Dustin Poirier still doesn’t want to give Colby Covington any shine by sharing the octagon with him. However, he’s running thin on patience.
Poirier (28-7 MMA, 20-6 UFC) has spent the past several months pleading the UFC to book him for the first time since he fell short of the lightweight title against Charles Oliveira at UFC 269 in December. A matchup with Nate Diaz has been his top priority, but the promotion has been reluctant to pull the trigger due to Diaz being on the final fight of his contract.
That’s left “The Diamond” to search far and wide for a next opponent. He recently issued an open invitation to anyone at lightweight or welterweight, and although he got some responses, he still sits without an official booking.
Poirier then surprised many people when he posted on social media over the weekend that he’s willing to fight former teammate Covington (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) at UFC 277 on July 30. Just months ago Poirier said he would never step in the octagon against Covington due to their bitter history. But now, the circumstances have changed.
“I don’t hate anyone,” Poirier told “The MMA Hour” with Ariel Helwani on Monday. “But if there was a line before hate, Colby’s standing there. I really dislike the guy and I’ve been saying I don’t want him to make a dollar off of fighting me. They offered me him last week. … It was either way until the end of the year and fight for a No. 1 contender at lightweight, or it’s the end of July and that’s the name that they gave me. It’s not a callout of him. I’m not going out of my way. I don’t want to fight the guy. I don’t want him profiting anything off of me. But if they’re not going to give me a fight until the end of the year and this is what you’re giving me, I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do. I don’t want to sit in a holding pattern. I fought in December, I don’t want to sit in a holding pattern for 10, 11 months.”
Make no mistakes about it: Covington is not Poirier’s preferred next opponent. He was unequivocal in stating as much, but Poirier is hungry to compete. He’s reaching a stage in his frustration where the body standing across from him is becoming less and less important, because he simply wants to throw hands.
Ultimately Poirier’s emotions mounted to the point where he said Covington is a matchup he’s realistically accept, even if he’s not warm to it.
“I’m kind of pissed off at myself for saying I would do it,” Poirier said. “Not that I’m worried about the guy or his skillset or anything like that. I just don’t want the f*cking guy to prosper because I said yes to a fight with him. I don’t want that. I don’t want him to make a dollar off of anything I’ve done, or fighting me, period. But you get a glass of whiskey in your. They call you a couple days before. Sh*t happens, and then you fight. So f*ck it. At least if it’s a fight that happens, it’s not a fight I’m going to take any damage in with this f*cking guy.”
If the matchup did happen, though, it would be a legitimate grudge match. Covington has said some very personal things about Poirier and his family in recent months, has questions Poirier’s personal integrity, and much more.
Poirier, 33, said he has blinders on when it comes to trash talk and similar distractions. He’s already former his opinion of Covington, 34, and now much can be said that would tip the scale one way or another.
“He’s everything I dislike about mixed martial arts,” Poirier said. “He’s a cartoon character. Everything he does is for an extra click, view. None of it’s authentic. He can wrestle. He’s tough. I’ve been around him for years, I know him from being around the gym with him since 2012, 2013ish. He’s just a fake, a phony.
“It’s messed up. You don’t talk about other people’s family, but then again I know it’s an act and a character. But there are lines that are being crossed. I think guys do that. Same thing with Conor. Talking about my wife. These guys know I don’t give a f*ck about that stuff no more. I said that after I knocked Conor’s ass out in Dubai. … So they’re trying to attach things that they know I do care about, which is my family, my daughter.”
It remains to be seen if the Poirier vs. Covington fight will come to together. Covington has yet to speak publicly on the possibility, but Poirier is ready to put pen to paper on a fight as soon as possible
“I was the one telling people they could offer me $10 million and I wouldn’t fight the guy,” Poirier said. “But, I want to fight. … I’ll fight (Michael) Chandler, I’ll fight (Justin) Gaethje. If Tony (Ferguson) comes back down to 155 and gets a win I’ll fight Tony. I’ll fight anybody. Anyone. Anyone that makes sense.”
In Poirier’s perfect world, though, he said Diaz is still the one he wants.
“Me and Nate Diaz are fighting in Dallas at 170,” Poirier said sarcastically. “Boom. Done. Circle your calendars.”
