The UFC is close to finalizing a lightweight matchup that fans have been begging for. While no contracts are in place or specific dates nailed down, the promotion seems to be heading towards Dustin Poirier – Michael Chandler.
Michael Chandler teased the fight at UFC London saying that we should be seeing some news soon. Dustin Poirier came out yesterday and announced that his fight news would be coming out. Shortly after, Ariel Helwani reported that the UFC was targeting UFC 281 at MSG.
These two have been on a collision course and it looks like the UFC is about to make it happen. Things heated up between the two men at UFC 276 when Poirier and Chandler had a verbal altercation that was caught on camera.
Chandler was not a fan of the way that Poirier came after him at the event. Meanwhile, Poirier wasn’t a fan of the way that Chandler had been speaking about him in the media. Both men originally showed respect for each other, but that has since turned into dismissal.
UFC 281 Lightweight Matchup
The UFC and Dustin Poirier are pushing for MSG. However, word is that Michael Chandler and his camp are wanting the matchup to take place in December. The situation is still fluid, but it definitely appears that UFC 281 at MSG will be where the fight goes down
Last year at UFC 268, Chandler had a fight of the year candidate against Justin Gaethje. Now, he looks poised to light up MSG once again with Dustin Poirier as his dance partner. Chandler is coming off a knockout of the year candidate against Tony Ferguson.
The knockout win snapped a two-fight losing streak to Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira. We haven’t seen Dustin Poirier since last December when he fell short against Charles Oliveira for the UFC lightweight title. Poirier had looked like the best lightweight in the world prior to that loss.
Considering where both men are, this fight is likely going to be a title eliminator. In October, Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev will fight for the lightweight title. If this fight does happen in November at MSG, the winner will likely be next for the lightweight title.