Dustin Poirier News

Tom Taylor - April 13, 2018

Tomorrow night, the UFC will take over Glendale, Arizona’s Gila River Arena with an exciting, 14-fight card. This UFC Glendale card will be headlined by a lightweight showdown between long-time contender Dustin Poirier, and former World Series of Fighting champion Justin Gaethje. The co-main event of the evening, meanwhile, will pit former interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit against Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira, who steps in to replace the injured Matt Brown on short notice. Other features of this UFC Glendale main card include the sophomore UFC effort of red-hot prospect Israel Adesanya, who battles Italy’s Marvin Vettori, and a women’s strawweight bout between former Invicta atomweight champ Michelle Waterson and Cortney Casey. The undercard, finally, includes names like Tim Boetsch, Antonio Carlos Junior, John Moraga, Wilson Reis, Krzysztof Jotko, Brad Tavares, Dhiego Lima, and Yushin Okami.

Tom Taylor - April 12, 2018

Former World Series of Fighting lightweight champ and current UFC lightweight contender Justin Gaethje is loved for his exciting, all-action style. Yet according to Dustin Poirier, who Gaethje fights this Saturday night in the UFC Glendale main event, the former WSOF champ’s style could lead to a very short career. “It’s not (a sustainable style), and I said that when he was with World Series of Fighting,” Poirier told MMAFighting this week. “I’m good friends with (American Top Team coach) Mike Brown, who’s also an MMA mastermind. He understands fighting and understands styles and matchup, and I’ve told him that before, that this guy is going to have to switch his fighting style or he’s going to have a short career. He’s going to have a bunch of fun paydays and a bunch of memorable fights, but it’s not going to last. Once it starts going downhill, it’s going to go down fast for him, fighting like that. Of course he’s going to catch guys here and there, win some bonuses, and like I said, have some great fights that people are going to remember. And it seems like that’s what he’s fighting for. He loves that, and that’s awesome.”

Tom Taylor - April 12, 2018

At long last, undefeated Dagestani lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov finally has a UFC belt wrapped around his waist. He earned that belt last Saturday, when he dominated last-minute replacement opponent Al Iaquinta to a unanimous decision win in the main event of UFC 223. While Nurmagomedov is now the undisputed lightweight champion, however, not everyone is buying his reign. UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier, for example, has some issues. Poirier, who battles Justin Gaethje in the main event of the UFC’s Saturday stop in Glendale, Arizona, shared his gripes with Nurmagomedov’s reign in a chat with MMAJunkie. For him, it all comes down to the fact that Iaquinta hadn’t really earned the title shot in the same way that Nurmagomedov had.

Chris Taylor - March 25, 2018

Lightweight contender Dustin Poirier has “championship language” in his new UFC contract Surging UFC lightweight fighter Dustin Poirier will return to action in the headliner of next month’s UFC on FOX 29 event when he squares off with perennial division contender Justin Gaethje.

Justin Golightly - February 20, 2018

April seems too far away to wait for the highly anticipated clash between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson at UFC 223. This will be the fourth that these elite lightweights have been expected to fight each other. Somehow, they both keep getting ripped apart and put back together again. That’s why it’s no surprise that Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdel-Aziz has a contingency plan in place on the chance that something unfortunate happens again. This plan he has in mind would also make one particular lightweight very, very happy. “I did not want Tony Ferguson to become the champ, I want him to be the interim champion because fight night, if Tony got hurt then Khabib [Nurmagomeodv] still fights for the undisputed lightweight championship. But if Tony Ferguson is the champ, then Khabib has to fight a regular fight. Now, I’m not trying to give myself a credit as a smart guy, but any manager in my position should think of that. ‘Oh, let’s make Tony Ferguson the champ and Khabib fight him,’ but what happens if Tony got hurt? Khabib’s going to be 30 – 0 with no belt? This is why regardless – if Tony got hurt or Khabib got hurt – it’s a belt on the line. Doesn’t matter. 100-percent [someone will fight for the title].  

Justin Golightly - February 16, 2018

If the fourth time is the charm, Khabib Nurmagoemdov and Tony Ferguson will finally fight in what is one of the most anticipated and high level fights in the world. There is another lightweight fight that everyone is talking about, which is Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier’s wild scrap at UFC Glendale. Nurmagomedov is adamant that he’ll be fighting for the real belt, and so is Poirier. He’s focused on taking out the former WSOF lightweight champion and testing himself against Nurmagomedov, who he predicts will be the true UFC lightweight champion. “I’m on the right track. I’ve just got to keep winning and winning solves everything. So, I’m going to come out here in two months and beat [Justin] Gaethje, and I feel like I might get a title shot. I feel like I should get a title shot with that win. I think they’re stripping Conor [McGregor] here, and they’re going to fight for the real belt. This sport is a crazy thing, and what happens, it’s unpredictable. But I think the winner of Tony Ferguson versus Khabib [Nurmagomedov] is going to be the real, undisputed UFC lightweight champion. Just the two styles, I think Khabib’s going to pressure him and be stronger and better on top, harder to submit. I mean, if Kevin Lee can take Ferguson down, Khabib is going to do the same.”

Tom Taylor - February 14, 2018

At UFC 223, which goes down April 7 in Brooklyn, New York, Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov will battle for the UFC lightweight title. What exactly this means for Conor McGregor, who is hanging on to his own lightweight belt with both hands, remains to be seen. Whatever the case, Nurmagomedov and Ferguson’s massive title clash is already dominating fan attention. Everybody and their mother has opinion on the fight, and that includes the pair’s fellow fighters.

Justin Golightly - January 30, 2018

Just a few months away, former unofficial ‘Most Violent” champion Justin Gaethje will take on Dustin Poirier in April. People are already talking about this fight like it is going to be a Fight of the Night, maybe even a Fight of the Year contender. If Gaethje’s last fight with Eddie Alvarez is of any indication, it definitely could be. Poirier was on his way to the same nominations, had his fight with Alvarez not ended with illegal blows. Unable to earn retribution, he’ll look to leapfrog Alvarez to a title shot with a win over the former WSOF lightweight champ. “With Justin Gaethje, there are two things that are going to happen with this guy. Either, he’s doubting himself after his first loss and his first time getting finished, or he’s going to be focused on being the best he can be when he comes back. I’m prepared for either. I’m expecting Justin to go back to the drawing board and maybe use less of his brawling style and use more of the wrestling that people forgot that he had and try and try to become a complete fighter. I’m preparing for the best guy ever. […] “That’s all I’m focused on, it will be three former world champions that I’ve fought in a row in my last three fights and that’s all I’m focused on.”

Tom Taylor - January 7, 2018

Dustin Poirier has been angling for a big fight for some time. Unfortunately, he’s had a very difficult time finding a willing dance partner. His priority, of course, has been a rematch with former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, who he battled to a disappointing No Contest last May. At present, however, Alvarez is riding high off a huge win over Justin Gaethje, and as such, doesn’t seem interested in getting back in there with Poirier just yet.

Justin Golightly - January 5, 2018

Dana White just said yesterday that Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson would be the next fight they make. Whether or not it will be for the interim lightweight title or the undisputed lightweight title, will depend solely on if and when Conor McGregor decides he is coming back. This leaves Dustin Poirier wondering just who Eddie Alvarez is going to wait and fight. This is the reason why he believes he finally has Alvarez in match-making checkmate. “It’s the only fight that makes sense right now. There are two guys ranked above me right now, but both of them are coming off losses in their most recent fights. I feel like I’m close to the top, but there is a lot going on right now in my division. If they strip Conor [McGregor] of the title and Tony [Ferguson] and Khabib [Nurmagomedov] fight for the actual title, there is no one else for me to fight but Eddie Alvarez. All roads lead back to that fight. I knew it was going to happen like this, and I think Eddie and I should fight to see who gets the next shot at the title.”

Tom Taylor - December 24, 2017

Dustin Poirier, a former contender in the UFC featherweight division, and now one of the top contenders at lightweight, has been in the game for a long time. That said, the Louisiana native continues to improve with every fight, thanks to his continued efforts in the gym. Now, Poirier has been rewarded for his ongoing efforts in the gym, as he has received his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Poirier announced this major honor on his official Instagram account. See his post below!

Justin Golightly - December 19, 2017

If Justin Gaethje would have managed to get through Eddie Alvarez, no question he would have been pushed toward a title shot. Unfortunately, the former WSOF champion finally met his match after being undefeated for 18 fights. He was proud to go out on shield, but of course he wanted to walk out with the leverage he would have gotten from a huge win. Either way, the warrior that Gaethje is just shrugs and moves on. He’ll set his eyes on a fight with Dustin Poirier or Kevin Lee next. “When you win, you get to pick somebody in front of you, but when you lose; I am still ranked No. 5 in the world, UFC, so coming off a loss now I get to give somebody behind me a chance. So, we will see which one of these loudmouths, Kevin Lee, Dustin Poirier. One of them is going to have to get me on my comeback. So I’m trying for that.”

Justin Golightly - December 13, 2017

Eddie Alvarez knows that the title picture at lightweight is all jumbled up so he just invented his own belt. It’s not gold, you don’t wear it, but it already has a challenger. Alvarez declared that he took the UFC Most Violent title away from Justin Gaethje at UFC 218, a title that Dustin Poirier wants to pry out of his hands. He’s wanted a rematch with Alvarez ever since their fight ended with an illegal strike and has been rallying for it ever since. He’s done everything he can to get Alvarez to take the fight, now he’s even offered his former opponent a Christmas present. Took my time today and wrapped your Christmas presents nice @Ealvarezfight pic.twitter.com/rneFy3fCpC

Justin Golightly - December 7, 2017

Eddie Alvarez is now at the top of the lightweight rankings and knocking on the door for another title shot after a Fight of the Night performance against Justin Gaethje. However, there is more than just the winner of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Edson Barboza who stands between Alvarez and either interim or undisputed gold. Lurking in the shadows and pacing for another crack at Alvarez is Dustin Poirier. At UFC 211, Poirier believes he was track for a big victory of his own until an illegal knee by Alvarez ended their fight. It’s something Poirier isn’t going to let go, especially now that the ‘Most Violent’ nickname is on the line. “I don’t like [Eddie Alvarez] personally. I used to be a big fan of him, I still respect his fighting style. He’s a dog, he’s a warrior, he’s down but never out in fights. I believe that truly. But I used to really respect the guy and look up to him. Now he’s a piece of sh-t. The way he’s lied to himself and lied to people and said stuff about me and about the fight. So, I don’t have any respect for the guy. Eddie went in there with a good game plan [in the fight with Justin Gaethje], used good body work and like I said real good in and out movement. Gaethje stands real flat-footed and if move in and out on a guy like that, you can really finesse him.”

Chris Taylor - November 26, 2017

Dustin Poirier promises Tony Ferguson that he will show up to fight! The surging UFC lightweight contender, Poirier, recently took to Twitter where he offered his services to the current UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson.

Tom Taylor - November 20, 2017

Earlier this month, in the main event of the UFC’s anticipated stop in Norfolk, VA, lightweight contender Dustin Poirier stepped into the cage with former champion Anthony Pettis. After two and a half riveting rounds, Poirier earned the win, forcing an apparently injured Pettis out of the fight with a body triangle. While this win stands out as one of the best of his career thus far, Poirier doesn’t regard it as career-changing outright.

Tom Taylor - November 12, 2017

On Saturday night, in the main event of the UFC’s action packed visit to Norfolk, Virginia, lightweight contenders Anthony Pettis and Dustin Poirier stepped into the Octagon for a fight that was widely expected to produce fireworks. When the cage door locked, the fight delivered. For two and a half rounds, Pettis and Poirier thrilled onlookers, swapping heavy artillery and submission attempts and painting the Octagon red with their blood. Ultimately, however, Poirier earned himself a TKO win, slapping a tight body triangle onto his foe, whose midsection seemed to be injured.

Chris Taylor - November 11, 2017

After an insane fight, Anthony Pettis taps out and Dustin Poirier earns the biggest win of his career! #UFCNorfolk https://t.co/ITDZtPavf2 — FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) November 12, 2017