Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier have split their two head-to-head matches and now, UFC President Dana White is gearing up for the trilogy in July. The two drew in 1.6 million pay-per-view buys in Poirier's TKO win over McGregor in January. White is targeting a July 10th date in Las Vegas for the trilogy and plans on having a full capacity crowd. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, White laid out why this makes all the sense in the world for Poirier.
“Dustin wants the rematch (with Conor McGregor),” White told reporters Thursday. “That's smart. That's what he should do. He should take the rematch, take that fight. It's a big fight for him.” – White to reporters via Bleacher Report
“Kid's worked hard his whole life, his whole career to be in a position like this. That's the fight you take. We've been in positions like this before with others who have made the mistake of not taking that fight, and (it was the) biggest mistake of their lives.”
The follow up question should've been who has made the mistake in the past of not taking a fight with McGregor. Who passes up on that sort of payday and publicity? Regardless, it sounds like Poirier wants the fight and the feeling is mutual with McGregor.
Article Continues BelowMcGregor defeated Poirier all the way back in 2014 before the rematch in January, when Poirier took McGregor out via TKO in the second round. McGregor had defeated Poirier in similar fashion seven years prior to the rematch.
The call for a full crowd to be in attendance might catch some by surprise but White already has plans for UFC 261 in Jacksonville (set for April 24) and UFC 262 (May 15) to be at full capacity, two events that will take place before the McGregor / Poirier trilogy.
UFC fans want the trilogy, Dana White wants it as do the two fighters. And now, everyone appears to be getting their wish.