Former UFC interim lightweight champion has been on the sidelines ever since he lost in his title fight against UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242, which took place in Abu Dhabi last September.
Poirier underwent hip surgery back in October and was getting his fit on the sidelines, but ‘The Diamond’ is ready to return back in action in April against Nate Diaz.
Dustin Poirier recently responded to a fan on twitter where he said that he is down to fight the younger Diaz at UFC 249, which will take place on April 18 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) January 3, 2020
The main event of UFC 249 will feature UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov defending his title against former interim champion Tony Ferguson. If a fight between Nate Diaz and Dustin Poirier did materialise, it will most probably serve as a co-main event.
He even went on to say that he will knock Diaz out.
I see me knocking him out https://t.co/bPVvpFe1OL
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) January 5, 2020
Nate Diaz and Dustin Poirier were previously scheduled to fight each other at UFC 230. The fight was scheduled to take place at the Madison Square Garden. Nate Diaz and Dustin Poirier even took to Twitter to announce that the fight was for the inaugural 165lbs title.
I’m Happy to announce that I’m bringing a new weight devision to the Ufc
I’ll be fighting the main event November 3rd in nyc against Dustin Poirier for the first ever 165lb belt superfighter devision
I’m happy to be apart of history @ufc @danawhite— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) September 26, 2018
Its been a long journey but here we are. NYC 1st ever 165lb Title in the UFC! #THEREWILLBEBLOOD #THUGJITSU
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) September 26, 2018
However, the fight fell through and UFC president Dana White’s later said that he wasn’t going to add a 165-lbs weight division.
“It’s never going to change,” he said in 2017, per Mike Bohn of MMAjunkie. “You’re still going to have people trying to—let’s say I add a 165-pound weight class. That will only mean bigger guys will try to make 165. Everybody’s always looking for an advantage.”
Nate Diaz is coming off of a TKO loss to Jorge Masvidal at UFC 244 last November. Before that, he defeated Anthony Pettis at UFC 241 via unanimous decision.
On the other hand, Poirier’s five-fight winning streak ended at UFC 242 to Khabib Nurmagomedov. Prior to that, he had finished Justin Gaethje, Eddie Alvarez, Anthony Pettis and defeated Max Holloway via decision.
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