Poirier: No way GSP is jumping the line to a lightweight title shot
Dustin Poirier: “Look, after I beat Nate Diaz, I’m fighting for the belt. Or I’m fighting GSP, but he’s not going to get it before I do.”
Former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre recently said he was interested in fighting the winner of lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. former division champ Conor McGregor at UFC 230. However, UFC 229 sees Dustin Poirier fight Nate Diaz with the winner being an obvious title contender, and ‘The Diamond’ is not impressed with GSP attempting to jump the queue.
Look, after I beat Nate Diaz, I’m fighting for the belt,” said Poirier on The MMA Hour, as transcribed by Shaun Al-Shatti for MMA Fighting. “Or I’m fighting GSP, but he’s not going to get it before I do.
When I beat Nate Diaz and it’s my turn to fight for that belt, when I win that belt, when history looks back at all of this, nobody can ever say I didn’t earn anything. I never took the easy route. I’ve always fought the best guys. I’ve never pulled out of a fight. I’ve never missed weight. I’ve put it all on the line every time, win, lose, or draw, and that’s what I want to be left behind in my legacy. A guy who just pushed through it all and kept at it and stayed true to the path, and this is all part of my legacy.
However, despite his personal interest, GSP doesn’t believe the UFC would go for it.
It’s a legacy upgrade and it’s good money — it’s gonna be a big fight,” said GSP. “However, I fought at 170, I relinquished a title. I fought at 185, I relinquished a title. I don’t think UFC will let me fight for the title at 155. They will be afraid I relinquish and I left the division in ruins.”
Georges St-Pierre vs. Conor McGregor? Yes, the UFC will make that fight, because many people will pay to see it. The fairness of line jumping is a secondary consideration.
