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Dustin Poirier rules out rumored welterweight move in UFC return, currently walking around at 172 pounds

Amid his continued absence from the Octagon following a July knockout loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 291 in…

Amid his continued absence from the Octagon following a July knockout loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 291 in Salt Lake City, former interim lightweight champion and division staple, Dustin Poirier has ruled out a rumored return at a new welterweight home, revealing he is only currently walking around at the weight of 172 pounds.

Poirier, the current number three ranked lightweight contender, most recently headlined UFC 291 in Utah in a symbolic BMF championship rematch with fellow former interim lightweight champion, Gaethje, dropping a spectacular second round high-kick knockout loss to the Arizona native.

The defeat came as Dustin Poirier’s second in his three most recent fights, with his sole win in that timeframe coming in the form of a third round submission win over former lightweight title challenger, Michael Chandler in November of last year in Madison Square Garden, rallying to turn in a rear-naked choke stoppage win.

In the time since his loss to Gaethje, however, Poirier has been vocal regarding a potential welterweight division move – amid links to fights with Nate Diaz, former title challenger, Gilbert Burns, and the undefeated Uzbekistan finisher, Shavkat Rakhmonov in his return to the Octagon.

Dustin Poirier rules out welterweight division move

However, speaking with MMA Mania this week, Lafayette puncher, Poirier revealed a potential welterweight debut would be ruled out, for the time being at least, as he currently walks around in the region of 172 pounds.

A former featherweight contender, Poirier has enjoyed an impressive lightweight run since moving to 155 pounds back in 2015, landing 13 victories in the eight years since at that weight class.

Amongst his victories, Poirier, 34, would land an interim lightweight crown with a unanimous decision win over two-time foe and former featherweight champion, Max Holloway back in 2019, as well as wrapping up notable rematch and subsequent rubber-match wins over former two-weight titleholder, Conor McGregor in high-profile stoppage triumphs.

Who would you like to see Dustin Poirier fight in his return to the UFC?

Dustin Poirier plans lightweight stay, UFC return before year’s end: ‘I’m going to fight again this year’

Despite drawing links to a welterweight division move in his Octagon return, former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier has claimed he wants to make a comeback to active competition before the end of the year – at the 155lbs limit to boot. Poirier, a former interim lightweight champion and current number three ranked division contender, […]

Poirier, a former interim lightweight champion and current number three ranked division contender, headlined UFC 291 back in July in his most recent outing, dropping a spectacular second round KO loss to fellow former interim champion, Justin Gaethje in the pair’s symbolic BMF title rematch, suffering a catastrophic high-kick finish.

And off the back of the defeat, Louisiana native, Poirier weighed up a return to active competition at the welterweight limit, discussing a potential fight with long-time rival, Nate Diaz – whilst also drawing the attention of undefeated welterweight finishing ace, Shavkat Rakhmonov.

Last week, the Lafayette puncher was also the subject of a welcoming offer to the welterweight limit by former title challenger, Gilbert Burns – who suggested an all-Florida clash between himself and Poirier.

Dustin Poirier confirms plans for lightweight stay

However, over the course of the weekend, Poirier provided an update on his fighting future, confirming plans for a lightweight stay, and how he intends to fight again this year.

“I’m going to fight again this year,” Dustin Poirier posted on his official X account.

I'm going to fight again this year https://t.co/xKlcXlM7OJ

— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) August 27, 2023

Welcoming a third outing with rival, Gaethje off the back of his rematch BMF title loss to, Poirier maintained following his high-kick knockout loss that he believed he lost to someone he is better than during their UFC 291 re-run in Salt Lake City.

“Khabib (Nurmagomedov) was better than me,” Dustin Poirier said. “I lost Saturday [at UFC 291] to somebody [Justin Gaethje] I think I’m better than.”

“I was away from home for nine weeks in training camp, you know,” Dustin Poirier explained. “I dieted 11 weeks, sacrificed so much, really – was really focused, man, was really, really focused. And felt great – the best I’ve ever felt. Honestly, the best I’ve ever felt.”

Who do you want to see Dustin Poirier fight in his UFC return?

Jan Blachowicz eyes UFC heavyweight move, fight with Tom Aspinall: ‘That would be very good for me’

Former undisputed light heavyweight champion, Jan Blachowicz is weighing up a move to the UFC’s heavyweight ranks following his decision loss to fellow former titleholder, Alex Pereira at the end of last month – and suggests an immediate showdown with recent big-winner, Tom Aspinall. Blachowicz, who most recently co-headlined UFC 291 at the end of […]

Blachowicz, who most recently co-headlined UFC 291 at the end of July in Salt Lake City, Utah, suffered a close, split decision loss to former middleweight champion, Pereira, in the Brazilian’s first venture at the light heavyweight limit during his brief Octagon tenure.

Jan Blachowicz eyes heavyweight landing against Tom Aspinall

And the Pole, who struck vacant gold against Dominick Reyes back in 2020 before successfully defending the title against incumbent middleweight titleholder, Israel Adesanya the following year, has revealed he has plans to notify the UFC of plans to make a stunning heavyweight division climb.

“Of course, why not?” Jan Blachowicz told Sportsnaut of a heavyweight division move. “You opened something in my mind, so yeah, we’re going to ask UFC about the opportunity of heavyweight. It’s something I have to think about.”

I need to watch them carefully, because when I watch the heavyweights I just watch for the fight,” Jan Blachowicz explained. “I don’t watch to analyse them, but (Tom) Aspinall did a great job in his last fight. That would be something very good for me for the first first stop in heavyweight.” (Transcribed by MMA News)

As for Aspinall, the Atherton native most recently headlined a UFC London event back in July against Polish veteran, Marcin Tybura, marking his return from a catastrophic knee injury the year before with a blistering opening round TKO win.

The British heavyweight has noted his intentions in landing a heavyweight title fight with the current division champion, Jon Jones, with the Endicott native set to headline UFC 295 in November at Madison Square Garden.

Would you like to see Jan Blachowicz fight Tom Aspinall next?

Dustin Poirier calls for New Orleans trilogy bout with Justin Gaethje next: ‘I did the first fight where he’s from’

Off the back of a shocking knockout loss to two-time foe and fellow former interim lightweight champion, Justin Gaethje at UFC 291 last month, Dustin Poirier has suggested a trilogy rubber match with his lightweight rival next, in a New Orleans rubber decider. Poirier, who slumped to number three in the official lightweight rankings following […]

Poirier, who slumped to number three in the official lightweight rankings following UFC 291 at the end of last month, suffered a devastating stoppage loss against Gaethje, with the Arizona native avenging a 2018 finish with a thunderous second round high-kick KO win over the Lafayette native.

Off the back of the knockout defeat – which came as Poirier’s first stoppage loss via strikes since a 2016 defeat to common-foe, MIchael Johnson, the Louisana native made it clear that he still believes he lost to an opponent in Gaethje, whom he is firmly certain of that he is still better than.

“Khabib (Nurmagomedov) was better than me,” Dustin Poirier said. “I lost Saturday [at UFC 291] to somebody [Justin Gaethje] I think I’m better than.”

Dustin Poirier calls for trilogy fight with Justin Gaethje next

And despite teasing an impending move to the welterweight limit following years of speculation regarding a divisional climb, Poirier has now set sights on a rubber bout decider with Gaethje – suggesting a showdown in the south, in New Orleans to be exact.

“Me and Justin (Gaethje) are 1-1 let’s do #3 in New Orleans,” Dustin Poirier posted on his official X account overnight.

Me and Justin are 1-1 lets do #3 in New Orleans https://t.co/zMeAQ29GSH

— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) August 17, 2023

“I did the first fight where he’s (Justin Gaethje) from,” Dustin Poirier posted on X. “Let’s do #3 in the boot.”

I did the first fight where he's from. Let's do #3 in the boot

— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) August 17, 2023

Would you like to see Dustin Poirier fight Justin Gaethje again?

Stephen Thompson vows to scrap UFC fights if opponents miss weight: ‘It’s not going to happen’

Former two-time welterweight title challenger, Stephen Thompson has vowed to scrap scheduled bouts under the UFC banner if his opponent misses weight again – following last month’s cancelled showdown with Michel Pereira ahead of UFC 291. Thompson, the current number seven ranked welterweight contender, was slated to make his return to the Octagon at UFC […]

Thompson, the current number seven ranked welterweight contender, was slated to make his return to the Octagon at UFC 291 at the end of July in Salt Lake City, Utah – taking on Brazilian striker, Pereira in a main card matchup.

However, ahead of the bout, the Simpsonville native elected against competing at a catchweight limit against the Pereira, after the Brazilian missed weight by four pounds for the matchup in ‘The Beehive State’.

Confirming how he had yet to receive his show money, despite successfully making weight for the pairing himself, Thompson’s management was touted as being in the process of trashing out some form of compensation with UFC president, Dana White over the fiasco.

Stephen Thompson issues warning to welterweight fighters

In a bid to discourage future opponents from tipping the scale, the veteran striker has now claimed that if another opponent fails to make the limit, he will go ahead and remove himself from the bout.

“I want everybody to know right now in the 170 division, that if you’re going to fight me, you better be on weight or it’s not going to happen,” Stephen Thompson told MMA Fighting.”

“I’m at a place in my career where I want to fight fairly,” Stephen Thompson explained. “I don’t want to play any games. I don’t know what needs to be done but I think there should be more and greater consequences for these guys who are coming in with no integrity and no honor to make weight.”

Yet to book a bout off the back of his shelved pairing with Pereira, South Carolina kickboxer, Thompson has been welcomed as a next opponent by former undisputed welterweight champion and prior pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman.

Do you agree with Stephen Thompson’s sentiments?

Dana White confirms Stephen Thompson will not receive show money after UFC 291: ‘You decided not to fight’

UFC president, Dana White has confirmed that former two-time welterweight championship challenger, Stephen Thompson did not receive his show money after his cancelled outing at UFC 291 last month, claiming the Simpsonville striker also turned down a replacement opponent at the pay-per-view event. Thompson, the current number seven ranked welterweight contender, was scheduled to feature […]

Thompson, the current number seven ranked welterweight contender, was scheduled to feature on the main card of UFC 291 at the end of July in Salt Lake City, Utah – taking on Michel Pereira.

However, when the Brazilian missed weight for the welterweight bout by four pounds, Stephen Thompson and his team came to the decision to not take a catchweight clash with the Brazilian striker, and was himself also removed from the card.

Reports initially suggested that Thompson was denied his show money from the UFC despite successfully making weight for the scheduled main card bout, something which the former confirmed himself, however, remained hopeful of ironing out the issue soon.

Stephen Thompson is set to miss out on show money after UFC 291

And speaking for the first time on the issue since UFC 291, promotional leader White, confirmed that Stephen Thompson would not be receiving his entire show purse.

“You decided not to fight, the guy was three pounds overweight, you get a piece of his purse if you take the fight,” Dana White told assembled media after the Contender Series. “We also offered him (Stephen Thompson) another fight, there’s a much bigger story behind the scenes. No, you don’t just show up and say, ‘Yeah, I’m not going to fight, I want a quarter of a million dollars’, that’s not how it works, hasn’t worked that way for anybody.”

“So, what we do is we try to get you another fight, try to turn you around quickly,” White continued. “If you don’t turn around quickly, then we try to figure out what did it cost for your camp. We’ll reimburse you, there’s a lot of different ways that this gets worked out.”

White claimed that the promotion would likely figure things out in terms of reimbursing Thompons, and hoped to have the issue resolved by the weekend.

“You don’t just go, ‘Yeah, this guy’s three pounds over, I’m not going to fight and no, I won’t take another fight two weeks later and pay me my show money’, that’s not how it worlds,” White explained. “You don’t fight, you don’t get paid necessarily in the contract. But we always make sure that we take care of everybody and we’re working it out with ‘Wonderboy’ right now. It’s all being worked out behind the scenes and this should all be worked out by Saturday.”

Tag: UFC 291