It’ll be nothing new to Dustin Poirier, but when he decides to stay round within the MMA sport a bit of bit longer, he’ll don’t have any scarcity of potential opponents whereas he heads towards the sundown.
Add former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski to this record of fighters who would signal on the road for a struggle with Poirier after UFC 302 on Saturday.
In the primary occasion at Prudential Middle in Newark, N.J., Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) was submitted within the fifth spherical by light-weight champion Islam Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC), who defended his title for the third time, which ties the UFC’s report. Poirier, a former interim light-weight champ, had his third shot at an undisputed belt.
After the loss, Poirier mentioned it might have been his last struggle. At 35, he’s been combating greater than half his life, since he was 17. However Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) let it’s recognized after UFC 302 he’d be occupied with a struggle with Poirier.
In February at UFC 298, Volkanovski misplaced the featherweight title to Ilia Topuria by second-round knockout. Topuria has been angling for a struggle with Max Holloway with the “BMF” belt up for grabs, so Volkanovski could also be hedging his bets if a rematch for the title isn’t within the playing cards.
“Perhaps, simply possibly, relying on what I’m doing and when – clearly I wish to struggle later within the 12 months after I know precisely what’s taking place,” Volkanovski mentioned on his YouTube channel (h/t to Championship Rounds). “I don’t wish to wait too lengthy, both. If the timing works, possibly me and Dustin may have a great struggle. I do know he simply needs good, enjoyable fights. We’ve obtained numerous respect for one another, and I feel that will be an enormous struggle.
“That’s one thing that I’d be prepared to do whereas I’m ready for that featherweight title (shot). Perhaps I may get a light-weight struggle towards somebody like a Dustin Poirier, it could be nice. You heard it right here first. Perhaps we are able to make one thing occur. Dustin, you’re a legend. Maintain your head up. That was a fantastic efficiency, nonetheless. Perhaps we may have a bit of enjoyable in there – have a bit of dance. Let me know what you suppose.”
Alexander Volkanovski calls out Dustin Poirier 👀
“Perhaps relying on what I am doing, clearly I wish to struggle later within the 12 months… if the timing works possibly me and Dustin can have a great struggle.
I do know he simply needs good enjoyable fights… I feel that will be an enormous struggle so… pic.twitter.com/l7G5LzKga0
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 2, 2024
Volkanovski has been adamant that his subsequent struggle at featherweight shall be a struggle for the title he as soon as held. Wanting that, he’ll struggle at light-weight – the place he misplaced two title photographs to Makhachev earlier than he misplaced his featherweight belt to Topuria.
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