Dustin Poirier was not amused by Michael Chandler’s recent Lightweight title tease.
It has been quite some time since Chandler’s last appearance in the Octagon. The renowned three-time Bellator champion joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) with the intention of enjoying himself without a prolonged stay. In his initial five matches, he accomplished precisely that, achieving a record of 2 wins and 3 losses (23-8).
Unfortunately for Chandler and fight fans around the globe, “Iron” has been sidelined for nearly two full years waiting for his dream Conor McGregor match up. Poirier was Chandler’s last opponent when the pair met at UFC 281 in November 2022. The fight resulted in Chandler’s only career loss by submission as “The Diamond” secured a third round rear-naked choke (watch highlights). Despite Chandler’s absence and recent record, he aimed at the current champion, Islam Makhachev, along with some shots at Poirier last week (Mon., July 1, 2024), telling the latter to retire and “we good.”
“Who the f*ck is ‘we?!’” Poirier reacted on The MMA Hour. “You just go here, buddy. You’re not one of us. You’re not ‘we.’ I’ve been here. ‘We’re good.’ Who’s we? Welcome to the UFC, dude. You’ve got one win in the UFC.
“He’s not part of our group,” he went on. “I’ve been honing my skills in the UFC since January of 2011, even 2010. He’s just arrived. Who does he think he is? Is he speaking on behalf of the lightweight division? ‘Muscle Milk Mike’ should calm down.”
Chandler, 38, has appeared to loosen up his tight grip on the idea of facing McGregor after the bout fell through for UFC 303 last month (June 29, 2024). Mentions of the Baddest Motherf*cker (BMF) champion, Max Holloway, and the aforementioned Makhachev have been the others catching Chandler’s eye. Then there’s Nate Diaz after his recent boxing win over Jorge Masvidal (watch highlights).
If Chandler decides to step away from his McGregor standoff, he will undoubtedly face a significant gamble. Poirier, who has faced “The Notorious” three times (with a 2-1 record in the series), understands this better than anyone else. Their trilogy holds the record for the most fights between two individuals.
Poirier expressed concern over the potential risks McGregor faces in the fight. He questioned whether, in the event of a loss to another opponent, McGregor would still be granted the opportunity to fight him. Poirier also pondered whether McGregor would move on and pursue a different fight if he were to take another bout.
Continuing, he emphasized that the rewards of defeating Conor McGregor, both in terms of financial gain and career advancement, are well worth the patience. However, if that opportunity never materializes, it can result in squandering valuable years, especially considering that time is of the essence as one grows older.
Poirier commented that he is uncertain about the kind of person he is referring to. He believes that the person probably has intelligent individuals assisting him with his business deals. Poirier admits that he is not aware of the details of the person’s contract, but if the person made wise decisions in terms of the financial aspects, he will receive a substantial payment and be able to provide for his family. However, if things don’t work out, it could lead to wasting valuable years. In the fight game, time flies, and one can age rapidly. Poirier acknowledges that leaving for two years and then returning can result in a significant transformation. Ultimately, only the person in question can truly understand the situation.
