Dustin Poirier called his shot.
After trading verbal barbs with Chan Sung Jung throughout the week, the two fast-rising featherweights have been tapped as the main event of UFC on Fuel 3, set for May 15 at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia. According to UFC officials, the headlining tilt will be a three-round affair.
Additional confirmed bouts for the card include a lightweight scrap between Donald Cerrone and Yves Edwards, as well as Thiago Silva’s long-awaited return opposite Croatian light heavyweight Igor Pokrajac.
Jung and Poirier are a combined 6-0 under the UFC banner, and each fighter has wasted little time propelling their name into title contention with a series of spectacular performances.
The 24-year-old Jung (12-3), affectionately nicknamed “The Korean Zombie,” emerged as a fan-favorite after his thrilling WEC brawl with Leonard Garcia was widely nominated as 2010’s “Fight of the Year.” Since then the young South Korean has turned in another pair of astonishing performances, debuting the twister submission in a rematch with Garcia and stunning Mark Hominick en route to a seven-second knockout at UFC 140.
Likewise, the 23-year-old Poirier (12-1) has seen his stock skyrocket since announcing his 145-pound debut in a unanimous decision win against top prospect Josh Grispi. With a five-fight winning streak at his back, including dominating victories over Max Holloway, Pablo Garza, and Jason Young, “The Diamond” is fast-approaching a shot at the UFC featherweight strap.