Dustin Poirier recently lavished accolades on Paddy Pimblett for his triumphant performance against King Green at UFC 304.
“The Baddy” showcased arguably the most remarkable outing of his UFC career to date this past weekend. He decisively overcame Green with a spectacular triangle-armbar combination in the first round of their lightweight bout, thrilling the home crowd at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Pimblett delivered several potent calf kicks that visibly unsettled “King.” In response, Green attempted a takedown midway through the opening round, but the Brit skillfully countered with a guillotine choke, then seamlessly transitioned into a triangle choke from the bottom. He deftly converted the choke into an armbar, and as Green began to lose consciousness, the referee intervened, halting the fight at 3:22.
During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Poirier was asked to share his thoughts on Pimblett’s victory at UFC 304. “The Diamond” remarked that the Scouser not only impressed him but also validated his brash personality with a commanding performance against a formidable opponent like Green.
Poirier Opens Up About Return Timeline & Possible Opponent
Poirier may have seen his last chance at undisputed UFC lightweight gold slip away when he faced reigning champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 in June. Despite his valiant efforts, the 35-year-old Louisiana native succumbed to a fifth-round submission.
After the fight, Poirier took to social media to reveal he had sustained a partially torn ACL, a broken nose, and a broken rib during his bout with Makhachev. These injuries could potentially sideline him for an extended period.
During the aforementioned interview, “The Diamond” delved into his potential return schedule. The former UFC interim lightweight champion revealed that if he feels better within the next 30 days, he might consider a comeback later this year. However, he emphasized that this decision would depend on numerous factors.
With Makhachev seemingly sidelined by a hand injury, putting his targeted title defense against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 308 on hold, Poirier expressed interest in stepping in.
He found the idea of fighting Tsarukyan for the interim title quite appealing, seeing it as a way to keep the lightweight division active and moving forward.
- Read More: Daniel Cormier Calls For Dustin Poirier To Keep Fighting After UFC 302, Lays Out Logical Next Step
Continue Reading Dustin Poirier All Praise For Paddy Pimblett After UFC 304 Win: ‘He’s Talking The Talk, Walking The Walk’ at MMA News.