Dustin Poirier returned to the win column in a massive way at UFC 299 this past weekend, adding to his legacy with a highlight knockout of the feared Benoit Saint Denis in yet another Fight of the Night performance.
Following his victory, the popular Poirier and current undisputed lightweight champion Islam Makhachev acknowledged one another as possible future opponents on social media after Makhachev’s manager suggested his fighter is game to put his title on the line against Poirier in June.
“I haven’t spoke to the UFC but I do think it could happen,” Poirier told Ariel Helwani Monday during an appearance on The MMA Hour. “During fight week, people were asking me where I think I fit within the lightweight division and I really do think I’m one big win away, one good finish, it doesn’t matter the opponent I just need to look good. Just with my career and how many fights I’ve had with the UFC, how many times beating top guys, I always feel like I’m one big win away from it at any time.”
Makhachev is coming off back-to-back title defences against former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski after winning the title when he submitted Charles Oliveira in 2022.
The 32-year-old reigning champion, who is riding a 13-fight winning streak, has been eyeing a summer return after his October knockout of Volkanovski. He quote-tweeted Poirier with not one but two emojis, which in this day and age is basically a binding contract — not literally, though.
UFC president Dana White did not comment on what could be next for Poirier and has not announced the organization’s plans for the next 155-pound title fight.
“I ran into Dana at the press conference, when he got off stage he shook my hand, told me a couple things but we didn’t talk at all about what could be next,” Poirier confirmed. “I didn’t take any damage in this fight. Ya, I’m OK with June. I actually went into this fight with a couple injuries from camp.”
Poirier explained his American Top Team training partner Mateusz Gamrot, a fellow lightweight who defeated former champion Rafael dos Anjos on the UFC 299 preliminary card, “busted up” his ribs a few weeks prior to the event.
“It hurts when I sneeze, when I twist and stuff,” Poirier said. “I didn’t go to the doctor or anything but something’s going on with my rib for sure.”
The one-time interim titleholder at 155 pounds insisted a June bout wouldn’t be too hasty a turnaround.
Availability is one aspect to consider. Whether “The Diamond” is the most deserving lightweight title contender is another, and, perhaps a more pressing one at that.
Poirier was coming off a devastating head-kick knockout loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 291 last summer, so Gaethje is ahead of him in the pecking order. During his interview with Helwani, Poirier also opened up about the “mental struggles” he faced following his loss to Gaethje and how he has coped since then.
Gaethje is the UFC's current “BMF” and is scheduled for a featured five-round bout with Max Holloway at UFC 300 in April. If Gaethje wins that fight he could make a strong case he deserves the next shot. The same goes for Holloway, a former longtime featherweight champ.
Another relevant bout taking place on the UFC 300 main card is an outstanding matchup between Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan. The winner of that tilt will also have a strong claim to a title shot, although the main counterargument to this would be each fighter has a previous loss to Makhachev. Oliveira’s occurred roughly 17 months ago, while Tsarukyan dropped a thrilling three-round decision when they fought five years ago and a rematch over five rounds would be compelling should he extend his current hot streak.
Gaethje, Poirier, Michael Chandler (who is presumably preparing for a summer fight with Conor McGregor) and Gamrot are the top-ranked lightweight contenders Makhachev has yet to face during his MMA career.
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