The UFC’s lightweight division has not had a title fight since Islam Makhachev’s second title defense against Alexander ‘The Great’ Volkanovski. With Dustin Poirier’s recent victory over Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299, a title fight is possibly in the works.
Will Dustin Poirier fight Islam Makhachev in his third crack at undisputed gold or will the lightweight fights at UFC 300 leapfrog Poirier? Daniel Cormier, the former two-division UFC champion, had made his thoughts known about the potential matchup.
Daniel Cormier put Dustin Poirier vs Islam Makhachev bout under the microspore
Daniel Cormier has transitioned into a top commentator and analyst in the UFC after he retired from the sport. Cormier, in his recent YouTube show, spoke of the potential fight that the UFC could make between Dustin Poirier and Islam Makhachev per BJ Penn.
“It’s a win-win situation for the UFC, like a 1,000% win-win situation,” said Cormier about the matchup. The former double champion explained that a victory over Makhchev would elevate Poirier’s stardom, who is 2-2 in his past 4 fights. Moreover, Porier is winless in two undisputed title matches and one BMF title fight.
On the other hand, a victory for Makhachev would stack his resume as he already had defeated Arman Tsarukyan, Charles Oliveira, and Alexander Volkanovski. Moreover, potential victories in rematches with Tsarukyan and Oliveira would make him an all-time great.
Cormier would find it tough to commentate on a potential fight between Poirier and Makhachev. Poirier is a fellow Louisianian while Makhachev is a former training partner of Cormier. It is not a strange territory for Cormier as he commentated on UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi where Khabib Nurmagomedov fought Poirier.
Islam Makhachev raised question on Dustin Poirier’s skill level
Dustin Poirier and Islam Makhachev had already begun to trash talk on social media ever since Poirier’s victory at UFC 298. Mateusz Gamrot had also called out Makhachev but the champion did not respond. The UFC had already made a number one contender fight between Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300.
However, Makhachev wants to return in June and the scheduling conflict made the champion target a fight with Poirier. The champion called out Poirier but made some disrespectful remarks against him. The Diamond from Lafayette, Lousiana responded by claiming he has achieved more in the sport than the champion.
Dustin if you could beat anybody, you'd be holding this belt right now, not me 🤷🏼♂️
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) March 25, 2024
“Dustin if you could beat anybody, you’d be holding this belt right now, not me 🤷🏼♂️”, Makhachev responded to the claim. “His level is: permanent contender 🙂 how many title losses, 2? 3?”, Makhachev added as he chastised the former interim UFC lightweight champion.
His level is: permanent contender 🙂 how many title losses, 2? 3? https://t.co/zHnTRW3HvG
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) March 25, 2024
Daniel Cormier stated on his podcast that Makhachev is not disrespectful but Makhachev and other fighters from Dagestan are blunt. Nonetheless, Cormier saw Makhachev’s trash talk as an evolution of his fighting career.
Do you think Dustin Poirier will fight Islam Makhachev next? Leave your prediction below!
