While he admits that upcoming UFC 289 co-star Beniel Dariusz will likely let himself be denied a crack at light gold by defeating former champion, Charles Oliveira next weekend, former interim champion, Dustin Poirier confirms he still plans to beat Gold against Islam Makhachev in the future.
Poirier, the current No. 2 lightweight contender, is set to headline UFC 291 at the end of July in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he takes on fellow former interim gold holder Justin Gaethje in a symbolic bout for the BMF Championship at the Delta Center.
Sidelined since November of last year, Lafayette forward Dustin Poirier recently picked up an impressive win over former title-chaser, Michael Chandler – stopping the veteran with a rear choke victory in the third round at UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden.
Dustin Poirier is looking forward to chasing the undisputed title in the future
Defending the status of the BMF belt — which the aforementioned Gaethje mocked and taunted an ealier this week — Poirier claimed he’d hang the belt at home if he emerged victorious in his rematch in July, before hunting for the elusive undisputed lightweight crown.
“I think the winner of this fight with me and (Justin) Gaethee is next in line after the winner of Charles (Oliveira) and Neil (Dariush),” said Dustin Poirier. MMA junkie. We can’t deny Neil. If he goes out there and raises his hand [at UFC 289], Come here. The man did a lot. He deserves to be broken in this belt. But this is my goal to get all the belts. I had a temporary belt, a “BMF” belt, and an undisputed belt. Let’s go.”
As for Makhachev, the undisputed reigning lightweight champion is yet to return octagon Since he had his first successful defense of the crown, earning a competitive unanimous decision victory over his featherweight counterpart, Aleksandr Volkanovski in the main event of UFC 284 in Perth, Australia back in February.
After being booked to return to the Octagon, American Kickboxing Academy is headlined for the UFC 294 title in October in the Middle East.