Dustin Poirier isn’t short on confidence. Buoyed by a win streak including two consecutive stoppage victories over former lightweight champ Conor McGregor, he plans on delivering an “ass-whooping” to the entire division.
Poirier told The MMA Hour that despite claims to the contrary, walking away if he defeats reigning champ Charles Oliveira next month is simply not an option.
Poirier to Lightweights: “these guys need ass-whoopings, and I’m the guy to give it to them”
“Nah, man. I’m a fighter. I’m fortunate enough now, with this year that I’ve had, I could walk away. It’s a great position to be in, but these guys need ass-whoopings, and I’m the guy to give it to them. And we can’t walk away like that.”
Justin Gaethje recently claimed that Dustin Poirier, despite winning the fight last time they faced off, would rather retire than face him again. Poirier disagreed.
“I was back at the big Airbnb, we did like a house party, I’m drinking Modelos and I was fine. Gaethje] doesn’t have any memories of going back and looking at the fight, because I knocked him out. He’s probably kind of cloudy. I remember the night. It was a great night.”
Poirier firmly believes that the brawling, slugging approach – as showcased when Justin Gaethje fought Michael Chandler at UFC 268 – isn’t the way to earn longevity and victory in the sport. Of that fight, Poirier enjoyed the spectacle, but criticized the damage both fighters chose to take over the course of three rounds.
“‘Damn, this is bad for you’ is what I’m thinking. These guys are crazy, man, for taking damage like that. But I think I beat both of those guys if they fight me the way they fought that night.
You have to tighten it up, be more technical. You have me a thinking man in there, not just a brute, not just a wrecking ball – or you go in there and you get matadored, and that’s what I would do to those guys if they fought me that way.”
Does Poirier expect to face Gaethje next? “I honestly don’t think that far ahead into it, because I have my hands full. But Gaethje, this is one fight since the title fight, so obviously he’s still the No. 2 ranked guy.
Islam [Makhachev] is on a huge streak. It’s not my call. Maybe Islam needs to fight one more top contender, and then he’s next. Maybe Gaethje should fight Islam, that way they settle it.
That’s the beautiful thing about fighting.” Are you interested in seeing Gaethje vs Poirier? Let us know in the comments.
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