Dustin Poirier Says 'Ship Has Sailed' on Conor McGregor Rematch Fight, Eyes UFC Title
May 22, 2024
UFC fans are still holding out hope that Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor will be able to settle their rivalry with a fourth fight, but it doesn't sound like it will happen anytime soon.
Poirier told ESPN's Andreas Hale that he is focused on winning a UFC title and a rematch against McGregor isn't in the cards.
"I think that ship has sailed," Poirier said. "All I want is the UFC lightweight championship."
Poirier is set to challenge UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev for his title in the main event of UFC 302 on June 1. It could be his last chance to win the undisputed championship that has eluded him in his storied 15-year UFC career.
McGregor is set to return to the Octagon for the first time in nearly three years when he faces Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29. It will be his first fight since he lost to Poirier in July 2021 in their trilogy fight when he suffered a broken ankle in the second round. It was Poirier's second straight win over the Irishman, avenging his knockout loss in 2014.
While a fight against McGregor would garner a massive payday, Poirier isn't interested in what would surely be a contentious buildup to their faceoff. The last time they fought in the main event of UFC 264, the fight was preceded by a bitter war of words on social media. McGregor even took shots at Poirier's wife after he broke his leg in the fight.
Poirier made it clear that he has no intention to put himself through that again, and he would be fine with passing up another main-event matchup against McGregor.
"I don't feel the need to fight him again at all," Poirier said. "I don't need that [bad] energy in my life."
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