UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev was suitably impressed by Dustin Poirier’s KO finish of Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 300 this past weekend and has now signalled his willingness to defend the title against him in just a few months time.
Poirier was the one who got the ball rolling after the fight when he simply stated on social media who he wanted to fight next – “Islam in June.”
Meanwhile, Makhachev applauded Poirier for his win over Saint Denis, stating, “Very impressive Dustin.”
Makhachev had previously suggested that he was interested in fighting Justin Gaethje next, but given that he’s defending his symbolic ‘BMF’ title against Max Holloway at UFC 300 next month, it seems the lightweight champ is now turning his attention to Poirier instead.
“Dustin Poirier took a huge risk tonight and came out on top and looked amazing,” Makhachev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz wrote on X. “Dustin vs @MAKHACHEVMMA in June especially since everyone else has fights. If the UFC is good with this then Islam would be game.”
Poirier is currently ranked No.3 in the division and is a high-profile star, so it’s certainly not beyond the realms of possibility that this could happen.
However, given that UFC 300 is only a month away it makes sense for the matchmakers to wait and see the outcome of two major fights on that card.
Obviously a win for the current No.2 ranked contender Gaethje over Holloway would strengthen his case for a title shot even further, while the No.1 ranked Charles Oliveira fights the No.4 placed Arman Tsarukyan on the main card as well, with a win for either also having major title implications.
That being said, if neither winner of those fights was fit to compete just a couple of months later in June then Poirier becomes the obvious choice to fight Makhachev for the belt.
