Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Dustin Poirier will not fight Tony Ferguson unless the price is right.
Dustin Poirier is all for fighting fellow top lighweight contender Tony Ferguson, but says “the prize needs to be right” for the bout to materialize.
A fight between Poirier and Ferguson has been talked about for UFC 254 on October 24th. The card is headlined by a lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and interim champion Justin Gaethje, meaning a fight between Poirier and Ferguson could produce the next challenger for the title.
Although it’s clear talks are ongoing for the fight to take place in October, Poirier knows his worth and will not accept a fight with Ferguson unless he is paid a sufficient amount.
“I’m in,” Poirier told ESPN on Wednesday. “… I just need to be compensated if they want this fight. Simple as that. I’m a prize fighter and the prize needs to be right,”
Poirier (26-6, 1NC) lost against Nurmagomedov at UFC 242 in September 2019 by third-round submission. “Diamond” has defeated the likes of Max Holloway, Gaethje and most recently Dan Hooker during his successful run at 155-pounds.
Ferguson (25-4) suffered his first loss in eight years against Gaethje in May at UFC 249. “El Cucuy” was on a 12-fight winning streak before the loss, winning the interim title in the process and beating the likes of Donald Cerrone and Anthony Pettis.
According to ESPN, the UFC has discussed that if Gaethje withdraws from the main event Ferguson would replace him against Nurmagomedov. However, if Khabib pulls out of the fight Poirier would serve as the replacement against Gaethje.