Dustin Poirier isn’t buying what Michael Chandler is selling.
Earlier in the month, Chandler was one of the top-runners to win Knockout Of The Year. He slept Tony Ferguson and did a front kick at UFC 274. After the bout, Chandler showed his interest in fights with Conor McGregor, Charles Oliveira, or Nate Diaz. But when the prospect of a fight with Poirier was suggested, Chandler was uninterested, saying that Poirier “disregarded” him when he came to the UFC and that he doesn’t believe Poirier is a draw. Chandler, who had been aiming for a fight against Poirier in January, made a sharp change. And according to Poirier, that’s because it’s all posturing.
“Just like when he grabbed the mic after he won, if you really believe these guys, the stuff they’re saying is real, you’re out of your mind,” Poirier said on The MMA Hour. “You think the guy forgot about me? The route to the title shot — Charles is still the champion, I’m No. 1.
“And who is a draw? Although I don’t like to pick on people or do other things, if you look at the numbers, which aren’t lying, you were a supporting cast during the pay-per view that you competed on. … Look at the numbers. We sold six [hundred thousand pay-per-view buys]?. What did they sell, over four [hundred thousand pay-per-view buys]? Who is a draw? I don’t know, I don’t play that s*** because I don’t really care, but don’t say stuff that you can find out the numbers and see who is watching more.”
While pay-per-view buys are hard to confirm, reports have it that Oliveira vs. Chandler sold 300,000 buys domestically, while Oliveria vs. Poirier sold 500,000, which certainly would seem to belie Chandler’s claims. One aspect of Chandler’s problems with Poirier is that he believed Poirier had dismissed him after he joined UFC. “The Diamond”, however, says it perfectly.
“For sure. Poirier stated that he came in — he has never defeated anyone coming off of winning in the UFC.” “He’s been dropped in his last three fights, he’s never beat somebody coming off of a win. What are Dan Hooker’s last five fights and what are Tony Ferguson’s last five fights, the two guys he beat in the UFC? What are their records in their last fights? And I’m not talking trash, I’m stating facts. It’s whatever, I’ll fight him too.
The personal nature of the matter does seem to be an ongoing issue for Chandler, who was highly critical towards Poirier after he lost to Oliveira, saying Poirier quit. He later made an apology for the comments. With Nate Diaz still in strange standoff with the UFC, Conor McGregor still on the sidelines, and Oliveira set to fight for the lightweight title he was stripped of, Chandler may not have any better options if he really is set on getting back to a title fight.
According to Poirier who also unsuccessfully tried to fight Diaz for a fight, this would offer a chance to fight again in the cage that promises fireworks.
“Somebody’s going to get sparked out, for sure,” Poirier said. “Let’s go.”
