Who will Dustin Poirier fight next?
The former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion is coming off an incredible battle against Dan Hooker and Poirier currently sits comfortably at the number two spot in the division rankings. The Problem? Nurmagomedov and Gaethje are expected to clash for the belt later on this year; Even if that match-up wasn't set, Poirier already got his shot for the belt against Nurmagomedov in a lopsided bout at UFC 242.
At No. 4, former UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor sits at that spot; however, the popular UFC star is currently retired. The next big fight for Poirier could be former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Tony Ferguson; however, nothing has been set in stone just yet.
Speaking on the “Jim Rome Show”, Poirier makes it clear that he won’t be stepping into the octagon unless it’s either against a big name or for the title (Transcript courtesy of MMA Junkie):
“I don’t know; I’m not sure what the options will be when the UFC comes back and starts sitting at the table to make these matches,” Poirier said. “It just needs to be a really big name or a title fight. I’ve been doing this for 10 years in the UFC, and I still love fighting, but I want these fights to mean more than just a fight. I don’t want it to just be about a show and win purse. I want it to really mean something, and I know I’m in the back nine of my career.”
Poirier has stated previously that he doesn’t intend to fight much longer and the former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion just wants his last couple of bouts to have some true meaning:
“I’ve been fighting for a while, I have 40 fights, and I want these last four or five years to really mean something every time I get into the octagon. Not only for me and my family, but for the goals that I’m trying to bring awareness to and raise money for and for my career. I really want to leave a legacy.”