UFC lightweight champ Islam Makhachev has explained why he is willing to give Dustin Poirier a shot at his lightweight belt.
After losing to Justin Gaethje by knockout at UFC 291, Poirier returned to winning ways with a stunning knockout victory over Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299, after which he was called out by Makhachev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz.
Poirier was quick to accept the challenge and even the Dagestani is ready to lock horns with him, despite there being more deserving contenders.
Unfortunately, most of the deserving fighters are booked already, and Makhachev doesn’t want to sit around and wait for them.
“I know Dustin does not deserve the title fight, but we don’t have any option right now,” Makhachev said during a recent interview with MMA Junkie. “Everybody is busy. I want to fight. I want to fight three times this year. I have to call out someone, and Poirier is free now. He showed an excellent performance and scored a beautiful knockout. He’s free now, he’s healthy, and I asked him to fight in June. No one (else) is going to be ready. Maybe someone will be ready, but I have to fight. I don’t care. I am healthy now, I am training every day, and I need someone.
“He’s beat a lot of top guys. He’s a legend. A fight with him, it’s going to be good for me – for the history, for everything. He’s a legend. He beat a lot of tough guys. He’s a tough opponent, too. He have a good guillotine.”
Who do you think would win a potential fight between Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier?
