Dustin Poirier talks about his championship aspirations and the upcoming title fight between Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The timing could be just right for top-five ranked UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier to challenge for gold in 2018.
Poirier, a former featherweight contender, is scheduled to lock horns with ex-WSOF lightweight champion Justin Gaethje just one week after the highly anticipated title bout between Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 223.
If Poirier plays his cards right and earns an impressive win at UFC on FOX 29, ‘The Diamond’ could be the perfect candidate to challenge the winner of Ferguson-Khabib.
“I’m on the right track,” Poirier told MMA Fighting’s Shaun Al-Shatti in a recent interview. “I’ve just got to keep winning, and winning solves everything. So I’m going to come out here in two months and beat Gaethje, and I feel like I might get a title shot. I feel like I should get a title shot with that win.”
Poirier, of course, also has some stiff competition from current lightweight champ Conor McGregor, who hasn’t defended his title in well over a year. The way Poirier sees it, however, is that the UFC will inevitably strip McGregor of his belt in the lead-up to UFC 223.
“I think they’re stripping Conor here, and they’re going to fight for the real belt,” Poirier said. “This sport is a crazy thing, and what happens, it’s unpredictable. But I think the winner of Tony Ferguson vs. Khabib is going to be the real, undisputed UFC lightweight champion.”
Poirier, 29, will be keeping a keen eye on the championship clash between ‘El Cucuy’ and ‘The Eagle’ on April 7 and believes Nurmagomedov has the slight edge heading into the fight.
“Just the two styles, I think Khabib’s going to pressure him and be stronger and better on top, harder to submit,” he said. “I mean, if Kevin Lee can take Ferguson down, Khabib is going to do the same. And we’ll see. We’ll see [Ferguson] on his back again, we’ll see him throwing elbows and throwing submissions. It’s an interesting fight, for sure, but I think the most dangerous thing is how long it lasts on the feet.
“I know Tony’s really unpredictable, moves in weird, awkward ways, different timing. Khabib’s not as fluid of a striker, but we’ve never really seen Khabib in trouble on top, in guard. He does a lot of damage from the top position as well. So it’s an interesting fight, but I think Khabib’s going to come out ahead.”
Poirier’s goal is to eliminate Gaethje and challenge Khabib for the official 155-pound title.
“Get past Gaethje and fight the winner (of UFC 223), and I think it’s going to be Khabib.”
Poirier will collide with Gaethje in a headlining bout at UFC on FOX 29. The event is scheduled to take place on April 14 at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona.