Dustin Poirier still wants Nate Diaz fight, even willing to box him
Dustin Poirier is still interested in fighting Nate Diaz after the two were booked to fight at UFC 230.
Although they were booked, both fighters claimed the other one was the reason the fight never happened. Since then, Poirier has called out Diaz on social media and says he is still interested in the bout.
“I know it’s a fight I can shine in,” Poirier told MMA Junkie. “I know it’s a fight that at this point of my career where I’d be excited to do that training camp and do those boxing rounds and do those jiu-jitsu rounds. That’s a fun opponent to get ready for with my style of fighting, and with the coaches I have around me, I think I can prepare very well for that fight and put on a great performance.”
Poirier wants this fight for a number of reasons but says he would even box Diaz if the Stockton, California native wanted to do that instead.
“I’d be willing to box him if they wanted to do that,” Poirier said. “I wish Zuffa Boxing was around and we’d have an opportunity – him and his brother were always talking about crossing over to boxing, I’d love to put the paws on him and show you guys my boxing skills.”
Yet, Dustin Poirier prefers MMA but knows Diaz is fighting at welterweight now. So, he’s even willing to go up to 170 pounds to make the fight against Diaz happen.
“I would love that fight,” Poirier said. “I would do it at 170, I would do it at whatever weight they wanted to do it. I think that’s a fun fight. I think the fans would like that fight. But we’ll see. That is a fight that I want, but I don’t know what’s next. I don’t even know if that guy will fight again.
“I still respect the guy as a fighter. I’ve said in a recent interview, and I’ll admit I’m a fan of the guy. Anytime he fights, I’m going to buy the pay-per-view. I’m going to watch him fight. He’s a fighter’s fighter. I like to see the stuff he brings into the octagon. He’s a fun fighter to watch, and those are the kind of guys that I want to fight.”