Former UFC champ champ Conor McGregor stayed in the headlines last week, by offering to hold an exhibition bout for charity vs. Dustin Poirier, outside of the UFC. McGregor put the word exhibition in quotes; Poirier said he was in. And then UFC president Dana White assumed control, and offered both fighters the bout, officially, in the UFC.
During a recent appearance on the UFC Unfiltered podcast, Poirier said he wants the rematch. In their first fight, a lifetime ago, McGregor TKO’d Poirier in 106 seconds at UFC 178 on September 27, 2014.
I don’t really know, honestly, what’s going on with the whole situation, said Poirier, as transcribed by Jed Meshew for MMA Fighting. Of course I would take the fight. I would fight him, I would fight Tony, I just want big fights and I think that’s what’s coming. I would like to fight again this year. We’ll see. I haven’t heard back from negotiation side of the UFC or Conor, but it’s a new week and I’m hoping to hear something.
Look at it from his side, for sure there’s some upside there. Khabib said if him or Tony beat me that he would give them a shot at the title, so if that holds any weight, he’s looking at that. I don’t know what his ambition is, I don’t know how hungry he is to be the UFC lightweight world champion. If it is, a fight with me makes a lot of sense to get the next title shot.
He could push for a fight with Tony. That would be an exciting fight. I’m a fan of the sport and I think that would be a good fight to watch, but Tony is coming off of a loss. I just had the interim title, I’m number two, I’m coming off of a win, a Fight of the Year contender, I think it makes more sense. Every fight is a chance or a risk, no matter how prepared you are. If you’re gonna risk something, do it with the top guy and get a title shot.
I want to fight this year. I want to fight before the new year. I don’t know about [this] fight but somebody. I want to fight somebody. If something else falls through or doesn’t come together, I want to fight. I’ve been fighting since 2007 and I’ve never fought one time in a 12-month period. I’ve only got one fight in this year. I’m healthy, I’m training, I’m fit, I want to scrap.
I’m ready right now. Tomorrow. Knock on the door, we can go right now.
