Dustin Poirier didn’t mince words when addressing former opponent Michael Chandler in the latest back-and-forth between the UFC lightweights.
The latest altercation stemmed from Chandler suggesting that he’s living in Poirier’s head after the one-time UFC interim lightweight champion addressed him during an appearance on The MMA Hour. During the interview, Poirier mocked Chandler for talking like he’s a savvy UFC veteran after only five fights with the promotion.
“Who the f*ck is ‘we?’” Poirier said. “You just got here, buddy. You’re not one of us. You’re not ‘we.’ I’ve been here. ‘We’re good.’ Who’s we? Welcome to the UFC, dude. You’ve got one win in the UFC. He’s not one of us. I’ve been cutting my teeth in the UFC since January of 2011, 2010. He just got here. Who is we? He’s speaking for the lightweight division? Muscle Milk Mike needs to chill.”
Chandler fired back by saying “dues paid but I’m living rent free.”
When asked to respond, Poirier’s answer was succinct and offered little doubt when it comes to his feelings about the fighter he choked out at UFC 281 back in 2022.
“Man, f*ck Michael Chandler,” Poirier told MMA Fighting on Thursday. “Check your record, buddy. That last ‘L’ two years ago is to the kid right here.”
Chandler hasn’t fought since the night he lost to Poirier as he’s continued to wait for an eventual showdown against Conor McGregor after they were announced as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter back in March 2023.
Sadly for Chandler, the fight still hasn’t materialized as McGregor first had to recover from a broken leg suffered in his own loss to Poirier back in 2021 and then he was dealing with a six-month waiting period before competing after getting back into the UFC’s anti-doping program.
The fight was finally scheduled to take place at UFC 303 in June, but McGregor suffered a broken toe that forced him to drop off the card.
Meanwhile, Chandler remains in limbo as he continues to wait and hope that a new date for the McGregor fight gets announced.
Perhaps one day, Chandler might try to seek vengeance on Poirier in the cage, especially with the Louisiana native hinting at his career continuing despite considering retirement after his loss to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 302.
“We’ll see,” Poirier said about his future. “I think I’m going to fight again.”
