UFC Lightweight fighter Dustin Poirier has reportedly chosen to fight Conor McGregor rather than chase the UFC Lightweight Championship.
It was confirmed yesterday that Charles Oliveira will be fighting Michael Chandler for the now vacant belt at UFC 262. Many fans believed that Dustin Poirier was due a title fight; but the trilogy bout with McGregor was always in the works.
With McGregor losing via TKO to Poirier back in January, it was unlikely that he would be granted a title fight next. With Poirier opting to fight McGregor? It gives two of the Lightweight division’s biggest rising stars a chance to collide in a 5 round main event.
Dustin Poirier ‘Skips’ Title Fight for McGregor
This will be Michael Chandler’s second fight in the promotion, and he could be wearing gold even this early in. Oliveira comes into this fight following a unanimous decision victory against Tony Ferguson at UFC 256 back in December 2020.
It’s not confirmed, but likely that the winner of Poirier vs McGregor will face the winner of Oliveira vs Chandler. The fight between McGregor and Dustin Poirier will now be taking place at some point in the summer, although UFC 262 was at one point considered for the rubber match.
The target date is apparently July 10, presumed to be UFC 264, for the trilogy fight. This was first reported by ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, as the Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno Flyweight title rematch is taking place in June.
It’s an interesting time in the UFC’s 155 division. With the LW class being the most stacked in the world of MMA, there’s always going to be a plethora of choice for the matchmakers. Poirier choosing to fight McGregor over the title at this point makes sense, because McGregor is box office.
A fight for the Lightweight title makes sense for the winner of that fight, so if you’re Poirier why wouldn’t you get that money and THEN fight for the title?
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