the other hand, McGregor vs. Ferguson is a matchup that would have been mouth-watering a number of years ago. Having lost three consecutive fights against Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Beneil Dariush, the idea of Ferguson facing McGregor has perhaps lost its appeal slightly. Nevertheless, it would certainly make sense given the rankings, and would give one man a path back towards the lightweight top five.

    Who do you think Conor McGregor should face when he returns to the Octagon?

  • Poirier Believes Oliveira Deserves More Respect: “Man, Raise The Guy Up”

    Dustin Poirier believes fans and fighters need to put some respect on lightweight champ Charles Oliveira’s name.

    On December 11, Poirier will make his second attempt to win the lightweight belt when he faces Oliveira at UFC 269. Since his first title bout loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019, the 32-year-old has won three in a row, including a victory over Dan Hooker and back-to-back wins against Conor McGregor.

    Oliveria will be looking to make his first title defence since defeating Chandler to claim the vacant belt in May. However some argue that victory, Oliveria’s ninth in a row, came only as a result of Poirier turning down the original offer to fight for the vacant belt. Instead of UFC gold, the “Diamond” chose to pursue a second big money fight with McGregor.

    Many now believe the onus is on Oliveria to prove his legitimacy as champ by defeating Poirier, who some consider the unofficial title holder. And as if that’s not enough, questions regarding the Brazilian’s mental strength have been consistently raised, most most notably by Justin Gaethje who recently branded Oliveira a “quitter,”  and on that basis, favors Poirier to claim the title. Chandler has similarly slapped the quitter title on “Do Bronx.”

    Charles Oliveira, Michael Chandler

    Poirier Defends Oliveira From Claims That He Isn’t A Worthy Champion

    Oliveria may be lacking respect from some of his lightweight peers, but not from the man who will attempt to dethrone him next month. Speaking to The MMA Hour, Poirier defended the honor of Oliveria as champion, saying that in knocking out Chandler, he accomplished something his chief critic, Gaethje, couldn’t.

    “Dude, the thing about fighting is: Every time the bell rings, we get a live, real-time appraisal,” said Poirier. “We change from fight to fight. Things happen. We’re in different mental spaces. We’re in different physical positions and in shape or injuries. There’s a lot of things that go on behind the scenes, but the beautiful thing is every time that bell rings, it’s an appraisal in front of the world. And if we’re going off his last appraisal, the guy got hurt and showed grit, came back, won a fight, knocked a former world champion out, something Gaethje didn’t do just recently.”

    Dustin Poirier
    Image Credit: Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    The “Diamond” believes Oliveira deserves far more respect from fans and fighters, and that he’s under no illusions that come December 11, the Brazilian won’t put up a good fight.

    “He did get pressed. He got hurt. He almost got finished. The bell rang, he came back, and won a world championship,” said Poirier. “I’m not here to put anybody down or talk bad about people. Man, people love to try to shit on people. Man, raise the guy up. He’s the world champion. It’s a tough task, and I’m doing everything I can to put myself in position to compete the best on December 11 for 25 minutes and be the world champion, a goal I set out from a very young age. And that’s just it, dude. I don’t really play into all this that much.”

    If Oliveira’s critics only remembered the adversity he overcome early in his UFC career, and consider his current phenomenal win-streak, Poirier believes they would truly see how worthy a champion he is.

    “It’s one thing to get into this organization and make it to the top, but it’s another thing to do it for a decade like he’s done. That shows that this guy’s a fighter,” said Poirier.

    What do you think? Does Charles Oliveria deserve more respect as champ?

  • Oliveira Ready To Show Who “The Real Champ” Is At UFC 269

    Charles Oliveira says he’ll prove who the “real” lightweight king is this weekend to those who continue to brand his upcoming opponent Dustin Poirier as the ‘uncrowned champion’.

    Despite an incredible journey to the top, Oliveira is seemingly being undervalued and delegitimized as champion by many, including top contender Justin Gaethje. The Brazilian believes they’ll regret underrating him come December 11 when he makes his first title defense.

    “Do Bronx” had UFC gold wrapped around his waist for the first time at UFC 262 in May. After Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement, Oliveira challenged for the vacant belt against former three-time Bellator titleholder Michael Chandler. Having looked close to being finished in the opening round, Oliveira overcame adversity to secure a second-round finish inside Houston’s Toyota Center.

    The heart-warming championship crowning came in Oliveira’s 28th Octagon outing. Not many fighters have personified the idea that hard work pays off quite like the Sao Paulo native. He’ll look to continue his story by fending off the challenge of Poirier in this weekend’s main event.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CWlcJc0FVbd/

    Oliveira: “The Belt Has An Owner”

    Leaving Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena with the title will certainly be no easy task for Oliveira. Poirier is widely regarded as the best lightweight in the world, and will enter the blockbuster year-ending pay-per-view off the back of two victories over former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor.

    With that in mind, many in the combat sports community perceive “The Diamond” to be a heavy favorite for this Saturday’s headliner. Given his decision to pass up on a shot to challenge for the vacant title in favor of a money trilogy fight with McGregor, the narrative that Poirier is the uncrowned lightweight titleholder has been thrown around a lot.

    But for Oliveira, that couldn’t be further from the truth. During a recent interview with TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter, “Do Bronx” promised to show he belongs on the 155-pound throne at UFC 269.

    “People love Dustin. Like you said, he’s seen as the uncrowned champion. But I’ll show on Saturday who the real champion is; that the belt has an owner, and his name is Charles Oliveira. I’m happy with this fight, I’m ready, and I’ll show that on Saturday.” (Via a translator)

    Having been treated to a barnburner between former title challenger Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler at UFC 268 last month, this weekend’s event will mark another pay-per-view featuring a crucial clash in the lightweight division. It stands to reason the victor will be defending the gold against “The Highlight” in the second quarter of 2022.

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 269, Charles Oliveira or Dustin Poirier?

  • Dustin Poirier Hopes To Test Gaethje’s Oliveira Theory At UFC 269

    UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier is looking to test Justin Gaethje’s theory on champion Charles Oliveira’s resolve when he meets the Brazilian at UFC 269.

    Oliveira had UFC gold wrapped around his waist for the first time at UFC 262 in May this year. After the great Khabib Nurmagomedov vacated the title, “Do Bronx” faced relative promotional newcomer Michael Chandler for the belt in a memorable main event clash.

    Despite looking moments away from defeat in the opening round, Oliveira survived and mounted a remarkable second-frame comeback, emerging victorious via TKO. The result saw Oliveira reach the UFC mountaintop after 26 fights in the promotion. His championship crowning was added to a host of accolades, including the records for most submission wins, most finishes, and highest finishes-per-win percentage in UFC history.

    After the post-crowning euphoria, Oliveira’s focus will now be on his upcoming first defense. In the main event of UFC 269 on December 11, he’ll face #1 contender Poirier. “The Diamond” is coming off two victories over megastar Conor McGregor and has now turned his attention back to the title.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CWoEEA5rAV4/

    Poirier Aims To Drag Oliveira To Deep Waters

    Following his victory over Chandler, one of Oliveira’s lightweight peers wasn’t impressed. Former interim champ Justin Gaethje claimed that even in defeat, “Iron” showed that Oliveira is a “quitter.” That’s despite the fact the Brazilian overcame early adversity to finish Chandler. According to “The Highlight,” Poirier will make the champ quit this Saturday.

    Despite not necessarily agreeing with his fellow former interim titleholder, Dustin Poirier does intend on testing his theory when he enters the cage with “Do Bronx.” In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, the Louisianan revealed his intention to test Oliveira’s perseverance by dragging him to deep waters.

    “I would love for the fight to reach that point to where we’ll find out (if Oliveira can dig deep) in front of the world. That’s a goal of mine; to get this fight into deep waters and see who really wants it more, who is willing to bleed more, and leave it all out there. Because I know I will. No question about it.

    Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier
    Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, Credit: Getty Images

    “But going to what Justin said, dude, I’ve said this. I’m saying the same shit over and over again every interview. It feels corny but when a fighter goes out there, our last fight is the most important. He (Oliveira) got hurt, came back second round and showed his championship grit and finished Michael Chandler; a guy that just took Justin to hell. So, if that says anything, you’re as good as your last fight. He’s a world champion.”

    Perhaps Gaethje will have his own chance to test Oliveira’s toughness if the reigning champ successfully defends his gold against Poirier. After his victory over Chandler at UFC 268, it stands to reason “The Highlight” will challenge the UFC 269 victor in the first half of 2022.

    What do you make of Charles Oliveira’s resolve and toughness?