Dustin Poirier is considering his subsequent transfer.
UFC 291 didn’t go Poirier’s means this previous month (July 29, 2023) in his rematch towards Justin Gaethje. The Baddest Motherf—ker (BMF) title bid resulted in Gaethje’s redemption, knocking out “The Diamond” with an ideal second spherical head kick (watch highlights). Desperate to get again in motion, Poirier is looking for one thing thrilling subsequent and has teased on Twitter the potential of transferring as much as the Welterweight division.
Poirier’s final victory came to visit the previous three-time Bellator Light-weight champion, Michael Chandler, in Nov. 2022 by way of a 3rd spherical rear-naked choke (watch highlights). Chandler is prone to make the divisional transition in his subsequent day trip, which is predicted to return towards Conor McGregor. Ought to Poirier comply with go well with, “Iron” doesn’t count on success to be discovered for his final foe.
“Relying on the way you wish to take into consideration this, I say faucet out,” Chandler mentioned on DC & RC (h/t MMA Junkie). “If I’m Dustin Poirier or Dustin Poirier’s administration, he’s not an enormous 155’er. Some folks would say he might make 145.
“I say living proof, when any individual pulled out of the battle — it was Tony Ferguson, Nate Diaz, that complete debacle with [Khamzat] Chimaev, he stepped on the size, took an image of himself, he was within the 170s,” he continued. “I’m about 190 proper now. He’s not an enormous Light-weight. I don’t suppose it’s good for him to go as much as 170. You get hit with a 170-pound punch, it’s loads more durable than 155. Dustin, keep at 155.”
Of Poirier’s eight profession losses (29-8, 1 no contest), he’s misplaced three by way of strikes with two of these coming at Light-weight and the opposite at Featherweight. Contemplating the panorama of the 170-pound division, Poirier could have to fret extra about his grappling protection than the putting. Both means, his involvement within the weight class would add immediate intrigue.
As for Chandler, his potential McGregor conflict coming at Welterweight is extra of a byproduct of “The Infamous’” bulk-up since his final battle in July 2021. McGregor rose to fame in UFC as a Featherweight and finally captured the title in December 2015 earlier than completely leaving the division.
“I’m combating a 145-pounder at 170,” Chandler mentioned. “Conor McGregor has the bone density of a yellow-bellied sapsucker, the bone density of an albatross. Conor McGregor is a pure 145-pounder. So, if I wish to battle him at 170, I’m going to be larger than Conor at 170. That’s why I’m combating him at 170.”
