Report: Dustin Poirier Hopes to Nail Down A Fight With Tony Ferguson This Year

Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC & Mike Roach - Zuffa LLC

Former interim UFC lightweight champion, Dustin 'The Diamond' Poirier isn't necessarily giving up hope of standing opposite fellow former interim gold holder, Tony 'El Cucuy' Ferguson sometime this year - following the scuppering of their planned UFC 254 meeting in October.

The promotion had targeted a co-headlining bout between Poirier and Ferguson for the October 24th. event on 'Fight Island', but terms between Poirier and the UFC became a sticking point - forcing the ultimate shelving of the matchup.

UFC president, Dana White had questioned if Poirier had really wanted to fight Ferguson, hinting that he may have negotiated himself out of the pairing in fact. The promotion then targeted a pairing between recent new signing, Michael Chandler and Poirier - but once more, terms proved a stumbling block - with Poirier also keen on repaying the loyalty paid to him by Ferguson, who had both privately and publicly advocated for the former.

Taking to his official Twitter account in the early hours of this morning, Poirier spoke of his willingness to meet with Ferguson before the conclusion of 2020, however, insisted by the time next year is said and done, he will have tasted undisputed championship gold.

"Hopefully me and Tony (Ferguson) fight this year. 2021 I will be the undisputed lightweight champion of the world."

Hopefully me and Tony fight this year. 2021 I will be the undisputed lightweight champion of the world

— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) September 20, 2020

While the above mentioned, White explained how the promotion was working on a new opponent which would see Ferguson remain on the UFC 254 card - that plan also failed to materialise.

For Poirier, the Lafayette native last featured at UFC Fight Night Vegas in June - scoring another eye-catching victory over Dan 'The Hangman' Hooker in an instant lightweight classic over five-rounds. The victory marked Poirier's return to winning ways following his unification title challenge defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi in September of last year.

The division will have a new undisputed champion come October 24th. - with the aforenoted, Khabib vying to unify the crown once more, when he tackles current interim champion, Justin 'The Highlight' Gaethje who scored a fifth-round knockout over previously mentioned force, Ferguson in May at UFC 249 - snapping the Californian's stunning, division tying twelve fight surge in the process.