After falling short in his quest for undisputed UFC gold, Dustin Poirier has shifted his mentality.
Poirier (28-7 MMA, 20-6 UFC) was submitted by UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira at this past December’s UFC 269, and while “The Diamond” remains one of the biggest and most accomplished names in the 155-pound division, he’s also happy to venture out in a new weight class.
Poirier hasn’t given up on his title hopes at lightweight per se, but he understands that there’s likely a ladder to climb before he gets another opportunity.So moving forward, the former interim lightweight champ can’t help but get excited at the possibility of facing one of the sport’s biggest draws, Nate Diaz (20-13 MMA, 15-11 UFC), at welterweight.
“I’ve done it before, you know; I’ve moved up before in the midst of the of the unknown and the uncertain,” Poirier told Megan Olivi in an interview with Crypto.com .“I don’t know.We’ll see.I can still make ’55.I can still make the cut.Do I want to make it five more times to get another title shot? I don’t know where I’m at with that.It’s still kind of murky and undecided, but there are fun fights for me at 170.
“If Nate Diaz does get a deal done with the UFC, that’s a fight we’ve been supposed to do.
I think the fans would be in for a treat.That’s something I want to do.Where I’m at, I just want to fight fights that mean something to me and all these up-and-coming guys, they’re very dangerous and very fun to fight and maybe I will fight some of them, but right now I want fights that mean something to me, and Nate’s a fight that means something to me.”
Poirier and Diaz were scheduled to fight in November 2018, but the fight never materialized.Discussions on a potential rebooking have emerged and Poirier has made it clear that he’s in , despite Diaz’s constant mind games.
If the fight does come to fruition, Poirier says he’s willing to do at lightweight or welterweight.
“I watched the guy on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ when I was a kid and he’s a guy – him and his brother both, I respect their fighting style,” Poirier said on Diaz.
“I enjoy watching them fight.Whenever they fight, I’m tuning in.Those are the kind of fights I want to be a part of so if it’s at 170, I’m very willing and able to make that move.If it’s at 155, I can still make 155.I’m not too big.”
He continued, “I’m getting older, and I want to enjoy what I do.If I’m going to spend 10 weeks out there in Florida with the best guys in the world, I want to feel good.
I don’t want to feel calorie deprived.I want to be at my best, but I know what that comes with.
That comes with fighting these huge men at 170 pounds, but hey, I ain’t scared to fight.”.
