After a big win over the dangerous Benoit St. Denis at UFC 299, Dustin Poirier is back in the conversation for another shot at the UFC lightweight title. And he's letting everyone know that he's ready and willing to fight champion Islam Makhachev this summer.
“100% that's what I want,” he said in a new interview with MMA Junkie. “If I could choose a fight, a title fight would be my choice. That's what I want.”
After spending the past 12 months fighting Alexander Volkanovski twice, Makhachev has a growing list of candidates lined up. Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje both have more rights to a title shot than Dustin. The two are also scheduled to face off at UFC 300 on April 13th. That means Islam will be without a dance partner for June, but the Dagestani fighter says he wants to return.
“We know Dustin doesn't deserve to fight for the title, but we don't have a choice at this point,” Makhachev said in a recent interview.
“That's his responsibility,” Poirier replied. “I've accomplished more than him in the sport of mixed martial arts. I've been here a long time, I've been doing this since before it was cool, and I'm still here. I'm still here. He's doing it at the highest level. I can beat anyone in the world and I hope he's next.”
“That's the only thing left for me,” he added. “You know, I've done everything else in the sport of mixed martial arts. I've created a business. Business, multiple businesses. I've headlined a lot of cards. I've been in the UFC Octagon. I've competed 30 times. My family is set. I've done everything I've tried to do other than win the title, that's the only thing left for me and that's what I want. It is.”
Now we're waiting to see if that's what the UFC wants. If they're looking to book a lightweight title fight before August, that's really the best option. Then again, it doesn't seem like the promotion is in much of a hurry to book Makhachev, despite his repeated requests for three fights a year.