Dustin Poirier’s eyes might be on the lightweight prize, but he’s already considering his next move. Should Poirier dethrone the lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, he told MMAJunkie, he’s seriously considering moving up a division to challenge #1 pound-for-pound fighter Kamaru Usman.
“No, I’m not retiring. I’m 32, man. I feel good. You see the way I’m moving out here today. I feel good. I’m having fun. If anything, I’ll go up. I’ll probably go to 170, if anything.
Dustin Poirier Threatens Move to Welterweight If He Wins LW Title
But no, honestly, my goal isn’t to try to have the most successful title defenses. I don’t know. We’ll see. One day at a time. I can’t look, none of that is even a reality until December 11th happens, and I get my hand raised.
I have to do that first before we can even go into these conversations because I don’t know what’s next. I live my life one day at a time, man; a quarter-mile at a time.”
Poirier went on to praise the current lightweight champ, declaring that the Brazilian has done more than enough to earn his belt.
“I would love to for the fight to reach that point where we all find out in front of the world. That’s the goal of mine to get this fight into those deep waters and see who really wants it more, see who is willing to bleed more and leave it all out there because I know I will. No question about it.
Dude, I’ve said this. I’m saying the same sh*t over and over again and it feels corny, but when a fighter goes out there, where our last fight is the most important, and he got hurt, came back the second round, and showed championship grit and finished Michael Chandler, a guy who just took Justin to hell.
So if that says anything, you know, you’re as good as your last fight. He’s a world champion.” Simply put, Poirier refuses to underestimate Charles Oliveira. “Yeah, man, I don’t like that and I don’t want to get caught up in that mindset.
A fight is a fight and this guy is very dangerous. He has so many finishes in the UFC, so much experience. And I’m not putting that aside. This is a huge fight for him, for his legacy, for me, and for my legacy.
All the experience throughout our whole career has built up to this fight, you know. The guy is very dangerous and very capable. And yeah, that’s all I got to say. I respect his journey to get where he’s at, to be the undisputed champ because I have a similar one.”
Do you think Dustin Poirier can fight at welterweight if he takes out Charles Oliveira? Let us know in the comments.
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