Dustin Poirier Wants Lightweight Title Shot, UFC President Says He’s A Top Contender
Dustin Poirier picked up a fourth round TKO victory over former WSOF Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC On Fox 29.
The contender now wants a shot at the UFC Lightweight Title, which is currently held by the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“I want to fight for gold, man,” Poirier said to MMA Fighting. “I’m not chasing rematches with Conor, rematches with Eddie, rematches with anybody. That’s not my goal. My goal is not to get even with these guys. My goal is to prosper and be a world champion and make money and retire and say I did it.”
Poirier currently sits at #5 in the UFC Lightweight Division rankings, with three fighters ahead of him being former UFC LIghtweight/Interim Lightweight Champions.
Dana White is the UFC President and he also believes Poirier is a top contender to the lightweight crown.
“Absolutely (he’s a title contender),” White said on the UFC on Fox 29 post-fight show. “He’s definitely in there. He was one of the guys we were thinking about calling last to take the fight (at UFC 223), but we didn’t want to screw up this event. Thank God we didn’t.”
Nurmagomedov last competed in the main event of UFC 223 and it is unknown when the champion is going to compete again.
