Dustin Poirier isn’t backing down from his quest for a shot at the lightweight title, currently held by Islam Makhachev. Fresh off his thrilling knockout win against Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299, Poirier’s eagerness to step into the Octagon with Makhachev has reached new heights.
Ranked as the third lightweight contender, Poirier showcased his mettle at UFC 299 in Miami, overcoming a tough challenge from Saint-Denis. Despite facing adversity, including numerous submission attempts, Poirier’s resilience shone through. His pinpoint uppercut followed by a thunderous right hook sealed the deal, sending Saint-Denis crashing to the canvas amid roars from the crowd at the Kaseya Center.
Dustin Poirier On Fight With Islam Makhachev
Shortly after his victory, Poirier received an enticing offer from Ali Abdelaziz, the head of Dominance MMA, for a potential showdown with Makhachev. Embracing the opportunity, Poirier wasted no time in accepting the challenge and publicly calling out Makhachev for a summer title clash. UFC CEO Dana White echoed the sentiment, lauding Poirier’s performance as “legendary” and underlining his ascent in the sport.
Known for his relentless guillotine attempts during fights, Poirier reveals his strategy for a potential bout with Makhachev, hinting at his trademark guillotine choke. Despite never actually successfully pulling it off during a fight, that’s not disheartened the former interim champion in still trying:
“I’ll never stop jumping guillotines either… Maybe I’ll submit Islam (Makhachev) with it.”
Meanwhile, Makhachev, sidelined since October, made headlines with his dominant display at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi. A blistering first-round knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski in their rematch reaffirmed Makhachev’s status as a top contender in the lightweight division.
As the rumors of the fight continue to circle, fans are left scratching their head at Dustin Poirier being rewarded with a title shot, believing it’s undeserved with Justin Gaethje waiting on the wings. However, with Gaethje fighting Max Holloway at UFC 300, it makes sense.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
