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https://scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3027609/ufc-dustin-poirier-challenges-conor-mcgregor Mixed Martial Arts
UFC: Dustin Poirier challenges Conor McGregor to ‘beat your record’ and defeat him in 1:30
- The Diamond says ‘if it’s that easy, just do it again’ after Irishman gloats about 106-second victory in September 2014
- ‘What did he do it in last time, two minutes? Try to do it in a minute 30, let’s see if he can do that’
Dustin Poirier throws a punch at Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242. Photo: AP
Dustin Poirier hinted he could retire after his crushing UFC 242 defeat by Khabib Nurmagomedov. But now “The Diamond” has doubled down on calling for a rematch with Conor McGregor.
The Irishman beat the American by TKO after just 106 seconds back at UFC 178 in September 2014, during his rise to MMA superstardom and the featherweight title.
Both now compete in a stacked lightweight division, where Poirier (25,6, 1 no contest) became interim champion after impressive wins against Eddie Alvarez, Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway. Now he wants to run it back.
“Why not? If we’re respecting the rankings here, I’m No 2, he’s No 3. Everybody else is pretty booked up. We both lost to the same guy in a world title fight,” Poirier told Ariel Helwani’s MMA show on ESPN.
“I think the fight makes sense. Financially it makes a lot of sense, for me. If the guy’s not gonna fight just take him out of the rankings because he’s just gonna keep log-jamming an already top-heavy division. We gotta get it figured out.”
Poirier said he wanted to fight again before his 31st birthday on January 19th. He had initially suggested the McGregor rematch on Twitter last week – which earned a stinging response from the Irishman, who gloated “I fed you to the canvas in 90 seconds bro”.
“We’ll see what opportunities and what fights line up at the beginning of January or the end of December, and take it from there. But I think Conor’s a great fight,” he said.
“Yeah, of course I saw what he said. I’m not going online to bash the guy. If it’s that easy, just do it again. Try to beat your record. What did he do it in last time, two minutes? Try to do it in a minute 30. Let’s see if he can do that.”
Poirier said he hadn’t spoken to anybody at the UFC about making the rematch, but thinks they would be interested.
Conor McGregor easily dispatched Dustin Poirier at UFC 178 in September 2014. Photo: AP
“I’m all ears, I just want a good fight,” he said. “I want a fight that’s exciting, a fight that motivates me. I still have a lot of fights left in me but at the same time I don’t want it to be just a fight.
“I want there to be something on the line. He’s a guy that would be motivating to fight.”