Is Dustin Poirier ‘Undeserving’ of a UFC Lightweight Title Shot?

In the high-octane world of mixed martial arts (MMA), title shots are coveted, hard-fought opportunities. Fighters train relentlessly, endure grueling battles, and climb the rankings ladder to earn their chance at championship gold. But what happens when a fighter’s path to the title is met with skepticism?

Enter Dustin Poirier, a seasoned veteran with a storied career, who finds himself at the center of this debate. In total, Poirier has two both of his two lightweight title fights and the question lies on whether Poirier has done enough to warrant another shot at the gold.

From his back to back wins over Conor McGregor at UFC 257 and UFC 264 which put him at the cream of the 155-pound division, to his most recent comeback victory over Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299 has catapulted him back into the spotlight.

While such feats are backing Poirier’s claims of making a run for the lightweight crown, there are some cases against him. Critics argue that Poirier’s recent win doesn’t erase his past stumbles. His brutal knockout loss to Justin Gaethje for the “BMF” belt at UFC 291 raised eyebrows. Additionally, there’s also his submission defeat at UFC 269 against Charles Oliveira- the then 155-pound titleholder and prior to that, the UFC 242 loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov.