Dustin Poirier commented on the possibility of Conor McGregor's return to the UFC, stating bluntly that it has nothing to do with him and that he wishes McGregor the worst. The comment reflects the long-standing rivalry between the two fighters, who have faced each other three times in the past. Meanwhile, UFC president Dana White shared photos from the construction site of a fighting platform at the White House for an upcoming event. Additionally, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev continues to hint at a July return, while new sparring footage has emerged showing Paul Craig and Khamzat Chimaev. Other notes include that Carlos Ulberg has begun knee rehabilitation and Arman Tsarukyan's next fight in RAF will earn him at least a three percent stake in the company.
Dustin Poirier made clear he has no interest in Conor McGregor's potential UFC comeback, offering a blunt response to questions about the Irishman's return rumors circulating in the combat sports media landscape.
Poirier, the 37-year-old Louisiana native fighting out of American Top Team, carries a 30-10-0 professional record and remains one of the lightweight division's most recognizable names. The southpaw stands five-foot-nine with a 72-inch reach and produces an impressive 5.24 significant strikes landed per minute at 50 percent accuracy. He and McGregor have shared the Octagon three times across their careers, building one of the sport's most bitter rivalries. True to that history, Poirier did not mince words, stating the McGregor situation has nothing to do with him and expressing that he wishes McGregor the worst.
In other lightweight news, champion Islam Makhachev continues to drop hints about a July return to competition. The 34-year-old Russian, fighting out of Eagles MMA, holds a dominant 28-1-0 record and currently ranks as the pound-for-pound number-one fighter in the world. A southpaw himself, Makhachev completes takedowns at a rate of 3.2 per fifteen minutes and lands significant strikes at 58 percent accuracy, numbers that underline why he remains the standard-bearer for the division.
Elsewhere, fresh sparring footage has surfaced featuring middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev and light heavyweight Paul Craig. Chimaev, nicknamed Borz, holds a 15-1-0 record and sits ranked first in the middleweight division. The 32-year-old representing the UAE and Allstars Training Center is one of the sport's most physically imposing wrestlers, averaging 5.29 takedowns per fifteen minutes while also landing significant strikes at a 60 percent clip.
Why it matters
- Poirier's pointed remarks keep the McGregor rivalry storyline alive heading into any potential return announcement
- Makhachev signaling a July timeline could soon crystallize the lightweight division's next title picture
- Chimaev sparring footage surfaces as the ranked middleweight builds toward his next assignment
