SINGAPORE – Despite a long tenure at lightweight, American Top Team coach Mike Brown wants to see Dustin Poirier try his hand at welterweight.
Brown hopes Poirier’s return is at a weight class above as he believes the former UFC interim lightweight champ might be more dangerous there. Poirier (28-7 MMA, 20-6 UFC) is itching get in the octagon, and he’s made it very clear he wants to get booked soon – even said he’d be willing to fight former teammate Colby Covington.
Brown wants to see how Poirier fares at 170 pounds unless he’s offered an opportunity at gold in his customary division.
“I think unless it’s for a title fight, I’d say welterweight just so he’s happy,” Brown told MMA Junkie. “When he’s happy, I think he’s best, and that seems to be when he’s most having fun. We’re in the gym, he’s clowning around, he’s not killing himself dieting. He’s most dangerous when he’s having fun.”
Apart from wanting to see him at 170 pounds, Brown also thinks the “Diamond” is due for a big fight. Although unsuccessful in his last outing trying to dethrone champion Charles Oliveira last December at UFC 269, Poirier remains one of the most well known fighters at lightweight.
“He’s another guy who’s been there, done it and fought a lot of giant fights,” Brown said. “A lot of main events. So for him, it’s something that has to be big and make sense. He’s not going to take just any fight. It has to be something exciting, something that’s going to sell, something that fans want to see. He’s not just going to take any fight. Hopefully, it’s going to be a big name, marquee fight like a Diaz, Conor type of action that we’re looking for.”
Coach Mike Brown hopes Dustin Poirier gets ‘big name, marquee fight’ at welterweight
