Dustin Poirier still on the hunt for the UFC lightweight title: 'That's the only reason I'm fighting'
MIAMI – Despite his tenure in the sport,Dustin Poirier is still hungry to become an undisputed UFC champion.
The former interim champion and seasoned veteran made it clear that he has all the intention of working his way back to the top, so he can challenge for UFC gold once again. Poirier (30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC) let the world know of his ultimate goal following his vicious KO win over Benoit Saint-Denis (13-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) at Saturday’s UFC 299.
“That’s the only reason I’m fighting,” Poirier said at the post-fight news conference. “I started fighting to be the world champion, to be the best in the world, undisputed. We have to see. I have to get home, talk to my coaches, my wife, and my management, and we’ll see what’s next. I don’t know. But yes, I’ve done a lot in this sport.
“I’m not trying to brag, but I’ve done a lot in this sport. I’ve been fighting for a long time. I think this was around my 50th MMA fight, and I’ve done a lot, checked a lot of boxes. But there’s still one box unchecked, and that’s being a world champion.”
Poirier, who entered UFC 299 coming off a KO loss to Justin Gaethje back in July, was relieved to get his hand raised on Saturday and prove that he’s still among the elite in the division.
“It feels good to right the ship and get a win, take a chance and fight a guy outside the top 10,” Poirier said. “I don’t even know how many but my last opponents have all been former world champions, huge main events, huge fights, and now I have this young guy in his 20s, who finished his last opponents and is representing France and has a country behind him. I’m like, ‘You know what, let’s see if I still got it against these young guys.’ It feels good.”
Sunday, Poirier posted on social media that he’s interested in a shot at lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in June in Saudi Arabia – a possibility Makhachev’s manager mentioned earlier in the day.
“Islam in June,” Poirier posted on social media.
Islam in June
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) March 10, 2024
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.