Dustin Poirier ready to face Nate Diaz after Khamzat Chimaev misses weight with Tony Ferguson also considered by UFC
DUSTIN POIRIER is ready to save the day at UFC 279 and face icon Nate Diaz on short notice after Khamzat Chimaev missed weight.
UFC icon Diaz, 37, has just one fight left on his contract and is due to take on up-and-coming star Chimaev, 28, in Saturday’s main event.
However, Chimaev missed the 171 welterweight limit, coming in a massive seven-and-a-half pounds heavier.
And as a result, the UFC are exploring their options and looking at potential opponents for Diaz.
Dustin Poirier, 33, has thrown his hat into the ring to face Diaz as a late stand-in.
When asked by a fan if he could make weight in time for the fight, Poirier responded saying “yes”, and later posted a photo of scales with him coming in at 176.7lbs.
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Retired UFC fighter Alan Jouban tweeted: “Just trained with @DustinPoirier.
“He’s on weight and down to work with the @ufc. Even has wheels on stand by. I say give the man a chance! #UFC279.”
Mike Thomas Brown says Poirier and Co are “waiting on that phone call from Vegas”, accompanied with the hashtag PoiriervsDiaz.
However, according to journalist Cole Shelton, Tony Ferguson, 38, is the favourite to step in.
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There is one speed bump the two camps need to sort out and that’s the number of rounds they’ll be fighting.
Shelton tweeted: “One speed bump in the Diaz-Ferguson negotiations is the amount of rounds.
“Diaz’s team wants it to be five, Ferguson was preparing for three.
“Diaz’s camp tell me they don’t think it will be a problem. However, UFC exploring many different options.”