.png)
Islam Makhachev is open to facing Dustin Poirier in the octagon, but he's not taking any verbal jabs lightly. Poirier recently expressed interest in a potential matchup with Makhachev, stating that it's the only fight that currently interests him. In asserting his credentials, Poirier emphasized his longevity in the sport and his belief that he can defeat anyone in the world.
Makhachev quickly fired back on social media, pointing out Poirier's failure to capture the lightweight title. He wrote,
"Dustin, if you could beat anybody, you’d be holding this belt right now, not me."
With an impressive record of 25-1, Makhachev has been a dominant force in the lightweight division, with his only loss coming over six years ago.
Makhachev claimed the lightweight title by defeating Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 and has since defended it twice with victories over Alexander Volkanovski. On the other hand, Poirier boasts a record of 22-7 (1 no-contest) and has achieved notable success in both the featherweight and lightweight divisions. He won the interim lightweight title in 2019 and has challenged for the undisputed championship twice.
Poirier's most recent victory was a second-round knockout of Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 299, further solidifying his position as a top contender. A potential matchup between Makhachev and Poirier could take place this summer, setting the stage for an exciting clash between two elite fighters.