Lightweight contender Poirier gives his thoughts on Diaz possibly pulling out of their UFC 230 fight in New York.
Dustin Poirier did a pretty big 180 degree turn in the days following his huge win over Eddie Alvarez at UFC on FOX 30. Originally, he stated he wasn’t going to even pick up the phone unless it was Dana White on the other end offering him a shot at the lightweight title. A few days later, it was revealed that Poirier didn’t just pick up the phone for a non-title bout, he agreed to it. Poirier is now set to face Nate Diaz at UFC 230 on November 3rd.
”These guys are fighting in October, no telling when the belt’s going to be defended again,” Poirier explained on The Ariel Helwani MMA Show. “I don’t want to wait 8 or 9 months for a title shot. I’ll just keep earning it, keep winning, and getting better.”
As for all the recent drama regarding Nate’s willingness to go through with the fight? Dustin thinks there’s nothing much to it.
”I don’t believe the fight’s in jeopardy, no,” he said. “I would have heard something. I have the bout agreement in my inbox, I’m about to sign it and send it off, so everything is moving forward like it was supposed to after the press conference. I think he was just upset with coming out to a press conference and then them advertising another fight, talking about Conor like he was there, when the guy’s not even present. I think he just felt disrespected.”
But Poirier doesn’t seem to care about any of that, because in the end he thinks the Diaz brothers are pretty reliable.
”So long as he shows up November 3rd, you know? I’m not sure if he’s signed a contract yet, but he’s a guy that follows through. I don’t think him or his brother have ever pulled out of a fight with an injury or not shown up when they said they’d show up. What happens between fights and in the build up of fights is another thing, but when he signs a contract and commits to a date, he’s always shown up.”
Now we (and Dustin) have to hope Nate signs that contract.