Dustin Poirier responds to Dan Hooker calling him out following win at UFC 243

Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

Dustin Poirier has big plans ahead for 2020. But they don’t involve a fight against Dan Hooker.

At UFC 243 on Saturday night, Hooker earned an impressive victory over Al Iaquinta in the co-main event. Then he immediately called out Poirier for his next fight.

“Dustin Poirier, I’m going to smash your face in,” Hooker said, addressing the ex-interim lightweight champ. “Meet me in New Zealand 2020, and I’m going to end you!”

It didn’t take long for Poirier to offer his response. He hopped on Twitter to pass along disappointing news to Hooker.

“I’m fighting the Irishman next,” Poirier said, referring to former UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor. “You’re close but not yet buddy keep punching.”

Poirier has called for a rematch against McGregor ever since he fell to reigning lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242 in September. They met as featherweights in 2014, with McGregor stopping Poirier via first-round TKO.

Poirier’s plan wasn’t good news to Hooker, though he had a laugh when he found out who the ex-interim champion was targeting in a return to action.

“If he wants to sit around chasing leprechauns that’s his own problem,” Hooker said. “If he wants a real fighter that will take it, he knows where to find me.”

While he’s not interested, the American Poirier did have a suggestion for his New Zealand colleague’s next fight.

“Dan can fight “Cowboy” [Donald Cerrone],” Poirier said. “I’m chilling out until something really excites me. Working on my craft.”

Cerrone is coming off back-to-back losses in his past two fights, though he remains one of the highest ranked and most well-respected lightweights in the UFC. It remains to be seen if Hooker takes the advice – or continues to push for a fight against Poirier as he tries to climb the lightweight rankings.