One down, one to go it appears. Former interim UFC lightweight champion, Dustin ‘The Diamond’ Poirier has reportedly signed his contract to meet with two-time foe, former two-weight champion, ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor on July 10th. at UFC 264. Whilst a location for the matchup has yet to be determined by the promotion, the venue gate is expected to be open to a live audience.
Rematching in a lightweight headliner in January, Poirier and McGregor took main event honours at UFC 257 on ‘Fight Island’ — above another 155-pound clash between incoming vacant title chaser, Michael Chandler and division striker, Dan Hooker.
Tying the score between the two at one win apiece, Poirier handed McGregor his first professional knockout loss in mixed martial arts, employing a masterful gameplan to lodge a second round knockout victory.
Per a report from ESPN MMA reporter, Ariel Helwani this afternoon, Poirier has officially signed his contract to feature in a UFC 264 trilogy, rubber-match against the Straight Blast Gym mainstay.
Initially drawing each other at UFC 178 in September of 2014 at the featherweight limit, McGregor handed Poirier his first professional knockout loss on that occasion, stopping the Lafayette native before the two minute mark of the opening round in a bad-blooded pairing between the two.
The winner of two straight, American Top Team staple, Poirier managed to stop McGregor, firmly instating himself into the number-one rank at lightweight, following a June unanimous decision win over the above-mentioned, Hooker in a UFC Vegas 4 main event Fight of the Year contender.
Dropping his second lightweight loss from three appearances in the division, McGregor had made his first Octagon walk in fifteen months in January of 2020 — headlining UFC 246 in a welterweight showdown against former lightweight title challenger, veteran Muay Thai ace, Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone. Returning to winning-ways, McGregor stopped the Denver native in just forty seconds via a high-kick and follow up strikes.
