Islam Makhachev, the current lightweight champion, mentioned his upcoming title fight in June against Dustin Poirier, a former interim champion and UFC pound-for-pound leader. He stated that if anyone could win, they would hold the lightweight belt, indicating his confidence in his abilities.
Recently, Makhachev faced Alexander Volkanovskiy at UFC 294 in October, achieving a remarkable first-round knockout victory with a high kick against the former featherweight titleholder.
Poirier, the former interim champion, recently returned in the co-main event of UFC 299, where he defeated Benoît Saint-Denis in an intense fight in Miami, showcasing his skills.
After his win over Saint-Denis, Poirier expressed interest in facing Makhachev, emphasizing his significant contributions to MMA and claiming he has achieved more in the sport than Makhachev.
Islam Makhachev’s Criticism of Dustin Poirier
Makhachev and his manager criticized Poirier on social media after offering the fight to Makhachev for his summer return against the Louisianan fighter.
“Dustin, if you could beat anyone, you would be holding this belt right now, not me,” Islam Makhachev stated on his blog. Makhachev’s official account.
Makhachev also questioned Poirier’s record, stating, “He is a perennial contender. How many times has he lost the title, twice? Three?” in response to a user’s comment, implying his doubts about Poirier’s championship capabilities.
Makhachev, observing Ramadan until summer, was offered a headline fight at UFC 300 against welterweight champion Leon Edwards, but declined the opportunity as he is focused on other plans.
Who will emerge victorious in the summer championship match: Islam Makhachev or Dustin Poirier?
