Dana White: Dustin Poirier ‘absolutely’ in the running to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov next

UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier engaged in another classic, this time knocking out Justin Gaethje in Saturday’s unforgettable UFC on FOX 29 main event. The fourth-round stoppage marked Poirier’s sixth win in his last eight fights, and “The Diamond” made it clear that he wants to fight current champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in his next fight.

“I’ve paid my dues,” Poirier said in the FS2 post-fight show (via MMAjunkie). “I’ve put nothing but hard work in. I’ve been close to the mountaintop and I’ve been knocked down. I’ve shown resilience and fortitude and I’ve done it over and over again to put myself back in the position I’m in, and I’m hitting my stride as a father, a fighter, a husband and a person. I’m ready to go, and gold is next. I smell it. I feel it in the air.”

Dana White was in attendance at the Gila River Arena in Arizona, and speaking with FS2, he believes that Poirier is very much in contention for Khabib’s belt.

“Absolutely (he’s a title contender),” White said. “He’s definitely in there. He was one of the guys we were thinking about calling last to take the fight (at UFC 223), but we didn’t want to screw up this event. Thank God we didn’t.”

With Conor McGregor’s uncertain future, Tony Ferguson presumably out for awhile with injury, that leaves Eddie Alvarez and Poirier as your next two viable title challengers. They’re both coming off amazing wins over Gaethje, but Poirier is on the longer unbeaten streak.

The lightweight division is that good, ladies and gentlemen.