Dustin Poirier still interested in Nate Diaz fight – and even is willing to box him

LAS VEGAS – Dustin Poirier is willing to fight Nate Diaz under just about any circumstance.

Former UFC interim lightweight champion Poirier (25-6 MMA, 17-5 UFC) currently is sidelined due to a hip injury and is targeting a return in April.

He was booked to face Diaz at UFC 230 in 2018, and despite the fight falling through, Poirier still would like to get his hands on Diaz. After all, it’s the stylistic type of matchup that gets him up.

“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.”

He’d even be willing to face him even in a straight boxing match.

“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.”

Poirier hasn’t competed since his third-round submission loss to UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242, but still is one of the top-ranked lightweights. Diaz, on the other hand, is coming off a controversial stoppage loss to Jorge Masvidal at UFC 244, which was his fourth straight fight at 170 pounds.

But Poirier is willing to move up a weight class to face him.

“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.”