Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight “Cowboy,” Donald Cerrone, is the betting underdog for his upcoming showdown against Tony Ferguson, scheduled for the UFC 238 pay-per-view (PPV) event next month in Chicago.
Not according to interim lightweight titleholder, Dustin Poirier.
“I think Cowboy wins that fight but we’ll see,” Poirier told MMA Junkie Radio about the fan-friendly contest, which could produce the next title challenger. “I’m not even looking that far ahead. I never disrespect the work that needs to be done and I have a lot ahead of me with this Khabib fight.”
Poirier is expected to face Khabib Nurmagomedov, ruler of the 155-pound roost, in the UFC 242 main event this September in Abu Dhabi; however, the bout has yet to become official and “The Diamond” has little to offer in the way of insight.
“Everything is pointing to it happening in Abu Dhabi, September 7, me and Khabib,” Poirier said. “I’m not sure what the holdup is or what’s going on. I have no clue. I can beat anybody in the world. I just need to put the work in and show up in the moment, ready to perform, and I can beat anybody.”
Poirier defeated current featherweight champion, Max Holloway, in the UFC 236 headliner earlier this year to win the substitute strap while “The Eagle” enjoyed his self-imposed sabbatical. How the weight class shakes out over the next few months remains to be seen, but it’s an exciting time for the lightweight division.
With or without this threat.