Dustin Poirier migh fight Islam Makhachev next. Phto via YouTube
It looks like Dustin Poirier will fight for the title next.
At least if you believe reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz. The manager, seemingly writing on his client’s behalf, opened up for a fight in June.
“Dustin Poirier took a huge risk tonight and came out on top and looked amazing. Dustin vs (Makhachev) in June especially since everyone else has fights. If the UFC is good with this then Islam would be game,” Abdelaziz wrote on social media.
Dustin Poirier took a huge risk tonight and came out on top and looked amazing. Dustin vs @MAKHACHEVMMA in June especially since everyone else has fights. If the UFC is good with this then Islam would be game.
Islam Makhachev is coming off back-to-back wins over former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, in February and October 2023. He won the title against Charles Oliviera in 2022.
Dustin Poirier competed for the UFC lightweight title twice already.
The former interim lightweight champ lost a title unification bout to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019. His next shot for gold was against Charles Oliviera, in late 2021, resulting in a submission defeat.
At this past Saturday’s UFC 299 he defeated lightweight standout Benoit Saint Denis via a second-round knockout. Saint Denis nearly overwhelmed Poirier in the first round, but the veteran came back strong in the second.