The UFC is trying to book a lightweight bout between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier, and McGregor has reportedly accepted the offer.
McGregor responded to Poirier on Twitter Thursday morning, saying he has accepted on the condition the fight takes place in 2020.
Hello Dustin! I accepted the @ufc offer to fight you, but told them it must happen in 2020. I’m ready for Nov 21st, given that cards recent injury issues, as well as any of the December dates, the 12th and the 19th. I’ll also still donate the $500k to The Good Fight Foundation 🙏 https://t.co/23hN4AHtoI
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 8, 2020
Ariel Helwani of ESPN confirmed McGregor is eager to fight before the end of the year, with the first target date being Nov. 21.
As noted on Twitter, Conor McGregor has accepted a fight vs. Dustin Poirier. UFC offered the fight on 1/23. McGregor, per sources, said he wants to fight again in 2020 & doesn’t want to wait. He asked to book it on the 11/21 or 12/12 PPV. He’s awaiting a reply from UFC, I’m told.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 8, 2020
This chain of events began when McGregor and Poirier agreed to a charity sparring match.
Shortly thereafter, UFC president Dana White made it clear he was interested in arranging a fight between the two in the Octagon.
McGregor and Poirier have actually met once before, when the two were still fighting at featherweight. In many ways, McGregor's victory over “The Diamond” is what cemented his status as a title contender in the division, a rise culminated by a historic knockout over then-champion Jose Aldo.
According to Helwani, Poirier appears to be interested in those open November and December dates to fight.
Dustin Poirier tells me he would have no issue fighting McGregor on either the 11/21 or 12/12 PPV.
Both techinically have openings at the moment: 11/21 just lost Cody Garbrandt and 12/12 just lost its main event, Usman vs. Burns.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 8, 2020
The ball now appears to be in the UFC's court.
It seems like the November card would make the most sense for a fight between the two contenders. Then again, the December cards are intriguing particularly after the Kamaru Usman–Gilbert Burns welterweight title fight was postponed.
The Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns UFC welterweight title is off on Dec. 12, per sources. It doesn’t have a new date at the moment, but current talk is January of February. Usman needs a little more time. No new main event yet for UFC 256.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 5, 2020
Regardless, this fight would garner plenty of attention.
McGregor has not fought in the UFC since earning a KO/TKO victory in a welterweight fight against Donald Cerrone in January.
Poirier was bested by current lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in September of last year, but he responded by beating Dan Hooker in June. “The Diamond” is also hungry for a marquee matchup after a scheduled fight with Tony Ferguson was canceled after a dispute over compensation.
It remains to be seen whether the UFC can get the fight done, though the opportunity is certainly there for the taking.
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