The former interim lightweight champ knows a win Saturday against Michael Chandler opens options to challenge for the division belt.
Welcome to The Weekly Takedown, Sports Illustrated’s in-depth look at MMA. Every week, this column offers insight and information on the most noteworthy stories in the fight world.
Dustin Poirier is not UFC lightweight champion, instead carrying a different title with him at this point in his career.
Poirier is one of the most called-out fighters in all of MMA. Whether in his division (Justin Gaethje and Beneil Dariush both expressed their interest in the past few weeks for a fight against him) or even outside of it (Colby Covington is doing everything in his power to get his attention), Poirier is constantly name-dropped by other fighters.