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“Let’s do it. I train with Jorge, so it makes sense. American Top Team versus the Nick Diaz Academy.”
Dustin Poirier wants to return to the UFC in style.
‘The Diamond’ suggested in a recent interview with MMA Fighting that he and Nate Diaz should fight on the same card as Jorge Masvidal vs. Nick Diaz, with the UFC marketing the event as American Top Team vs. the Nick Diaz Academy.
“Let’s do it,” Poirier said. “I train with Jorge, so it makes sense. American Top Team versus the Nick Diaz Academy. They can bring Kron Gracie, we have some 145-pounders who can run it with him. We’ve got Charles Rosa, we’ve got Renato Moicano, we got a squad. I think that would be great.”
Poirier also admitted that, despite his ongoing rivalry with Diaz, the former interim UFC lightweight champion looks up to Nate as a fighter and has been following the Californian for his entire career.
“Of course I would love that fight,” Poirier said of a possible match-up with Diaz. “Not just because of the stuff between me and him leading up to that last fight, but he’s a guy coming up I always wanted to fight. I want to fight guys I’m excited to watch fight. Any time Nate Diaz fights, I’m tuning in, I promise you.”
“Whether I like the guy or not, I’m a fan. I think it would be an incredible fight. That’s why I want to fight him, because I grew up watching the guy fight.”
Poirier last fought at UFC 242, where he was submitted by undefeated lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov in a title unification bout in Abu Dhabi.
Diaz, meanwhile, is looking to rebound from his ‘BMF’ title loss to Masvidal at UFC 244, which saw The Ultimate Fighter 5 winner stopped in the third round after sustaining massive cuts to his face.
Poirier didn’t give a timeline for his return but the Louisianan is open to fighting Diaz at 155 or 170.
“I’d fight Nate at 170 (pounds), or 155, or we can make it at 165 and go there,” Poirier stated. “I would definitely do it. Not have to cut a little bit of weight to make it. I’m not a small guy.”
“I’m all for it. Let’s call (UFC matchmaker) Sean Shelby and the UFC right now.”