Dustin Poirier: No thanks to Michael Chandler, interest in Conor McGregor trilogy or Nate Diaz

ABU DHABI — For the casual viewer, the results seem as simple as adding one and one and getting two: Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler both looked sensational in their respective lightweight bouts at UFC 257, so why not match them up next, presumably with the vacant championship on the line?

But while Poirier’s second-round knockout of Conor McGregor and Chandler’s first-round finish of Dan Hooker in his debut seem to point in this direction, one of the participants isn’t too enthused about the idea.

At the post-fight news conference at Etihad Stadium, Poirier (27-6 MMA, 19-5 UFC), in so many words, said that three-time former Bellator champion Chandler is still a newbie in this neck of the woods, meaning it’s time for him to get in line.

“Respect to Chandler, great win over a guy,” Poirier said. “But to come in and beat a guy I just beat and get a title shot, dude, I’ve been in – what is this? – 27, 28 fights in the UFC trying everything, fighting the toughest guys to get my hands on gold. He should fight Charles Oliveira or something. Let Chandler and Oliveira go at it. That doesn’t really interest me at this point. I’ll go and sell hot sauce if that’s the case.”

So, who does Poirier want next after winning for the seventh time in his past eight fights, with five of those wins over former champions? Well, the McGregor series is now tied at one apiece, and there’s another name, someone who also has been in the UFC quite some time, with whom Poirier somehow has not yet crossed paths.

“A rematch with Conor interests me,” Poirier said. “Always wanted to whip Nate Diaz’s ass. That interests me. In fighting, I’m sure something will make sense. But just right now, I don’t … me and Conor are one and one. Nate Diaz got away and likes to talk a lot of (expletive) online. I just gotta go back home and we’ll see.”

Or maybe it’s just a matter of whatever it takes to get gold. While Poirier appreciates the interim lightweight title he once held, he admits that deep down, it’s not the same as the undisputed version, which he has yet to wear.

“I feel like I’ve done it all, except, I feel like I can’t say I walked away, and I’m the champ, you know,” Poirier said. “I want to be the champ. When you’re the champ, you’re the champ forever, and I want to be the champ. But yeah, I’ve seen the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows in this sport.

“Fighting is just something I do at this point in my career, but I honor this. I don’t take this lightly, man. I really respect the opportunity, and that’s why this is so close to my heart.”